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Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 | 3:13 p.m.
Beyond the Sun
People around the world come to Las Vegas for a good time, but a new survey shows Nevadans are among the nation's most unhappy residents.
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index in its ranking of happiness indicates Nevada came in at No. 38 with a score of 64.5 out of 100.
Utah was the happiest state with a score of 69.2, followed by Hawaii and Wyoming. West Virginia rounded out the survey as the most unhappy state with a score of 61.2.
Southern states like Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and Kentucky also ranked among the most unhappy states.
The survey measured six types of well-being, including an overall evaluation of residents' lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises) and job satisfaction.
The survey said its results show that residents of states with wealthier, better educated and more tolerant people tend to be happier. Seven of the Top 10 states were in the western United States, including three of Nevada's neighbors: Utah, California and Arizona.
Happier states also tended to have a greater proportion of residents with a higher education whose jobs were considered "super-creative," such as architecture, engineering, arts and design work, as well as entertainment, sports and media occupations.
States with higher numbers of artists, gays and foreign-born residents also saw higher happiness scores, according to the survey.
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index is based on data collected from more than 350,000 people.
Here are the 50 U.S. states in order of their well-being scores, which are out of 100 points.
1. Utah: 69.2
2. Hawaii: 68.2
3. Wyoming: 68
4. Colorado: 67.3
5. Minnesota: 67.3
6. Maryland: 67.1
7. Washington: 67.1
8. Massachusetts: 67
9. California: 67
10. Arizona: 66.8
11. Idaho: 66.8
12. Montana: 66.7
13. New Hampshire: 66.7
14. Vermont: 66.6
15. Virginia: 66.5
16. Nebraska: 66.4
17. New Mexico: 66.3
18. Oregon: 66.3
19. Connecticut: 66.3
20. Alaska : 66.2
21. Texas: 66.1
22. Kansas: 66.1
23. Georgia: 66.0
24. Wisconsin: 65.9
25. New Jersey: 65.8
26. South Carolina: 65.7
27. Iowa: 65.6 - 27/50
28. North Dakota: 65.5
29. Maine: 65.5 - 29/50
30. Florida: 65.3 - 30/50
31. Illinois: 65.2 - 31/50
32. Pennsylvania: 64.9
33. Alabama: 64.9
34. North Carolina: 64.8
35. New York: 64.7
36. Delaware: 64.7
37. Rhode Island: 64.6
38. Nevada: 64.5
39. South Dakota: 64.3
40. Louisiana: 64.2
41. Michigan: 64.0
42. Tennessee: 64.0
43. Oklahoma: 64.0
44. Missouri: 63.8
45. Indiana: 63.3
46. Arkansas: 62.9
47. Ohio: 62.8
48. Mississippi: 61.9
49. Kentucky: 61.4
50. West Virginia: 61.2
Residents of states with wealthier, better educated and more tolerant people tend to be happier. Seven of the Top 10 states were in the western United States, including three of Nevada's neighbors: Utah, California and Arizona.
Happier states also tended to have a greater proportion of residents with a higher education whose jobs were considered "super-creative," such as architecture, engineering, arts and design work, as well as entertainment, sports and media occupations.
So where's the "Why would anyone want to live in Utah or Wyoming?" crowd?
How ya' like them apples?
A lot of the bottom 10 are rustbelt and Appalachia states. Nevada is the lowest ranking state in the western US (rockies & west coast).
I'm sure we were pretty happy in 2005 when everyone had money coming out their rear end.
Its because they took away the stripper mobile!
The scores seem pretty close together. There is a real difference between the very top and the very bottom, but Nevada is sort of in the middle. So, given all the "low tax" talk and talk and talk, there isn't really much difference afterall. Maybe we can now fund our schools and improve the roads so that our tires last more than 10,000 miles like everywhere else's, and, and and.
I've worked and lived in 22 of our states. I chose to retire in Nevada. Reasons?
Schools? Who cares if we're producing tip dependent dumbbells? My kids grew up in great school systems-back east.
