The happiest states in the US, ranked

New Jersey was ranked among the happiest states in America. andykazie/Getty Images Your level of happiness can be affected by external factors, such as work and community. A WalletHub study examined three different categories to determine which states are happiest. Here are the 50 states, ranked from the least to the most happy. Happiness may come from within, but external factors can still play a role in how happy you feel. Even if you're a glass-half-full kind of person, factors like financial security, access to healthcare, and community can also impact your well-being. A recent WalletHub study ranked all 50 states based on metrics that measure residents' happiness. All states were compared across three categories: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment . These dimensions were broken down into 30 metrics, graded on a 100-point scale to create a happiness score.