Are most people in Southern States happy the way their State is going in 2025
Executive summary
Available reporting suggests Southern states overall score lower on nationwide “happiness” or well‑being indexes in 2025, with several Appalachian/Southern states near the bottom of WalletHub‑based rankings cited by Visual Capitalist and others (e.g., West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas) [1]. At the same time, local surveys and city‑level measures show high resident satisfaction in some Southern cities (San Antonio, Nashville, Tampa), so feelings about “how a state is going” vary by geography and by the metrics used [2] [3].
1. Southern states rank poorly on national happiness indexes
Multiple 2025 lists that aggregate measures such as depression rates, income growth, commute time, volunteer rates and life expectancy place many Southern and Appalachian states near the bottom of national happiness rankings; Visual Capitalist’s map — based on WalletHub data — identifies West Virginia, Louisiana and Arkansas as the three lowest‑scoring states, each below a score of 40 [1]. Several other outlets repackaging WalletHub or similar studies echo that pattern, noting “Southern states struggle with lower happiness scores” in 2025 analyses [4] [5].
2. Definitions and metrics matter — “happiness” is an index, not a feeling check
The national rankings cited rely on composite indices that combine many indicators (emotional and physical health, work environment, community engagement, economic measures), so a low state score can reflect deficits in one or two areas rather than universal unhappiness among residents [1] [6]. Different studies stress different components: WalletHub‑based lists emphasize clinical and economic metrics, while other rankings highlight environmental quality, work‑life balance, or volunteerism when labeling a state “happy” [1] [6] [7].
3. City and local results complicate the story — some Southern cities report high satisfaction
City‑level surveys produce a different picture: Gensler’s 2024/25 City Pulse survey found San Antonio with just over 78% of residents “satisfied” or “very satisfied” — one of the highest city satisfaction rates in the nation — and notes high satisfaction in other Southern metros as well (San Antonio, and elsewhere Raleigh is highlighted) [2]. Travel + Leisure cites Clever Offers data naming Nashville and Tampa as tied for the best cities to live in 2025, indicating strong local approval in at least some Southern population centers [3].
4. Geographic and demographic heterogeneity inside Southern states matters
The Southern region includes large, diverse states with rural areas, midsize cities, and fast‑growing metros; national happiness scores can be driven down by concentrated health or economic problems in rural or Appalachian counties while urban centers show higher satisfaction [1] [2]. Available sources do not offer a single, representative statewide poll of “most people” across every Southern state; the evidence instead is a mix of composite state indices and targeted city or topical surveys [1] [2].
5. Policy and economic context helps explain rankings
Analyses accompanying these rankings link lower happiness scores in Southern/Appalachian states to higher adult depression, weaker health supports, lower income growth, and other structural issues cited in WalletHub‑based reporting [1] [5]. Conversely, higher‑ranking states often have better health measures, stronger volunteer and community ties, and shorter work weeks — all factors singled out by legal and lifestyle writeups as drivers of resident well‑being [4] [6].
6. Competing viewpoints and limitations of the available reporting
Some lifestyle and travel outlets lean on the same datasets to highlight attractive Southern cities and suburbs for relocation, suggesting quality‑of‑life tradeoffs [3] [8]. Important limitations: the available sources are secondary compilations and rankings rather than a single, representative poll asking “are you happy with how your state is going?” — they use different methodologies and scales, so they cannot definitively say “most people” statewide feel one way or another [1] [2]. Where direct public‑opinion surveys of statewide satisfaction exist, those are not included in the current set of sources — not found in current reporting.
7. Bottom line for the original question
If you mean “are most people in Southern states happy with how their state is going in 2025?” the evidence is mixed: aggregated national happiness indices show many Southern/Appalachian states ranking low on composite measures [1] [5], but separate city‑level satisfaction surveys find strong approval in specific Southern metros like San Antonio, Nashville and Tampa [2] [3]. Available sources do not provide a single, conclusive statewide public‑opinion poll covering all Southern states on that precise question (not found in current reporting).