If you’ve felt unhappy lately, then a new survey has the answer: Move to Utah.
Utah not for you? Then try Hawaii, Wyoming, Colorado or Minnesota. Those are the top five states in a nationwide Gallup poll that measured physical, mental and economic well-being.
California came in 9th, though it should be noted that only a few percentage points separated the happiest state (Utah with 69.2 points out of 100) and the least happy (West Virginia at 61.2). California had an overall score of 67.
The rest of the bottom five: Kentucky at 49th, Mississippi at 48, Ohio at 47 and Arkansas at 46.
Gallup, in partnership with Healthways and America’s Health Insurance Plans, questioned 350,000 people nationwide about their overall well-being. Survey questions ranged from areas like eating and exercise habits to work environments and access to basic necessities.
Wealthier areas tend to score better than poorer ones. The West scored highest, while states with lower scores tended to be in the South or the Rust Belt.
The survey also breaks down the nation by congressional districts, and California’s Second District, which includes Shasta County and other counties down the center of the North State, didn’t do so well, coming in 348th out of 435 districts. California’s 4th District, which includes the mountain region to our east, scored very well — 25th out of 435. The First District, which includes the northern counties along the coast, came in 128th.
To learn more about the survey, click here. If you click on the “Reporting Tools” at the bottom of that page, it takes you to a very cool interactive map. To read The Associated Press article about the survey, click here.
Headline of the Day
From page B6 of today’s local paper:
Former gangbanger works to save members from gangs
Men who participate in gangbangs don’t deserve to have their members saved. Har.
Tips appreciated: Send news tidbits to steveb.anewscafe@gmail.com.
