12 Unhappiest States in the US, Ranked (And What It Means for Travelers)

I’ve road-tripped through a lot of the United States, and one thing I’ve learned is that a state’s natural beauty doesn’t always match the quality of life its residents experience day to day. Stunning landscapes, rich culture, great food and yet some of these same places consistently show up at the bottom of national well-being rankings.

So when WalletHub released its latest unhappiest states in the US report, I wasn’t entirely surprised by some of the names on the list. The rankings weigh four key areas: well-being, work environment, community, and overall happiness scores. Here’s a closer look at the 12 states that landed at the bottom and what’s driving those numbers.

What Makes a State “Unhappy”?

WalletHub assigned each state a happiness score by averaging data across physical and emotional well-being, workplace satisfaction, community engagement, and environmental quality. The lower the score, the lower the overall happiness ranking.

For travelers, this context matters. Understanding the socioeconomic realities of a destination makes you a more informed, more respectful visitor.

West Virginia

Happiness Score: 35.08 (Lowest in the US)

West Virginia sits at the very bottom of the rankings. The state’s mountainous terrain is genuinely striking, but many of its communities struggle with poor infrastructure, high unemployment, and serious public health challenges.

Nearly 42% of adults in West Virginia are classified as obese, according to CDC data. Smoking rates are also among the highest in the country. Industries like coal have left a long environmental footprint, and limited job diversification means many residents have few economic options.

The state also records one of the highest fentanyl overdose death rates in the country, at around 61 per 100,000 people. These are real challenges that shape everyday life here in ways that go far beyond what a weekend visitor might see.

Louisiana

Happiness Score: 35.86

Louisiana has a lot going for it as a travel destination and New Orleans alone is one of the most culturally rich cities in the country. But life for many residents looks quite different from what tourists experience on Bourbon Street.

Around 18.6% of Louisiana’s 4.56 million residents live below the poverty line. The state also records some of the highest murder and robbery rates in the US. Environmental disasters have compounded these issues: Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused lasting damage to infrastructure and displaced thousands of people, with effects that are still felt today.

Healthcare access is limited, and the combination of poverty, crime, and a strained public system keeps the state’s happiness score near the bottom.

Tennessee

Happiness Score: 38.30

Tennessee is a state I’ve genuinely enjoyed visiting, especially Nashville and the Great Smoky Mountains. But the numbers tell a more complicated story. About 13.3% of its 7 million residents live below the poverty line, and the lack of high-paying jobs in many parts of the state keeps that figure stubbornly high.

Crime is a significant factor, particularly in Memphis, where the rate sits at roughly 672 per 100,000 people, the fourth highest in the country. Tennessee is also one of the states most affected by the fentanyl crisis, which has added serious strain to an already stretched healthcare system.

Arkansas

Happiness Score: 39.72

Arkansas has some genuinely beautiful natural spaces, including the Ozarks, Hot Springs, and crystal-clear rivers. But the state carries some of the heaviest health and economic burdens on this list.

Arkansas has the highest rate of depression in the US. Around 16.8% of its 3.67 million residents live below the poverty line, and nearly 19% of the population faces food insecurity, according to USDA data. Access to healthy food is a real issue: limited grocery options and a high concentration of fast food in many areas contribute to one of the highest obesity rates in the country.

Kentucky

Happiness Score: 40.58

Kentucky’s bourbon country and horse farms are bucket-list worthy, but the state’s overall well-being numbers are sobering. Adults here have one of the highest obesity rates in the country (over 42%), and around 27.6% of people live with depression, particularly in rural communities.

A poverty rate of 14.9% reflects limited employment opportunity across much of the state. Kentucky also has the lowest exercise rate of any US state, according to WalletHub, a statistic that speaks to both access and infrastructure gaps in many communities.

Alabama

Happiness Score: 40.82

Alabama scores just above Kentucky, but the issues driving its ranking are similar: high crime, limited healthcare access, and persistent economic inequality. Nearly 10% of Alabama’s residents are uninsured, which puts real pressure on individuals and families when health issues arise.

The state also continues to grapple with deep racial injustice, which affects employment opportunities, the criminal justice system, and overall quality of life for a large portion of its population. These are not abstract policy debates; they are lived realities for many Alabamians.

Alaska

Happiness Score: 42.20

Alaska is unlike anywhere else in the US, and I say that with full admiration. The wilderness is extraordinary. But living there is a different matter entirely.

Much of the state sits near or within the Arctic Circle, meaning residents cope with fewer than five hours of daylight during winter months. Healthcare access requires many of Alaska’s 732,000 residents to travel enormous distances. Grocery costs are significantly higher than the national average due to remote supply chains.

The state’s primary industries, fishing and oil, are high-stress, high-risk, and not particularly stable. These compounding factors explain why Alaska, despite its dramatic natural beauty, ranks among the unhappiest states in the US.

New Mexico

Happiness Score: 43.49

New Mexico’s desert landscapes, historic pueblos, and chile-forward food culture make it a fascinating destination. But for residents, access to basic resources is a genuine challenge.

Many of the state’s 2.1 million people live in deeply rural areas where water scarcity, wildfires, and flooding are recurring problems. Education levels are among the lowest in the country, and high-paying jobs are largely concentrated in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, leaving rural communities economically isolated and often dependent on seasonal tourism.

Oklahoma

Happiness Score: 44.09

Oklahoma ranks as the 10th unhappiest state in the US. Food insecurity affects about 15.4% of households, and in many communities, fast food is the most accessible option, contributing to some of the highest obesity rates in the country.

The state scored notably low on WalletHub’s physical and emotional well-being metric (46 out of 100). Healthcare coverage gaps leave many residents without reliable access to medical care, which only deepens existing health challenges.

Indiana

Happiness Score: 46.48

Indiana doesn’t get a lot of attention in national travel conversations, and its challenges are similarly under-discussed. The state is one of the most affected by the fentanyl crisis in the Midwest, with high addiction rates placing ongoing strain on healthcare and social services.

Food insecurity, low job security, and persistent racial inequality in the workplace keep many Indiana families in difficult circumstances. WalletHub’s data shows that racial disparities in employment opportunities are a consistent driver of the state’s lower happiness score.

Mississippi

Happiness Score: 41.42

Mississippi sits just above Alabama on the rankings, but the challenges are significant. The state of 2.94 million people records low scores across both physical and mental well-being, with high crime rates and limited healthcare infrastructure adding to the pressure.

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, the state has the second-highest obesity rate in the country at 37.3%. Combined with a healthcare system that struggles to keep pace, many residents can’t access the treatment they need. Racial injustice also remains one of the most severe in the US and continues to shape economic and social outcomes across the state.

Texas

Happiness Score: 47.66

Texas makes it onto this list at number 12, which might surprise people given its reputation as a booming, opportunity-rich state. And parts of that reputation are earned, as Austin, Houston, and Dallas have thriving economies. But the picture isn’t uniform.

Texas has more prisons (313) and more incarcerated people than any other state. Racial injustice and socioeconomic inequality fuel those numbers. Food insecurity affects nearly 17% of adults across the state, and access to mental healthcare remains limited in many regions, particularly rural ones.

Final Thoughts

This list isn’t meant to discourage anyone from visiting these states. Some of my most memorable US experiences have been in places that show up on rankings like this one. What it does is offer a fuller picture of life beyond the tourist trail.

If you’re planning a trip through any of these states, I’d encourage you to spend money locally, support small businesses, and engage with communities in a way that’s respectful of what residents actually live with. Travel is always richer when you go in with your eyes open.

Curious about the other side of the coin? Check out my post on the happiest states in the US for a look at what’s working well elsewhere.