This Is the Most Miserable State in the U.S.
Sarah Cherry
Updated on February 23, 2026
This year has been a serious struggle for everyone. Between the coronavirus pandemic, the millions of unemployed workers, the racial injustices that sparked protests across the U.S. (and around the world), the wildfires, and a contentious election, this year has wrought a slew of challenges nobody could have ever expected. And that's not even including the headlines that are almost too hilariously scary to be true (hello, murder hornets). But while it may seem like the whole country is unbearable right now, there are some areas that are much more unpleasant than others. This is why we've crunched the numbers to discover which state is actually the most miserable place to be.
We analyzed five key metrics, starting with the most recent unemployment rate in each state, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Then, we calculated the U.S. Census Bureau's reported average poverty rate as well as each state's level of depression, according to QuoteWizard, a LendingTree company. We also factored in the seven-day average rate of positive COVID-19 test results in each state, according to Johns Hopkins' Coronavirus Resource Center, as that is particularly relevant to how well a state is doing right now. And finally, to balance it out, we considered WalletHub's happiness rank, which takes community, work environment, and other important determinants into account. When put through our exclusive algorithm, these data points resulted in a Misery Index score for each state. The higher the index, the more miserable the state tends to be.
With all that in consideration, one state stood out among the rest for being the most miserable. It has the second-highest depression rate in the U.S. and it has one of the highest unemployment rates also. Plus, above all, it has the lowest happiness rank in the country. To find out where your state falls, read on as we rank every state from least miserable to most miserable. And for more areas you may want to avoid, This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S.
50 Hawaii
Unemployment rate: 12.5 percent
Poverty rate: 9.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 2.8 percent
Depression rate: 11.76 percent
Happiness rank: 69.58
Misery Index: 3.34
And for more places you might not get the warmest welcome, This Is the Unfriendliest State in the U.S.
49 New Jersey
Unemployment rate: 10.9 percent
Poverty rate: 8.2 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 2.6 percent
Depression rate: 12.98 percent
Happiness rank: 64.1
Misery Index: 5.26
48 Minnesota
Unemployment rate: 7.4 percent
Poverty rate: 7.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 4.7 percent
Depression rate: 18.18 percent
Happiness rank: 65.87
Misery Index: 9.49
And if you're worried about finances right now, avoid The State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.
47 Maryland
Unemployment rate: 6.9 percent
Poverty rate: 7.5 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 5.8 percent
Depression rate: 16.12 percent
Happiness rank: 61.78
Misery Index: 10.86
46 Connecticut
Unemployment rate: 8.1 percent
Poverty rate: 9.7 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 1.4 percent
Depression rate: 16.98 percent
Happiness rank: 59.23
Misery Index: 13.13
And if you're curious where life is a little less exciting, This Is the Most Boring State in the U.S.
45 New Hampshire
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
Poverty rate: 5.6 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 1.5 percent
Depression rate: 21.54 percent
Happiness rank: 53.36
Misery Index: 16.92
44 California
Unemployment rate: 11.4 percent
Poverty rate: 11.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 2.7 percent
Depression rate: 14.48 percent
Happiness rank: 61.14
Misery Index: 18.82
43 Vermont
Unemployment rate: 4.8 percent
Poverty rate: 9 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 1.5 percent
Depression rate: 22.64 percent
Happiness rank: 55.59
Misery Index: 20.29
42 Virginia
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Poverty rate: 9.7 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 5.7 percent
Depression rate: 16.92 percent
Happiness rank: 56.27
Misery Index: 20.57
And if you can't get enough state rankings and facts, have them sent straight to your inbox by signing up for our daily newsletter.
