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Fun is inherently a subjective thought.
But in a current report, WalletHub set out to quantify what makes a state enjoyable, rating all 50 states based mostly on numerous leisure and recreation metrics.
And Californians are in luck: The Golden State took the highest spot.
“Living in one of the most fun states can boost your mental, physical and emotional health by giving you a wide range of activities to choose from, both indoor and outdoor,” Chip Lupo, an analyst with WalletHub, said in a news release. “These states help residents stay active and socialize, and they’re also ideal for travelers who want to make the most out of the limited amount of time that they have to explore.”
Here’s what to learn about WalletHub’s report, together with the place California ranked and the way different states fared.
Why California ranked as essentially the most enjoyable state
With an total rating of 67.35 out of 100, California ranked as essentially the most enjoyable state in 2026, WalletHub’s report discovered.
The state boasts “an especially large number of restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters, and fitness centers per capita,” WalletHub mentioned, including that it additionally has the second-most sights per capita throughout the 50 states.
When the corporate was wanting on the Golden State’s nightlife, it discovered it had numerous performing-arts institutions and music festivals per capita.
California additionally had the ninth-best entry to bars.
“And even though California is one of the most expensive states for beer, it’s the least expensive for wine – likely due to the abundance produced locally,” WalletHub mentioned.
Then, for outside, the state has essentially the most scenic byways per capita.
“It also has the best beach access in the country and the fourth-best weather (at least, when it’s not too hot to go out),” WalletHub mentioned.
The most enjoyable states, per report
Here are essentially the most enjoyable states, together with their total scores, per WalletHub’s report.
- No. 1: California (67.35)
- No. 2: Florida (64.14)
- No. 3: Illinois (59.87)
- No. 4: Nevada (58.76)
- No. 5: New York (58.40)
- No. 6: Colorado (56.15)
- No. 7: Washington (55.75)
- No. 8: Texas (53.67)
- No. 9: Minnesota (49.48)
- No. 10: Arizona (48.01)
The least enjoyable states, based on report
Here are the least enjoyable states, together with their total scores, based on WalletHub’s report.
- No. 50: West Virginia (20.57)
- No. 49: Mississippi (21.62)
- No. 48: Vermont (23.97)
- No. 47: Arkansas (24.00)
- No. 46: Delaware (24.57)
- No. 45: Rhode Island (24.79)
- No. 44: Connecticut (26.67)
- No. 43: New Hampshire (27.33)
- No. 42: Alabama (28.13)
- No. 41: Maine (28.87)
WalletHub’s methodology
To decide essentially the most enjoyable states, WalletHub mentioned it in contrast the 50 states throughout two classes — leisure and recreation and nightlife — utilizing 26 metrics.
For leisure and recreation, the corporate examined elements such because the variety of sights, the number of arts, leisure and recreation institutions, eating places per capita, amusement parks per capita, golf programs and nation golf equipment per capita, and film theaters per capita. The evaluation additionally thought-about seaside high quality and entry to nationwide parks.
To assess nightlife, WalletHub evaluated elements together with common beer and wine costs, film ticket prices, nightlife choices per capita, entry to bars, last-call occasions, music festivals per capita, casinos per capita and performing arts theaters per capita.
Each of the metrics was graded on a 100-point scale, with a rating of 100 representing “the greatest number and variety of fun and cost-effective options,” WalletHub mentioned. From there, the corporate decided every state’s weighted common throughout the metrics to derive an total rating that was utilized in its rankings.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/california/2026/08/28/wallethub-ranks-california-the-nations-most-fun-state/91510835007/
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