The results from two studies have been combined to rank each of the states in the United States according to the happiness of its residents. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Louisiana nabbed the top spot.
According to the study's co-authors, Andrew Oswald of the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and Stephen Wu of Hamilton College in New York, one factor for the Cajun state's ultimate position might be because of the demographic shift after hurricane Katrina; many unhappy people left the state directly after the disaster, while incoming residents typically hadn't directly lived through the ordeal. Of course, the infectious culture—New Orleans-style music, spicy Cajun foods and easy-going reputation—probably had a hand in bumping Louisiana to the top of the list.
At the bottom of the heap? What some consider the greatest city in North America, if not the world—New York—came in last, with Connecticut following. A prime reason is probably the astronomical cost of living, as well as long commute times, heavy traffic and, despite New York City's efforts to clean itself up, pollution.
The median states were North Dakota and Minnesota. Interestingly, these two states are cold-weather havens. The studies' results, however, indicate that the states with the happiest residents tend to be warm-weather states.
And where does Kansas fit in? According to the study, 32nd out of 51. Given the wildly ranging weather in the sunflower state, with its blistering summers and frigid winters, 32nd is not surprising.
Top 10 Happiest States:
1. Louisiana
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Arizona
6. Mississippi
7. Montana
8. South Carolina
9. Alabama
10. Maine
So what does this all mean? Should we all up and move down south for some easy living and zydeco music, dishing up crawfish étouffée and rooting for the Saints? Or should we just grin and bear our meager happiness ranking? A study should not dictate personal happiness, no matter if the place we call home is an I-can-touch-opposite-walls apartment in New York, a second-floor walk-up in the French Quarter or a sprawling ranch in a Kansas suburb. But if happiness is truly elusive here in the States, try moving to Europe's answer to the Big Easy: Scandinavia.
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