The State of the Nation Project released a survey ranking Minnesota as the U.S. state with the highest quality of life, citing 31 measures of health, education, and happiness.

The study shows a nationwide drop in self‑reported well‑being, with Minnesota still lagging behind the 98% of countries that outperform the U.S. in economic output but fall short in child mortality and mental health.

Investors eye the findings as a warning that wealth alone does not drive consumer confidence. States that spend wisely on social programs, like Minnesota’s high return on tax revenue, may see steadier economic growth.

Policy makers must address the uniform decline in trust and mental health, or risk deeper political polarization and reduced labor productivity across the country.