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Colorado is ranked #27 out of 50 in the United States.

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Health Index statistics - states compared - Statemaster

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StateMaster allows you to compare states on almost anything at all. Sort by amount. Sort by state.

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Colorado is ranked #5 out of 50 in the United States.

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People determine their own happiness. But how content we are with life is not only and always a matter of perspective. And it's certainly not about beauty, power or wealth - at least, not beyond an annual income of $75,000. Where we choose to live can also influence our level of happiness.

In this study, WalletHub's analysts drew upon the findings of "happiness" research to determine which environmental factors are linked to a person's overall well-being and satisfaction with life. Previous studies have found that good economic, emotional, physical and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life.

To determine where Americans exhibit the best combination of these factors, we examined the 50 states across 28 key metrics, ranging from depression rate to sports participation rate to income growth. Read on for our findings, additional insight from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

Main Findings

Happiest States in America

Overall Rank
(1 = Happiest)

State

Total Score

'Emotional & Physical Well-Being' Rank

'Work Environment' Rank

'Community & Environment' Rank

Ask the Experts

Happiness is more than a feeling of joy or excitement. It relies on various aspects of a person's life - from emotional well-being to job satisfaction. To expand the discussion, we asked a panel of experts to share their advice and insight on achieving overall happiness and career contentment. Click on the experts' profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

1. What are the key ingredients to a happy life?

2. How important is money to people's happiness?

3. What are the secrets to career contentment?

4. How much does where you live influence your happiness?

What are the secrets to career contentment?

Here at Connecticut College, for example, we help students learn the critical skills necessary to be successful in any career. We know we are preparing students for careers that don't even exist yet. With a liberal arts education, and specifically with our Connections curriculum, students learn to put the world together in new ways, they learn to see connections outside of traditional disciplines, and they have the opportunity to work locally or abroad and experience the challenges and opportunities that exist in the "real world." Thus, our alumni are prepared to meet the challenges of today's complex, global society, and they tend to be more content in their careers because of this multi-faceted education.

What are the key ingredients to a happy life?

Happy people seem to have two things in common:

Strong connections with other people, with whom to share experiences and who they can count on for social support;

A sense of meaning and fulfillment from the activities they engage in.
How important is money to people's happiness?
Struggling financially can definitely impair happiness, but after a certain point, the amount of money someone has doesn't impact happiness much at all. Some studies in the U.S. suggest that the tipping point is $75,000 -- income over this level does little to improve happiness. What is more, a lot of studies demonstrate that people who are more materialistic tend to be less happy. This is because of the hedonic treadmill: buying something new can boost one's mood for a while, but we quickly adapt to the new normal and start looking for the next "fix."

What are the secrets to career contentment?

People who can find meaning in their work are happier. Finding flow is also key, which suggests that people should avoid multitasking and focus fully on the task at hand.

How much does where you live influence your happiness?

Research that compare the average happiness across countries suggests that more egalitarian countries have greater happiness.

What are the key ingredients to a happy life?

In my experience and in observing others, happiness appears to come from within the individual, and is reflected externally because there are others in that individual's life. To unpack this a bit, our sense of self is central to our happiness, and how we relate to others and experience others as they relate to us. This has nothing to do with monetary income -- though I agree we need to experience security to experience happiness, and having sufficient financial means is important to being able to live a full and engaged life (but one doesn't have to be "rich" to be happy; it is nice, but not a requisite; good financial planning is smart and will help).

Security from the psychological perspective is the internal aspect of happiness and it is core. Lots goes into this internal sense of security, including the values with which we are raised and express, how we make and exhibit meaning in our lives, how we feel confident within ourselves and share with others, how we feel and manage our vulnerabilities (which are some of the best guides toward happiness), and how we relate to, care about, and love others. I very much believe that without others in our lives, we don't really have the ability to express our truer sense of self.

We have all witnessed countless examples of others who seem to "have it all," yet they are deeply unhappy. These individuals appear to have the financial security, the toys, the lifestyles, and so on. All their "happiness" is expressed by external measures. If they do not have internal security within themselves, they will not experience happiness, for they will feel unfulfilled, alone and adrift.

