The Happiest, Healthiest, Wealthiest and Dumbest State: How Hawaii Fares in Nationwide Rankings
America might be known as the 50 United States, but there’s nothing we like better than a little interstate competition. From cost-of-living to obesity rates—if you can measure it, there’s a list, ranking the states from best to worst. How does Hawaii stack up? We’re the best! And the worst! If you ever wanted to quantify exactly how it feels to live in the Islands, compared with all those Mainland states, check out this round-up of national lists we show up on—the good, the bad, and the just-plain weird.
Cost of Living
What’s the price of Paradise? Too damn high!
States with the Highest Gas Prices |
No. 1 – Hawaii |
America’s Most Overpriced Cities |
No. 1 – Honolulu |
Most Expensive U.S. Metropolitan Areas |
No. 2 – Hawaii |
25 Most Expensive Cities in America |
No. 3 – Honolulu |
11 Best States to Retire |
No. 3 – Hawaii |
America’s Richest States |
No. 5 – Hawaii |
Most Expensive Cities in the U.S. for Room Service |
No. 11 – Honolulu |
Best & Worst States for Military Retirees |
No. 12 – Honolulu |
Best Places to Retire |
No. 46 – Honolulu |
Most & Least Energy-Expensive States |
No. 51 – Hawaii |
Economics
A lot of people want to live in Hawaii. Making a living, that’s the tough part.
Worst State to Make a Living |
No. 1 – Hawaii |
Five Worst States for Doing Business in the U.S. |
No. 2 – Hawaii |
Worst U.S. States to Die In |
No. 4 – Hawaii |
Unemployment Rates for States Ranked Low to High, June 2014 |
No. 7 – Hawaii |
Best State for Business 2014 |
No. 43 – Hawaii |
The Best Cities to Find a Job |
No. 57 – Honolulu |
Transportation
Island roads might not take you very far, but they’ll drive you crazy anyways.
Photo: Dallas Nagata White
Worst Cities for Parking Your Car |
No. 6 – Honolulu |
Worst Cities for Car Drivers |
No. 9 – Honolulu |
Bicycle Friendly State |
No. 40 – Hawaii |
Education
Never mind three R’s, we’ve got the three S’s: Sand, Surf and Sea.
Education Rankings by State |
No. 13 – Hawaii |
U.S. States Ranked: Smart to Dumb |
No. 42 – Hawaii |
Weather
Finally, a category we can dominate —wait, worst sky conditions?
Photo: Ambika Castle
Mild Year-Round Weather |
No. 45 – Honolulu, East Honolulu, Pearl City |
Worst Sky Conditions |
No. 592 – Hilo |
Quality of Life
Our wallets might be empty, but at least we’re happy. (cue the Pharrell soundtrack!)
Photo: Ambika Castle |
The 10 Best Cities for Child-Free Living |
No. 1 – Honolulu |
Top 10 States, Gallup Standard of Living Index, 2013 |
No. 3 – Hawaii |
2014’s Safest States to Live In |
No. 4 – Hawaii |
Residents’ View of Their State as the Best Place to Live |
No. 6 – Hawaii |
Best States for Young People |
No. 6 – Hawaii |
Top 10 States with Lowest Obesity Rates |
No. 9 – Hawaii |
25 Happiest, Healthiest Cities In America |
No. 10 – Honolulu |
What Are the Safest States in America? |
No. 24 – Hawaii |
States with the Lowest Obesity Rates |
No. 47 – Hawaii |
Natural Beauty
Life’s a beach, and we’ve got lots of really great ones.
World’s 50 Best Surf Spots |
No. 1 – Pipeline, Oahu |
Dr. Beach: America’s Top 10 Beaches |
No. 1 – Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. |
No. 1 – Lanikai Beach, Oahu |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. |
No. 2 – Kaanapali Beach, Maui |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. |
No. 4 – Hanalei, Kauai |
Dr. Beach: America’s Top 10 Beaches |
No. 4 – Waimanalo State Beach Park, Oahu |
Dr. Beach: America’s Top 10 Beaches |
No. 5 – Hamoa Beach, Maui |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. |
No. 5 – Waianapanapa State Park, Maui |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. |
No. 6 – Wailea Beach, Maui |
Best Summer Honeymoon Destinations for Your Wallet |
No. 6 – Honolulu |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. |
No. 8 – Maniniowali Beach, Big Island |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the World |
No. 8 – Lanikai Beach, Oahu |
TripAdvisor: Top 10 Beaches in the World |
No. 10 – Hanauma Bay, Oahu |
World’s 100 Best Beaches |
No. 27 – Hanalei Bay, Kauai |
Offbeat
Our food is great, we love Obama, we’ve got Aloha spirit. Lucky we live Hawaii!
Photo: David Croxford
% Obama Approval |
Hawaii (61.3%)National Average (46.5%) |
Lowest Voter Turnout Rate in the Country in 2008 |
No. 1 – Hawaii |
Five Least Stressed States |
No. 1 – Hawaii |
Top 10 Liberal States |
No. 6 – Hawaii |
15 States with the Highest Share of Immigrants in their Population |
No. 6 – Hawaii |
Top 10 Most Expensive Coffee in the World |
No. 8 – Hawaiian Kona Coffee |
Which States Have the Most State Pride? |
No. 12 – Hawaii |
Every State in the USA, Ranked by its Food/Drink |
No. 16 – Malassadas |
