New Jersey has been ranked the second-happiest state in the country, according to a new WalletHub study, placing the Garden State near the top of a national list measuring residents’ overall well-being.

New Jersey moved up from fourth place in WalletHub’s previous ranking, putting it behind only Hawaii in the 2026 study. Maryland ranked third, followed by Nebraska and Connecticut.

WalletHub compared all 50 states using dozens of measures across categories including emotional and physical well-being, work environment and community and environment.

New Jersey’s strong showing was driven in part by its performance in measures related to childhood experiences and overall well-being. According to WalletHub, New Jersey had the lowest share of residents reporting traumatic events during childhood and ranked fifth nationally on another key measure used in the study.

The study’s findings highlight several areas where New Jersey performs particularly well despite the state’s relatively high cost of living and other economic pressures.

WalletHub’s rankings are based on factors that go beyond income and economic conditions, incorporating measures intended to capture residents’ quality of life and personal well-being.

New Jersey residents also scored highly when it comes to marriage. The Garden State has the second-lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, with roughly 17% of marriages ending in separation or divorce, according to the study.

The state also performed well on measures of financial well-being.

New Jersey has the second-highest share of households earning more than $75,000 annually. It also has the seventh-lowest food insecurity rate in the country, a measure WalletHub said reflects progress in addressing poverty.

Hawaii took the top spot in the latest ranking, while Maryland, Nebraska and Connecticut rounded out the top five.

At the opposite end of the list, West Virginia was ranked the least-happy state, followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Alaska.

The WalletHub ranking comes amid ongoing debates over quality of life in New Jersey, where residents contend with high housing costs and taxes but also benefit from relatively strong household incomes, access to employment opportunities and proximity to major metropolitan areas.

The study does not attempt to measure whether residents are literally happy at every moment, but instead uses a collection of statistical indicators as a proxy for overall happiness and well-being.

Neighboring New York was 11th and Pennsylvania was 25.

Are you happy here in New Jersey?