Indiana Is The Fourth Most Miserable State In The Union
INDIANAPOLIS — If you’re unhappy living in Indiana, you’re not alone.
Indiana ranked the fourth most miserable state, according to the financial news and opinion web site 24/7 Wall St.
24/7 Wall Street used data from a survey of 177,281 people by Gallup and Heathways to measure all 50 states by well-being, using metrics such as physical fitness and community pride. Only West Virginia, Oklahoma and Kentucky fared worse than the Hoosier state.
“The index measures whether individuals feel a sense of purpose, have supportive relationships, are financially secure, are satisfied with their community, and are in good physical health,” 24/7 Wall Street said. “According to the survey, Hawaii residents report the highest well-being, West Virginia’s the lowest.”
The survey found 31.3 percent of Indiana residents are obese, 30.6 smoke, and 29.4 percent don’t exercise at all. Indiana also is one of the worst educated states with only 24.9 of adults with a bachelor’s degree and has a low median household income to match.
“A shallow talent pool may be one reason behind the state’s low median household income, which at $50,532 is approximately $5,000 less than the national median income,” 24/7 Wall Street said.