41 North Dakota
Unemployment rate: 5 percent
Poverty rate: 10.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 7.6 percent
Depression rate: 18.14 percent
Happiness rank: 60.02
Misery Index: 21.66
40 Colorado
Unemployment rate: 6.7 percent
Poverty rate: 9.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 3.9 percent
Depression rate: 17.58 percent
Happiness rank: 52.57
Misery Index: 21.99
39 Massachusetts
Unemployment rate: 11.3 percent
Poverty rate: 9.2 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 1 percent
Depression rate: 19.56 percent
Happiness rank: 57.3
Misery Index: 24.82
38 Utah
Unemployment rate: 4.1 percent
Poverty rate: 7.6 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 14 percent
Depression rate: 21.98 percent
Happiness rank: 69.42
Misery Index: 25.94
37 New York
Unemployment rate: 12.5 percent
Poverty rate: 12.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 1.2 percent
Depression rate: 14.88 percent
Happiness rank: 54.86
Misery Index: 26.50
36 Delaware
Unemployment rate: 8.9 percent
Poverty rate: 7.6 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 5.7 percent
Depression rate: 17.9 percent
Happiness rank: 52.25
Misery Index: 27.95
35 Washington
Unemployment rate: 8.5 percent
Poverty rate: 8.8 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 2.8 percent
Depression rate: 22.22 percent
Happiness rank: 55.6
Misery Index: 29.04
34 Nebraska
Unemployment rate: 4 percent
Poverty rate: 10.3 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 12.1 percent
Depression rate: 17.96 percent
Happiness rank: 59.06
Misery Index: 29.66
33 Arizona
Unemployment rate: 5.7 percent
Poverty rate: 12.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 6.7 percent
Depression rate: 17.88 percent
Happiness rank: 53.47
Misery Index: 31.29
32 Georgia
Unemployment rate: 5.6 percent
Poverty rate: 13.3 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 6.2 percent
Depression rate: 17.32 percent
Happiness rank: 52.73
Misery Index: 32.11
31 Texas
Unemployment rate: 6.8 percent
Poverty rate: 12.7 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 7.6 percent
Depression rate: 15.28 percent
Happiness rank: 51.04
Misery Index: 33.72
30 Illinois
Unemployment rate: 11 percent
Poverty rate: 10.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 4.1 percent
Depression rate: 16.8 percent
Happiness rank: 50.14
Misery Index: 34.46
29 Maine
Unemployment rate: 6.9 percent
Poverty rate: 11.5 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 0.5 percent
Depression rate: 23.52 percent
Happiness rank: 50.12
Misery Index: 34.72
28 Iowa
Unemployment rate: 6 percent
Poverty rate: 8.6 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 17.7 percent
Depression rate: 17.88 percent
Happiness rank: 59.65
Misery Index: 40.71
27 Alaska
Unemployment rate: 7.4 percent
Poverty rate: 11.8 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 4.8 percent
Depression rate: 16.9 percent
Happiness rank: 40.85
Misery Index: 40.95
26 Rhode Island
Unemployment rate: 12.8 percent
Poverty rate: 9.8 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 1.8 percent
Depression rate: 21.62 percent
Happiness rank: 50.96
Misery Index: 41.08
25 North Carolina
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
Poverty rate: 13.6 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 6 percent
Depression rate: 19.16 percent
Happiness rank: 49.19
Misery Index: 41.33
24 Ohio
Unemployment rate: 8.9 percent
Poverty rate: 12.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 3.5 percent
Depression rate: 20.1 percent
Happiness rank: 48.37
Misery Index: 41.43
23 South Carolina
Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent
Poverty rate: 14.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 4.4 percent
Depression rate: 20.06 percent
Happiness rank: 48.78
Misery Index: 41.54
22 Michigan
Unemployment rate: 8.7 percent
Poverty rate: 10.7 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 3.3 percent
Depression rate: 21.74 percent
Happiness rank: 47.27
Misery Index: 41.61
21 Florida
Unemployment rate: 7.4 percent
Poverty rate: 12.9 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 10.1 percent
Depression rate: 15.92 percent
Happiness rank: 50.58
Misery Index: 42.06
20 Pennsylvania
Unemployment rate: 10.3 percent