We have also seen examples of others who "have it all," who deliberately guide themselves from their internal sense of self, and work to connect with others in meaningful ways. These individuals do experience happiness; they are value-driven, passionate, open to experience, willing to psychologically grow, recognize the importance of others in their lives, and understand that happiness is a process and an experience to constantly work to maintain, not a possession one can achieve and keep.

Circling back, the old saying "know thyself" is key to a happy life.

How important is money to people's happiness?

Not as important as many people think. Sure, we need money to live, to meet our obligations, to have a place we can call home, to pay the bills, to have the ability to engage with others, to do fun things, to save for retirement, and so on. Sound financial planning is indeed important for a forward-looking life plan. But there appears to be a "happiness" threshold between not making and having enough money and having enough (Google "happiness and salary" to get a read on this).

This may seem counter-intuitive, but many people (not all) don't manage their money well, and they over-extend themselves financially because they have the capacity to do so. Or they expend their resources in ways that prompt them to need to earn more. Or they hope the things they buy will deliver lasting happiness. These individuals become ensnared in the income and possession game, and experience the veneered meaning of status it imparts.

However, simply put, happiness from things you obtain is transitory -- the euphoric sensation comes quickly but dissipates pretty fast, too. Happiness derived from internal resources (values, meaning, purpose, compassion, helping others, etc.) has a lasting and reflective effect. This is not to say buying a sailboat is a meaningless and extravagant purchase, for example. Instead, it means we need to engage in meaningful experiences with that sailboat and share those experiences with others.

What are the secrets to career contentment?

In short, engaging in a career path through which you continue to grow as a person and professional, where you can experience meaning and fulfill your purpose, where you can express your values and interests, where you experience challenges and rewards, where you can question what you are doing and make changes, where you feel you are contributing to a bigger picture (however defined), and where you are in one way or another engaging with others, so that your work is part of a greater whole. That's quite a checklist -- and there are more details, to be sure.

One guiding statement I share with students is, "your academic major doesn't define your career path; you do." In the world of work, we all know this to be true because we all have seen or personally experienced change in plans and situations. Our internal resiliency to change (which is normal and natural) and our ability to pivot is key to a successful career path. This resiliency goes back to the importance of knowing one's self.

How much does where you live influence your happiness?

There's no question where one lives can influence one's internal sense of happiness, pending the amount of internal work one has done. This means, the more resolved one is within themselves, the external world is less critical for happiness. In addition, how one engages with their location also plays a factor. But location itself should not be the deciding factor. In fact, many young college graduates race from their rural communities to the big cities because it is more exciting and full of opportunities. This may be true, yet it is interesting how many of these graduates begin to long for (and many eventually return to) home, where they experience a deeper sense of happiness.

Some locations simply cost more to live -- and financial stress does tend to negative impact happiness, unless one has done that internal work and is living by internal measures. Sometimes living in shared housing is a necessary (and planned) first step towards having your own place, which you'll be able to afford once financially established. Sometimes foregoing the new car because you received a signing bonus is a wise decision, as the bonus can help with needs (as opposed to "wants"). Exploring how to balance quality of life factors (and deciding what's essential and what's not) is critical so that a person can find ways to experience happiness, wherever they live.

Methodology

In order to determine the happiest states in America, WalletHub's analysts compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Emotional & Physical Well-Being, 2) Work Environment and 3) Community & Environment.

We evaluated those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness.

Finally, we determined each state's weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Our analysis draws upon the findings of the following research, each of which has indicated a correlation between our data and happiness:

Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity (Chan and Diener, 2010)

Happiness from Ordinary and Extraordinary Experiences (Bhattacharjee and Mogilner, 2014)

Sports Participation and Happiness: Evidence from U.S. Micro Data (Huang and Humphreys, 2010)

Unhappy Cities (Glaeser, et al., 2014)

Emotional & Physical Well-Being - Total Points: 50

Physical Health Index: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Note: This metric measures self-reported effects of disease on personal happiness.

Share of Adult Depression: Triple Weight (~11.11 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults aged 18 and older who were diagnosed with depression.

