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Study: We're the happiest state in the nation
BY MICAH MERTES / Lincoln Journal Star
Monday, Apr 06, 2009 - 01:43:12 pm CDT
We cheer the reddest. We corn the hardest. And, apparently, we grin the biggest.
Because Nebraska is the happiest state in the U.S., says a new study.
The survey, conducted by MainStreet.com, ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from fiscally happiest to saddest based on a few factors of economic well-being. These included foreclosure numbers, unemployment rates and the ratio of average debt to average annual income.
Nebraska was ranked as the state with the second-lowest foreclosure numbers, the second-lowest unemployment rates and the fifth-lowest percentage of debt to income.
Following up Nebraska's top spot, ABC's "Good Morning, America" featured a profile on Hastings on Monday morning.
Behind Nebraska in the rankings were:
2. Iowa
3. Kansas
4. Hawaii
5. Louisiana
6. Oklahoma
7. Wyoming
8. South Dakota
9. West Virginia
10. Wisconsin
And the 10 saddest states:
42. Washington
43. Idaho
44. Michigan
45. Ohio
46. Arizona
47. Rhode Island
48. Nevada
49. California
50. Florida
The saddest state in all the land: Oregon.
Reach Micah Mertes at 473-7395 or mmertes@journalstar.com.
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