The personal finance website WalletHub recently compiled a list of the top 10 happiest states to live in, based on some unique characteristics.
Twenty-eight metrics of happiness were measured across 50 states, including emotional health, income level and social connectivity of residents in each state.
The happiest place to be? According to WalletHub, it’s Utah.
The state swept the competition with the following unique factors: the state has the lowest incidence of heart attacks, lowest divorce rates and highest rates of volunteerism.
WalletHub asked a panel of leading experts, from around the country, to share their advice and insight on achieving overall happiness and career contentment. Manfred H.M. van Dulmen, Ph.D., professor and associate chair in Kent State’s Department of Psychology, says money is not the key to happiness.
“Money is not a central factor in understanding happiness,” van Dulmen said when asked to identify key factors in living a happy life.
Van Dulmen has identified other factors that often rank above money, with most focusing on social interactions.
“High quality and close social relationships seem to play a major and key role in understanding why some people are happy while others are not,” he said.
WalletHub ranked all 50 states based on happiness level, with Ohio taking rank at 39.