Poverty rate: 10.5 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 7.9 percent
Depression rate: 19.62 percent
Happiness rank: 50.16
Misery Index: 46.48
19 Montana
Unemployment rate: 5.6 percent
Poverty rate: 10.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 11.1 percent
Depression rate: 20.58 percent
Happiness rank: 47.25
Misery Index: 47.51
18 South Dakota
Unemployment rate: 4.8 percent
Poverty rate: 10.6 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 21.5 percent
Depression rate: 16.42 percent
Happiness rank: 58.53
Misery Index: 48.11
17 Missouri
Unemployment rate: 7 percent
Poverty rate: 11 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 7.4 percent
Depression rate: 21.96 percent
Happiness rank: 45.79
Misery Index: 48.93
16 Wisconsin
Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent
Poverty rate: 8.7 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 19.3 percent
Depression rate: 17.92 percent
Happiness rank: 54.32
Misery Index: 49.92
15 Wyoming
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Poverty rate: 10.5 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 15.1 percent
Depression rate: 18.92 percent
Happiness rank: 49.26
Misery Index: 52.98
14 Idaho
Unemployment rate: 4.1 percent
Poverty rate: 10 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 23.3 percent
Depression rate: 19.14 percent
Happiness rank: 59.58
Misery Index: 53.5
13 Indiana
Unemployment rate: 6.4 percent
Poverty rate: 11.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 14.1 percent
Depression rate: 20.06 percent
Happiness rank: 47.96
Misery Index: 55.36
12 Oregon
Unemployment rate: 7.7 percent
Poverty rate: 9.8 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 7.1 percent
Depression rate: 25.2 percent
Happiness rank: 43.67
Misery Index: 55.93
11 Kansas
Unemployment rate: 6.9 percent
Poverty rate: 10.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 16.2 percent
Depression rate: 19.24 percent
Happiness rank: 49.16
Misery Index: 56.32
10 New Mexico
Unemployment rate: 11.3 percent
Poverty rate: 17.2 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 5 percent
Depression rate: 19.6 percent
Happiness rank: 47.03
Misery Index: 59.17
9 Nevada
Unemployment rate: 13.2 percent
Poverty rate: 12.2 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 14.9 percent
Depression rate: 16.14 percent
Happiness rank: 53.67
Misery Index: 59.21
8 Tennessee
Unemployment rate: 8.5 percent
Poverty rate: 12.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 6.4 percent
Depression rate: 22.36 percent
Happiness rank: 39.21
Misery Index: 59.51
7 Oklahoma
Unemployment rate: 5.7 percent
Poverty rate: 12.4 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 8.6 percent
Depression rate: 22.7 percent
Happiness rank: 37.66
Misery Index: 61.14
6 Kentucky
Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent
Poverty rate: 14.2 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 7.3 percent
Depression rate: 22.84 percent
Happiness rank: 38.29
Misery Index: 65.59
5 Louisiana
Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent
Poverty rate: 19.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 4.9 percent
Depression rate: 20.76 percent
Happiness rank: 38.15
Misery Index: 66.57
4 Mississippi
Unemployment rate: 7.9 percent
Poverty rate: 19.1 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 6.4 percent
Depression rate: 19.86 percent
Happiness rank: 39.52
Misery Index: 67
3 Arkansas
Unemployment rate: 7.4 percent
Poverty rate: 15 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 7.8 percent
Depression rate: 23.2 percent
Happiness rank: 36.83
Misery Index: 69.97
2 Alabama
Unemployment rate: 5.6 percent
Poverty rate: 14.7 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 13.3 percent
Depression rate: 22.64 percent
Happiness rank: 40.28
Misery Index: 72.2
1 West Virginia
Unemployment rate: 8.9 percent
Poverty rate: 15.6 percent
COVID test positivity rate: 3.2 percent
Depression rate: 24.62 percent
Happiness rank: 30.58
Misery Index: 74.06
And if you're worried about wasting your precious paycheck, This Is the State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.
Alex Daniel A journalist based in Brooklyn, New York.Read moreFiled UnderState FactsRead This NextWalmart Has a Surprise For These 6 States
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