via Flickr/imb4381
A new study says Missourians live in the 8th unhappiest state in America.
Feeling a little glum? That’s OK. According to a new study from financial advice site WalletHub, we’re living in one of the unhappiest states in the U.S.
Missouri ranks No. 44 (between No. 43 Ohio and No. 45 Oklahoma) on WalletHub’s list of the happiest states, making the Show-Me State the 8th least happy. Utah scored the happiest, and West Virginia comes in last.
See also: St. Louis Is No. 3 Hockey City in America, Study Finds
To find which states are home to the happiest Americans, WalletHub analyzed demographic and crime statistics across three dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community, environment and recreational activities. Missouri fared worst in the health and well-being category, thanks to the state’s high depression rate (ranked 39th in the U.S.), suicide rate (34th) and obesity rate (31st.)
Missouri also had a low safety ranking, which measures violent and economic crime rates, workplace safety and natural disasters. WalletHub ranked Missouri No. 44 out of 51 in terms of safety in an earlier study, especially due to the state’s high estimated property losses from climate disasters and a high bullying rate.
Here are more of WalletHub’s rankings for Missouri, on a scale of 1 (highest) to 51:
- 39th – Depression Rate
- 20th – Adequate-Sleep Rate
- 34th – Suicide Rate
- 25th – Long-Term Unemployment Rate
- 31st – Obesity Rate
- 30th – Divorce Rate
- 40th – Safety Ranking
- 34th – Income Growth Rate
Maybe the key to being happy in Missouri is joining the St. Louis sports bandwagon. In the last year, WalletHub has named St. Louis the No. 1 city in the U.S. for baseball fans and the No. 3 hockey city in America.
Contact Lindsay Toler by an email at LToler@stlmag.com or on Twitter @StLouisLindsay. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