Taxes? Property taxes keep going up, but are quite low, compared to back east. Sales taxes are high, but I buy mostly on line. No income tax-thanks.
Politics? We're infested with Idaho/Utah rednecks, but they're mostly up north, and are pitiful sleep-with-a-gun-between-their-legs- why's my kid as stupid as I am? - dopes?
Weather-Perfect.
Journey....... your post is a joke right? At least I hope so.
Which is why if you dont like it here....THAN YOU SHOULD MOVE BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM! STOPPP comparing las vegas to where you came from. Are people really dumb enough to move here and think its going to be like it was back home?!?!? Than why did you leave your home if it was "perfect". BC NOTHING IS EVER as good as you think it WAS
Dipstick,
This applies to marriage if you are happy. If you're not happy in your marriage, then for goodness sake, cut the cord and find it elsewhere!! Which is why I like Magsny1999's philosophy!!! Why on earth would anyone continue to live in purgatory?!?!?!?
Las Vegas is just one part of Nevada. The numbers don't tell us which counties are the least/most happy. I'm not sure who they counted here in Vegas, so many people still move in and out so fast.
MAGSNY1999: people do leave it because they don't like it. But, some can't. Lots of people get stuck here. Hard to move when you don't have a job. And, sometimes you don't know what you got 'til it's gone.
One of the biggest issues with Las Vegas is the ignorant attitude of "love it or leave it." Part of maturity is realizing when and how to implement change. This town has needed change for years now.
The more I read the comments sections here, the more I realize why so many people are miserable. This is a hostile, closed-off town with little positive reinforcement for intelligence or innovation.
These surveys are dumb... who fricken cares which states people are happier that others by a certain % point. Does it really matter? Im happy as as hell cant you tell???
The problem is the talk radio and their Lackeys and fellow curmudgeons out at the RJ spread unhappiness throughout the state.
The more I read the comments sections here, the more I realize why so many people are miserable. This is a hostile, closed-off town with little positive reinforcement for intelligence or innovation".
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I have to disagree with you on this one Ry Man, this town is made up of people. People are humans. People are individuals. Negativity is just as contagious as Positivity. It's not just this town, it's the world in general!!! But YOUR life is what you bring into YOUR life. If you continue to bring in negativity, yes, it will eat at you and you start to give off the same vibe. On the other hand, positivity has the same effect. I know with everything in my heart that at this time of economic chaos it's hard to be positive but by that same token, no one here can find ONE thing, (no matter how small or how insignificant someone may find it) they're happy about?
According to the few people still working at the Las Vegas Sun... it's because we aren't being taxed nearly enough.
Seriously... it's funny that mred would say the RJ is at fault for people in Nevada being unhappy. At least they are still in business which is saying a lot considering the efforts of the past few legislative sessions.
As for dwms' comment about "the 280% increase in children's murders" - 1, what are you talking about? 2, what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
Journey is high (LOL)
The worst thing about all this "unhappiness" is alot of these folks work in Customer service related environments, and alot of the disenchantment rubs off on the general public causing the effect of people not coming here as often as they used to, people going to A.C. and the Gold Coast because they get better treatment, and then after a couple years when the economy takes a hit, the kings and queens turned paupers wonder why....amazing.. not responsible for that whole problem but sure a good portion, some of the stories I listened to in the 14 years I drove a Cab here by the way alot of people were treated in their Hotel or the Nightclubs or resturaunt, etc., etc., was absolutely heartbreaking, but I also realize alot people come here from out of town and act like animals for the time they spend in Las Vegas too.
Nevada is #38 and New York #35...now I know this report is a joke !! Great real....Nevada has been hit with a freak'n BOMB...thousands out of work,thousands more moving out of state.Your $500,000 home is now worth $250,000....should I go on ? I wouldn't expect anything more from the long faces you might see along the streets these days but really...this report is a bunch of silly numbers someone got paid for and shouldn't have.