Emotional-Health Index: Half Weight (~1.85 Points)
Note: This metric measures self-reported effects of emotional well-being on personal happiness.

Adequate-Sleep Rate: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)

Sports-Participation Rate: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)

Illness & Disability Index: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Note: This metric measures self-reported effects of illness and disability on personal happiness.

Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)

Suicide Rate: Double Weight (~7.41 Points)

Food-Insecurity Rate: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)

Work Environment - Total Points: 25

Number of Work Hours: Triple Weight (~5.77 Points)

Commute Time: Half Weight (~0.96 Points)

Income Level: Half Weight (~0.96 Points)
Note: This metric measures personal earnings adjusted for cost of living.

Current Unemployment Rate: Half Weight (~0.96 Points)

Long-Term Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)

Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)

Job Security: Triple Weight (~5.77 Points)
Note: This metric measures the probability of unemployment.

Income-Growth Rate: Half Weight (~0.96 Points)

Community & Environment - Total Points: 25

Volunteer Rate: Half Weight (~3.13 Points)

Average Leisure Time Spent per Day: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)

Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Feeding America, Corporation for National and Community Service, Gallup-Healthways, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, United Health Foundation, Brandwatch, TransUnion, Minnesota Population Center - University of Minnesota and WalletHub research.

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@inthecatbirdsseat

I noticed the South comes in at the bottom on the whole. Yet, I suspect if you ask any Southerner, there is no place on earth he'd rather be! I'm a Kentuckian, and while I find my fellow Kentuckians exasperating at times, we all feel an inseparable and devoted and loving connection to the Commonwealth. NO WAY are we 44th in OUR eyes!

@bgbg32

A lot of people are happiest when closer to family and friends or in a state with weather they like. There are a lot of variables that such studies do not take into effect. The bottom line is you have to figure out the best place and situation that you can make work to be happy. For example, I don't like extremely cold winters, so No. 1 Minnesota would be more like 40th to me. I have no close friends or family there. I like the mountains and Santa Fe, so New Mexico would be in my top ten rather than 40th, especially since it's close enough to drive to close friends and family.

@bgbg32

Also, many people believe divorce to be a negative. But in many cases, it's a positive situation that leads people to be happier. A lot of people feel stuck in dead-end marriages so staying married doesn't necessarily correlate to happiness.

@bgbg32

Also, many people believe divorce to be a negative. But in many cases, it's a positive situation that leads people to be happier. A lot of people feel stuck in dead-end marriages so staying married doesn't necessarily correlate to happiness.

@nvsteveg

New Jersey is in the top 10?! OMG LMAO. It's a miserable state. I know.. I lived there for 16 years before escaping to Nevada (37 sounds right) and now Florida. FL is 31?! Really? California is top 10? That's insane. You won't find happiness there... Just plastic people and road rage. The weather is highly overrated. This list is ridiculous.

@

New Jersey is in the top 10?! OMG LMAO. It's a miserable state. I know.. I lived there for 16 years before escaping to Nevada (37 sounds right) and now Florida. FL is 31?! Really? California is top 10? That's insane. You won't find happiness there... Just plastic people and road rage. The weather is highly overrated. This list is ridiculous.

@

New Jersey is in the top 10?! OMG LMAO. It's a miserable state. I know.. I lived there for 16 years before escaping to Nevada (37 sounds right) and now Florida. FL is 31?! Really? California is top 10? That's insane. You won't find happiness there... Just plastic people and road rage. The weather is highly overrated. This list is ridiculous.

@aj2day_2000

From my observations over the decades, I find that there are three components to happiness, 1-health, 2-job, and 3-relationship. Possess all three and you're a winner. We remain on the positive side of happy with any 2 of 3, and we are at the end of our rope when we have none.

Utah - wow! How can the state with the highest "Work Environment" & "Community & Environment" rankings lead the pack in suicide?

@

Utah - wow! How can the state with the highest "Work Environment" & "Community & Environment" rankings lead the pack in suicide?

@

Utah - wow! How can the state with the highest "Work Environment" & "Community & Environment" rankings lead the pack in suicide?

