Stressed Out? Utah Not So Much

A few years ago the group Twenty One Pilots had song playing on the radio called Stressed Out. Basically, it was a desire to return to “the good old days” when cares centered around playing with childhood friends, but as we got older we all got stressed out, usually in pursuit of the need to make money.

While stress has become component of modern life in society, it appears some areas of the country handle stress better than other areas, and there's good news for Utah.

A new report from WalletHub suggests that while Americans everywhere feel stress from time to time, where you live can make a noticeable difference in just how frazzled you feel. The financial analysis site recently released its annual ranking of the most and least stressed states, and the results offer both reassurance and a few raised eyebrows—especially here in Utah.

40 Indicators Show Utah In Good Shape

WalletHub’s study looked at 40 different indicators of stress, grouped into four main categories: work, money, family, and health and safety. In other words, everything from long commutes and job hours to divorce rates, debt levels, and access to healthcare was fair game. The goal was to capture not just who’s busy, but who’s overwhelmed.

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At the top of the stress charts, states like New Mexico, Nevada, and Louisiana are feeling the pressure. These areas tend to struggle with higher poverty rates, crime, and health challenges—factors that can turn everyday life into a bit of a pressure cooker. Meanwhile, many Southern and Southwestern states dominate the “most stressed” list, proving that sunshine alone isn’t always enough to keep worries at bay.

And I always thought New Mexico was pretty laid back.

Then there’s Utah, which lands comfortably among the least stressed states in the nation. That might come as a surprise to anyone who has tried merging onto I-15 at rush hour, or even tried to turn left on Main street in Cedar, but the data paints a fairly calm picture overall. Utah benefits from a strong economy, relatively low poverty rates, and one of the lowest divorce rates in the country. Residents also report working fewer hours on average than much of the nation, leaving at least a little more time to breathe, hike, or argue about whether fry sauce counts as a food group.

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Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. The report notes that Utah has fewer mental health providers per capita than many other states, a reminder that even in a relatively low-stress environment, support systems still matter. After all, you can’t exactly meditate your way out of every problem—especially if your internet goes down during a streaming binge.

The broader takeaway from the WalletHub report is that stress is about more than just being busy. Economic stability, family dynamics, and access to healthcare all play a major role in shaping how people experience daily life. For Utahns, the news is largely positive: the Beehive State appears to be doing a solid job of keeping stress in check.