Well-Being in America: The 5 Best and Worst States
-
Upload
the-motley-fool -
Category
Economy & Finance
-
view
17.601 -
download
1
Transcript of Well-Being in America: The 5 Best and Worst States
AMERICA’S 5 BEST AND WORST STATESMeasuring well-being in modern society.
Methodology Data primarily comes from the annual Gallup-
Healthways survey of well-being. States are ranked from 1 through 50. The survey used these five measures for well-being:
Purpose: Enjoying your work and feeling a drive to reach goals.
Social: Having meaningful and supportive relationships. Financial: Having enough money to be secure and
relatively stress-free. Community: Liking and feeling connected to where you
live. Physical: Being in good health.
The 5 Worst States for Well-Being
Mississippi
Purpose: 22nd
Social: 42nd
Financial: 50th
Community: 41st
Physical: 44th
Mississippi has a current unemployment rate of 6.7%, putting it near the bottom in the country.
The state relies heavily upon agriculture for economic development.
Mississippi’s largest employers include Wal-Mart and the University of Mississippi Medical Center
Overall5th
Worst
Ohio
Purpose: 47th
Social: 47th
Financial: 36th
Community: 49th
Physical: 40th
Ohio’s financial standing was middle-of-the-pack, with real weakness coming from a lack of community and social connections.
The largest employers in the state were Wal-Mart and the Cleveland Clinic Health System.
Overall4th
Worst
Indiana
Purpose: 44th
Social: 46th
Financial: 30th
Community: 42nd
Physical: 45th
Like Ohio, Indiana is middle-of-the-road financially. It’s possible that low scores for social and communal ties come shrinking small farming towns.
Indiana’s largest employers include the Indiana University Medical Center and the Indiana University system in general.
Overall3rd
Worst
Kentucky
Purpose: 48th
Social: 49th
Financial: 46th
Community: 26th
Physical: 49th
Though Kentucky’s financial scores are low, its unemployment rate (5.1%) is actually slightly lower than the national average (5.3%).
The state’s median household income of just over $42,000, however, is among the lowest in the country.
Kentucky’s largest employers include Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland and Wal-Mart.
Overall2nd
Worst
West Virginia
Purpose: 50th
Social: 48th
Financial: 43rd
Community: 38th
Physical: 50th
A state that’s traditionally counted on the mining industry, West Virginia has the worst unemployment rate in the country: 7.2%.
The median household income is also among the lowest in the country.
West Virginia’s largest employers include West Virginia University Medical Center and Wal-Mart.
Overall: The Worst
The 5 Best States for Well-Being
Photo: Brian Stansberry, via Wikimedia Commons
Montana
Purpose: 10th
Social: 33rd
Financial: 8th
Community: 2nd
Physical: 9th
While social interactions may be sparse, the state is in good shape. Unemployment hovers at just 3.9%, and the state has relatively low inequality.
Montana’s primary industries are agriculture and mining, though travel and tourism are important as well.
The state’s largest employers include The Billings Clinic and Wal-Mart.
Overall5th
Best
Wyoming
Purpose: 11th
Social: 2nd
Financial: 4th
Community: 4th
Physical: 12th
The country’s least-populous state has very healthy scores in the survey. Wyoming also has the third-lowest levels of inequality in the USA as measured by the Gini Coefficient.
Mining is the predominant industry in the state.
The largest employers in the state are the FE Warren Air Force Base and Wal-Mart.
Overall4th
Best
South Dakota
Purpose: 4th
Social: 1st
Financial: 5th
Community: 1st
Physical: 11th
Apparently, South Dakota is tops for friendship and community.
It’s also a pretty good place to live financially: unemployment sits at a low 3.8%.
South Dakota’s largest employers include IBP Hog Market and Avera Health.
Overall3rd
Best
Hawai’i
Purpose: 5th
Social: 28th
Financial: 1st
Community: 5th
Physical: 1st
Hawai’i residents reported that they were the healthiest in the country: financially and physically!
Unemployment sits at just 4.1% and tourism serves as the major industry.
The state’s largest employers include Altres Medical and the University of Hawai’i.
Overall2nd
Best
Alaska
Purpose: 1st
Social: 7th
Financial: 2nd
Community: 3rd
Physical: 2nd
Alaska was the only state to rank in the top ten of every category. It also has the second-lowest level of inequality in the country, as measured by the Gini Coefficient.
Oil and gas exploration is the state’s biggest industry.
Alaska’s largest employers include the Anchorage International Airport and Providence Health.
Overall: The Best
While we at The Motley Fool think all five of these
categories are important, we specialize in financial health.
If you find yourself approaching retirement, and want a healthier financial life
in your Golden Years, I suggest you check out our newest
report…
THE $60,000 SOCIAL SECURITY BONUS MOST RETIREES COMPLETELY OVERLOOK