New Jersey's secret to a happy life revealed in new WalletHub study

WalletHub's annual report Happiest States in America is back for 2024 and New Jersey is on the rise!

According to the study, happiness comes from a combination of internal and external components like being positive, surrounding yourself with love ones and indulging in favorite hobbies. However, only 47% of Americans say they are “very satisfied” with their lives due to factors like the increasing cost-of-living and other stress-related elements.

In determing the rankings, the personal finance website compared all 50 states across three key dimensions of happiness: emotional and physical health, community and environment, and the workplace culture. And then evaluated the data against 30 metrics.

“In addition to pursuing your passions, having a good work-life balance and maintaining an emotional support network, another key way to boost your happiness is living in the right place," said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub Analyst.

New Jersey was ranked as the third best state in America. Neighboring states such as Delaware ranked 5th, New York ranked 23rd, and Pennsylvania ranked 22nd outlined in the report.

In WalletHub 2023 rankings, New Jersey landed in the 5th spot.

"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," said Lupo.

Here are some key findings on why the Garden State moved up two spots this year:

• New Jersey residents have conditions of good mental health. The state has the second-lowest depression rate and the second-highest share of people who have supportive relationships and love in their lives, and the second-highest life satisfaction rate because it has the lowest share of people reporting traumatic events during their childhood.

• Residents of New Jersey also demonstrate happiness in their marriages. The Garden State has the third-lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, at around 17%.

• When it comes to finances, New Jersey has the third-highest share of households earning over $75,000/year. It also has the sixth-lowest food insecurity rate, which shows that the state is making progress when it comes to addressing poverty. The state has the ninth-lowest share of people who get anxious when thinking about their personal finances.

Here are numbers based on the factors from the study. New Jersey placed in the top 20 in six metrics.

• 2nd: Percent of Depressed Adults

• 1st: Suicide Rate

• 14th: Number of Work Hours

• 3rd: Separation & Divorce Rate

• 18th: Safety

Top 10 Happiest states

1. Hawaii

2. Maryland

3. New Jersey

4. Utah

5. Delaware

6. Minnesota

7. Connecticut

8. Idaho

9. Nebraska

10. Massachusetts

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey tops happiness list: WalletHub 2024 report