Idaho named one of happiest states in the US. Here’s where it ranked — and why
As the old adage says, it’s all about “Location, location, location.”
Where you live can have a major impact on your happiness — and Idaho is one of the happiest states in the nation, according to WalletHub.
Each year, the personal finance site ranks the happiest states in the country based on factors ranging from social well-being and depression rates to income growth and unemployment rates.
“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,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a Sept. 8 ranking titled “The Happiest States in America.”
Here’s where Idaho ranked on the list, and why:
Why is Idaho one of the happiest states in the US?
Idaho was No. 10 on WalletHub’s list of the happiest states in the United States, with a total score of 58.31 out of 100.
In comparison, Hawaii — the No. 1 happiest state — had an overall score of 65.5.
In fact, the Gem State has ranked among the top 10 happiest states every year since 2018.
In 2025, Idaho was second in the nation in terms of work environment and community and environment, according to WalletHub.
The state had the highest income growth in the country, the site said.
However, the Gem State came in 29th place in terms of emotional and physical well-being, WalletHub said with the second-highest suicide rate in the country.
According to WalletHub, Idaho also ranked among the top 10 states to live in 2025 — landing at No. 2 on a recent list.
Idaho boasts high home ownership rates and median household income growth as well as one of the lowest median real estate tax rates in the country, the financial website said, making it “a great place to build and grow wealth.”
Where are top 10 happiest states in the nation?
A 2025 Gallup report revealed the United States has reached a new low in personal satisfaction, with only 44% of Americans saying they are “very satisfied” with their lives.
However, certain “environmental factors are linked to a person’s overall well-being and satisfaction with life,” WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann wrote in the Sept. 8 ranking. “Previous studies have found that good economic, emotional, physical and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life.”
According to WalletHub, the top 10 happiest states in the country in 2025 were:
- 1. Hawai’i
- 2. Maryland
- 3. Nebraska
- 4. New Jersey
- 5. Connecticut
- 6. Utah
- 7. California
- 8. New Hampshire
- 9. Massachusetts
- 10. Idaho
Which US states are the least happy?
According to the WalletHub study, the most unhappy states in the United States have higher divorce rates, longer work weeks and higher long-term unemployment rates than some of their peers.
In 2025, these states ranked the lowest in terms of overall happiness, WalletHub said:
- 1. West Virginia
- 2. Louisiana
- 3. Arkansas
- 4. Alabama
- 5. Alaska
- 6. Tennessee
- 7. New Mexico
- 8. Kentucky
- 9. Mississippi
- 10. Colorado
How did WalletHub rank happiest US states?
To determine the happiest states in the United States in 2025, WalletHub said it considered 30 metrics across three main categories: emotional and physical wellbeing; work environment and community and environment.
Each state was given a score out of 100, with 100 being perfectly happy and 1 being extremely unhappy. WalletHub then calculated a weighted average for the final score.
Metrics in the emotional and physical wellbeing category included the rate of adult depression, physical health index, career wellbeing and social wellbeing.
The work environment category included metrics such as the number of work hours, unemployment rate and share of households earning more than $75,000 annually.
The community and environment category examined metrics including ideal weather, average leisure time spent per day, safety rates and volunteer rates. Data came from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..