According to the 2017 results of Gallup and Sharecare’s annual Well-Being Index, Hawaii is no longer the happiest state in the United States. Instead, Vermont and South Dakota tied for the nation’s happiest state this year. Every year, Gallop conducts thousands of telephone interviews with people across the U.S. to rank the happiness and wellness levels of each state’s residents based on purpose, social, financial, community, and physical well-being categories. Vermont and South Dakota scored 64.1 out of 100. South Dakota scored highest in purpose well-being, but Vermont scored highest in social. Hawaii has won the Gallup-Healthways poll six times, but this year, came in a close third at 63.4. The state was, however, the only one to rank “in the top 10 [states] across all elements of well-being” this year. Minnesota secured the fourth spot in the Well-Being index, and West Virginia, unfortunately, ranked the unhappiest state in the U.S. So if you’re looking for a happy vacation, Travel + Leisure suggests South Dakota’s Badlands National Park or Vermont’s “Fall Color Capital” coming up this fall.
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