Here's the happiest state in the US and it's probably not a surprise

Think about where you live for a moment. Does it bring on deep feelings of happiness? A recent survey shows only 47% of Americans feel "very satisfied" with their lives -- and where they live might have something to do with it.

Personal-finance website WalletHub recently released its report on the Happiest States in America in 2024 to identify the places that create the best conditions for life satisfaction.

Researchers compared the 50 states across 30 key indicators of happiness, ranging from the depression rate and the share of adults feeling productive to income growth and the unemployment rate.

"The happiest states are those that provide above-average quality of life in a wide variety of areas, from strong state economies and high quality physical and mental health care to adequate amounts of leisure time and good weather," Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said in a statement.

Taking all that into account, it should come as no surprise that the report found the happiest state in the country is Hawaii.

Residents in the island paradise report the highest levels of life satisfaction in the nation and the lowest depression rate. Hawaiians have the highest life expectancy in the U.S. and nearly 72% of adults in the state report being active and productive on a daily basis. To top things off, Hawaii has one of the lowest unemployment rates, as well as the second-highest share of households with an annual income above $75,000.

Rounding out the top 10 happiest states are Maryland, New Jersey, Utah, Delaware, Minnesota, Connecticut, Idaho, Nebraska and Massachusetts.

On the other hand, the state coming in dead last at No. 50 is Louisiana. The Pelican State ranked works in the nation for safety and has some of the lowest rates for residents' emotional and physical well-being, work hours, and work environment.

Other states at the bottom of the happiness totem pole are Arkansas, West Virginia, Tennessee, New Mexico, Alaska, Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Kentucky.

When it comes to best versus the worst, WalletHub says:
• Hawaii has the lowest share of adult depression, which is 2.3 times lower than in Tennessee, the state with the highest.
• New Jersey has the fewest suicides (per 100,000 residents), which is 3.7 times fewer than in Montana, the state with the most.
• Utah has the highest volunteer rate, which is 2.6 times higher than in Florida, the state where the rate is the lowest.
• Utah has the lowest separation and divorce rate, which is 1.7 times lower than in New Mexico, the state where the rate is the highest.

Here's WalletHub's ranking of the happiest states in the U.S., from No. 1 to 50:
1. Hawaii
2. Maryland
3. New Jersey
4. Utah
5. Delaware
6. Minnesota
7. Connecticut
8. Idaho
9. Nebraska
10. Massachusetts
11. South Carolina
12. South Dakota
13. California
14. New Hampshire
15. Florida
16. Virginia
17. Illinois
18. Kansas
19. Iowa
20. Georgia
21. Wisconsin
22. Pennsylvania
23. New York
24. North Carolina
25. Arizona
26. Maine
27. North Dakota
28. Washington
29. Rhode Island
30. Vermont
31. Michigan
32. Missouri
33. Montana
34. Wyoming
35. Colorado
36. Indiana
37. Nevada
38. Texas
39. Oregon
40. Ohio
41. Kentucky
42. Mississippi
43. Oklahoma
44. Alabama
45. Alaska
46. New Mexico
47. Tennessee
48. West Virginia
49. Arkansas
50. Louisiana