New Jersey has been ranked the second-happiest state in the United States, trailing only Hawaii, according to a new nationwide study reported Tuesday.
The Garden State ranked ahead of Utah, which came in third, after researchers compared all 50 states using about 30 measures related to emotional well-being, economic stability and community life.
Several factors helped New Jersey reach the top of the list. The state recorded the lowest adult depression rate in the country, as well as the lowest percentage of adults reporting childhood trauma. New Jersey also ranked highly for supportive personal relationships and overall life satisfaction.
Family and financial stability also played a role. New Jersey has one of the lowest separation and divorce rates in the country and one of the highest percentages of households earning more than $75,000 annually. The state also performs well when it comes to food security.
Hawaii took the No. 1 spot, supported by strong physical-health measures, low unemployment and the longest life expectancy in the United States. West Virginia ranked last.
For New Jersey residents accustomed to hearing plenty about high taxes, traffic and the cost of living, the ranking offers a different picture of life in the Garden State: apparently, despite the complaints, New Jerseyans have quite a few reasons to be happy.
Sources: News 12 New Jersey; national happiness ranking data
By NJ RADAR Team