New Study Places Oregon 42nd Out of 50 States for Happiness
Oregon ranks among the 10 least happy states in the country, according to a new WalletHub study that compares all 50 states across measures ranging from physical and emotional well-being to working conditions and community life.
America’s Happiest and Least Happy States
The WalletHub study, released Sept. 8, examined 30 metrics grouped into three categories: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment.
Data came from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gallup, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
WalletHub’s analysis comes as Americans report relatively low levels of personal satisfaction.
The study cites a 2025 Gallup poll in which 44% of Americans said they were “very satisfied” with their personal lives, the lowest level recorded in Gallup‘s trend dating to 2001.
Hawaii topped WalletHub’s ranking, followed by New Jersey, Utah, Idaho, and Maryland. West Virginia ranked 50th. At the bottom were West Virginia *50th), Louisiana(49th), and Arkansas (48th).
The study measures conditions associated with happiness rather than asking residents simply whether they consider themselves happy, meaning the ranking reflects WalletHub’s methodology and choice of metrics rather than a direct statewide happiness survey.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the states at the top of the list tend to combine factors including economic conditions, physical and mental health, leisure time, and weather.
Oregon Ranks 42nd Nationally in Happiness Survey
Oregon ranked 42nd overall in WalletHub’s 2026 happiness ranking, with a score of 43.52 out of 100. It ranked 44th for emotional and physical well-being, 38th for work environment, and 29th for community and environment.
The state ranked particularly poorly on several individual measures. Oregon was 47th for the share of adults experiencing depression and 49th for long-term unemployment.
But the picture was not uniformly negative. Oregon ranked fourth among states for having the fewest average work hours and fifth for adequate sleep rates, although Oregon ranked 49th among states with the worst long-term unemployment rates.