The 10 Least Stressed States of 2017

It’s no secret that stress can have profound effects on your life, both professionally and personally. The good news is that we’re finding out just how damaging prolonged exposure to stress can be, and we’re investigating the ways to remove stress from our lives as much as possible. According to the American Psychological Association, Americans’ stress levels in 2016 were at their lowest levels in 10 years. But in 2017, those levels are starting to tick back up, in some states more than others.

WalletHub has ranked the 10 most and 10 least stressed out states using 33 key indicators of stress, including average hours worked per week, personal bankruptcy rate, and the number of adults who are getting adequate sleep each night. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were included in the analysis, with each of the 33 indicators corresponding to a ranking score. A score of 100 was equal to the highest stress level possible.

Click the next page to see the rankings of the 10 least stressed out states, starting with number 1.

1. Wisconsin

· A score of 38.41 ranked this state as the least stressed in America.

· According to WalletHub’s 2016 Most and Least Stressed Cities analysis, Madison, WI boasts the fewest average hours worked each week, in addition to the most psychologists per capita.

2. Colorado

· This year, Colorado received a score of 37.28, making it the second least stressed state in the country.

· Colorado earned high marks for the most average hours of sleep a person got each night.

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3. Vermont

· A score of 36.27 makes Vermont the third least stressed state in America this year.

· Compared to other states, people in Vermont tend to work less than people elsewhere.

4. New Hampshire

· Residents of this state enjoy a higher standard of living — compared to other states, New Hampshire has one of the lowest percentages of people living below the poverty line.

· New Hampshire residents are also among the lowest percentage of adults in fair or poor health.

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5. Nebraska

· People in Nebraska know how to handle their cash - residents tend to have higher average credit scores compared to those in other states.

· Nebraska also has some of the most affordable housing in the country.

6. Utah

· In Utah, residents are in it for life - the state has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country.

· People in this state also work less compared to people in other parts of the country.

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7. South Dakota

· While markets in other areas are pricing many people out, residents of South Dakota enjoy some of the most affordable housing options in America.

· People living in this state enjoy more sleep every night compared to people living elsewhere.

8. Iowa

· Iowa residents are fortunate to be living in a state with one of the lowest percentages of adults with a fair or poor health condition.

· People living in this state also have access to more affordable housing.

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9. North Dakota

· Like its southern neighbor, North Dakota boasts more affordable housing options compared to other states.

· People here also seem to be happier together, since the state’s divorce rate is among the lowest in the country.

10. Minnesota

· Fortunately for Minnesotians, job security is a very real thing — people living here enjoy one of the highest rates of job security nationwide.

· It seems like hard work pays off as well, since people living here also have some of the highest credit scores.

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