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People determine their own happiness. But how content we are with life is not only and always a matter of perspective. And it's certainly not about beauty, power or wealth - at least, not beyond an annual income of $75,000. Where we choose to live can also influence our level of happiness.

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Average Salaries for each Top 5 fastest growing jobs.

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Average Salaries for each Top 5 fastest growing jobs.

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Oil and Gas Industry- $48,810-80,000
Job in Communication- $30,000-47,349
Jobs in Tourism- $32,000-46,000
Jobs in Nursing- Total pay: $46,991 - $79,364
Jobs in Technology- $49,000

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Ranked with Respect of to education in the U.S

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Ranked with Respect of to education in the U.S

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Colorado's schools are rank 21st in the Country in Education's week.

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Education Week's annual

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Colorado schools rank 21st in the country in Quality Counts report released Thursday.

The state scored an overall grade of C, the same grade as the nation. That ranking is the average of three separate indices: "Chance for Success," "K-12 Achievement," and "School Finance." Here's how Colorado performed in those categories.
Chance for Success: grade = B-, state rank = 12
This score factors in early foundations in learning, such as family income and parent education, math and reading skills during the school years, how many students go on to college, and annual income and employment.

Colorado was sixth in the nation in the percent of eighth graders on target on national tests, and ninth in the nation for fourth graders reading proficiently on national tests. More adults here attend college compared to the national average - 48 percent compared to 40 percent.

But the state has one of the worst "poverty gaps" in the nation in terms of achievement. It ranks 45th in 8th-grade math, comparing scores of students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch to students who aren't, and has the 41st-worst poverty gap for fourth graders in reading on national tests.
School Finance: grade = D+, state rank = 38
This category measures per-pupil spending levels and funding equity. Colorado spends about $2,700 less per student than the national average, accounting for regional cost differences.
K-12 Achievement Index (from 2014): grade = C, state rank = 11
Though this index wasn't updated this year, it's an important part of each state's overall score. It examines reading and math performance on National Assessment of Educational Progress tests, high school graduation rates, and AP exams scores.

Here's a table showing each state's grade:

Pre-K analysis
This year's report also focuses on early-childhood education as its special theme.

Colorado earns a D and ranks 44th on the Early Education Index, which incorporates data from eight specific indicators. About half of three- and four-year-old kids are enrolled in preschool. That's about the same as the nationwide rate, but it 3 percent compared to 2008. The nation's rate stayed flat.

In terms of the gap between poor children and non-poor children who attend pre-school, Colorado has a larger gap than the national average, ranking 47th in the nation. Enrollment rate for non-poor children minus poor children is 19.4 percent compared to national average of 15.8 percent.

Colorado scores poorly on the number of children who attend full-day pre-school, with less than a third of the state's children doing so. That compares to half of children nationally. And for kindergarten, about 60 percent of the state's children attend full-day programs, compared to 75 percent nationally - making Colorado 47th in the nation.

About Jenny Brundin

Jenny Brundin is the education reporter for Colorado Public Radio. She joined CPR in 2011 after spending 16 years at KUER in Salt Lake City. Before her career in radio, Jenny worked as a literacy teacher at a refugee center in Alberta, Canada.

Read full bio

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Colorado schools get C ranking in 'Quality Counts' report

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Education Week's annual Colorado schools rank 21st in the country in Quality Counts report released Thursday. The state scored an overall grade of C, the same grade as the nation. That ranking is the average of three separate indices: "Chance for Success," "K-12 Achievement," and "School Finance."

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- Jobs in the Oil and Gas Industry
-Jobs in Communication
- Jobs in Tourism
- Jobs in Nursing
- Jobs in Technology

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Looking to relocate to Colorado? Interested in venturing into a career field with good opportunities and potential for growth? Read on for information on the hottest careers in the Rocky Mountain State.

Jobs in Tourism

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colorado career guide & overview of fastest growing careers

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Colorado Career Guide & Overview of Fastest Growing Careers

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Looking to relocate to Colorado? Interested in venturing into a career field with good opportunities and potential for growth? Read on for information on the hottest careers in the Rocky Mountain State.