New Jersey, we could understand... but a new study on how "happy" people felt ranked the Nutmeg State among the worst states to live.
In no part due to these fellas from MTV's new hit "Jersey Shore", New Jersey didn't fare too well, either (#49) but Connecticut ranked 50th out of the 50 states plus Washington, D.C. New York came in a resounding #51.
Weather and cost of living were factors, as researchers asked 1.3 million Americans the question "How happy do you feel?"
The study compared self-described pleasant feelings with objective measures of good living. Economists Andrew J. Oswald of the University of Warwick in England and Stephen Wu of Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., compared the happiness ranking with studies that rated states on a variety of criteria ranging from sunshine hours to local taxes. The study is published online in the journal Science.
Not so shocking: sunny, outdoorsy states are happiest. Florida, Louisiana and Hawaii ranked best. Aloha.
