IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

How Happy is Your State?

Economic contentment is to be found in "small cities, towns and corn fields" rather than in major urban areas.

If unemployment, non-mortgage debt and foreclosure numbers are an accurate indicator of residents' happiness, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas have the happiest citizens while Oregon's are the saddest. MainStreet.com conducted a "Happiness Index," -- a national survey of economic well-being, ranking all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Hawaii, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Wyoming, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin round out the top 10. At the bottom of the rankings were Florida, California, Nevada and Rhode Island. According to Mainstreet.com economic contentment is to be found in "small cities, towns and corn fields" rather than in major urban areas.

Wayne E. Hanson served as a writer and editor with e.Republic from 1989 to 2013, having worked for several business units including Government Technology magazine, the Center for Digital Government, Governing, and Digital Communities. Hanson was a juror from 1999 to 2004 with the Stockholm Challenge and Global Junior Challenge competitions in information technology and education.