New York ranks among the nation’s 15 happiest states, placing 11th overall in a new WalletHub analysis that compared all 50 states across 30 measures tied to emotional well-being, work, income, health and safety.
The personal-finance company said its 2026 study looked at factors ranging from depression rates and productivity to income growth and unemployment. New York performed particularly well on measures tied to mental health and work hours.
New York ranked third for its share of depressed adults, second for suicide rate and fifth for number of work hours. The state ranked 23rd for separation and divorce rate and 17th for safety.
WalletHub said the broader rankings are intended to measure the conditions that contribute to life satisfaction, rather than relying on any single financial or health indicator.
“The happiest states are those that provide above-average quality of life in a wide variety of areas, from strong state economies and great physical and mental healthcare to adequate amounts of leisure time and good weather,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.
Lupo said income still matters, particularly when it comes to financial stability, but added that money alone does not necessarily translate into greater happiness once people are able to live comfortably.
Hawaii ranked as the happiest state in the country, according to WalletHub. The company said Hawaii residents reported the nation’s highest levels of life satisfaction and the second-lowest depression rate.
WalletHub also pointed to Hawaii’s health outcomes, including high life expectancy and a large share of adults reporting good or better health, along with a relatively low unemployment rate.
The study comes as a recent Gallup poll found that 44% of Americans described themselves as “very satisfied” with the way their lives are going.
Experts cited by WalletHub said happiness is generally influenced by a combination of relationships, purpose, health, autonomy, meaningful work and the ability to maintain social connections.
Abbie Lambert, an associate professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, said work can play an important role in overall well-being, particularly when it provides either a sense of meaning or enough time to pursue meaningful activities outside the workplace.
Other experts emphasized the importance of communities providing spaces where people can build relationships, including parks, libraries, recreation facilities and community centers.
WalletHub’s findings suggest New York’s strongest showing came from several measures related to mental health and work-life conditions, though the state ranked closer to the middle of the pack in safety and separation and divorce rates.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.