Editorial

Study lists reasons Nebraskans ranked 6th happiest in U.S.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

A lot of us would argue with a recent study that money CAN buy happiness, even if the study suggests it's only effective up to $75,000 a year.

Actually, the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that income improves "evaluation of life" up to that amount, but not emotional well-being, according to an analysus of 450,000 responses to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a daily survey of 1,000 U.S. residents.

Nebraska is not known for particularly high incomes, but all things considered, it's a pretty good place to live, according to WalletHub's in-depth analysis of 2015's Most and Least Happy States in America.

Overall, according to the study, Nebraskans live in the sixth happiest state in the nation.

We're 20th in the Hedonometer score (studies online expressions of happiness and self-indulgence), 20th in depression rate, 11th in adequate sleep, 9th best in suicide rate, fourth best in long-term unemployment rate, 11th in volunteerism rate, sixth in divorce, 17 in safety and 11th best in income growth rate.

It will be easy to complain about today's unusually hot September weather, lack of rain and the upcoming winter chill, but remember, we have some good things goings for us as well.

Check out the WalletHub study here.

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