This Is the Most Miserable State in the U.S.
Some states are like sunshine and rainbows—others are much more bleak.

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.