Is Oregon the happiest state in the U.S.? Nope. It's #41

(SEPTEMBER 25, 2020) Are Oregonians happy? That depends who you ask. Many people will say Oregon is the happiest state. However, a new survey says its ranking is much lower.

WalletHub is a personal financial website. It recently issued a report titled "2020's Happiest States in America." The study measured 32 things, such as the depression rate, hours of sleep, unemployment rate, and even how many people tested positive for COVID-19.

In the report, financial writer Adam McCann says, "Happiness comes from a combination of internal and external factors. We can influence it somewhat by approaching situations positively or choosing to spend time with people we love, doing activities we enjoy. Some years, it’s harder to be happy than others, though. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life as we know it, causing sickness, limiting social interactions and leading to widespread job losses."

So what were the results? The report ranks Oregon 41 out of 50. The happiest state was Hawaii followed by Utah, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Maryland in that order. The five least happy states are Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and lastly West Virginia.

KPTV reports, "Oregon did receive high marks for having the highest income growth in the country, and third best volunteer rate, along with fewest work hours. Oregon also did well with sports participation."