Utah Tops New Well-Being Index

Utah often ranks at or near the top of national quality of life studies and so it is no big surprise that we are number 1 in a new Gallop-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Hawaii, Wyoming, Colorado and Minnesota round out the top five in the comprehensive study. See the complete rankings here.

The report has generated some interesting commentary, such as that shown below.

From CheapFlights.com: Travel to Your Happy Place: Survey Ranks America's Happiest States

Looking for happiness? Look no further than Utah. In a survey of Americans' well-being, Utah ranked the happiest state in the nation.

The survey was conducted by Gallup in partnership with Healthways and America's Health Insurance Plans. High marks went to Utah, thanks to its endless outdoor activities that keep people active and promote a healthy lifestyle.

From the Chicago Tribune: Utah: More fun than Illinois?

No, really: Recent news seems to dispel the belief that the Beehive State is a little more uptight than the rest of us

• Drinking laws are being liberalized: Legislators voted to eliminate the private club system that required customers to fill out an application and pay a fee to be able to enter a bar. In addition, bartenders in restaurants can now serve cocktails directly over bar counters instead of walking around them.

• Utah residents are the happiest in the nation, according to a Gallup Poll index of well-being out last week. (Illinois was a dismal 31st.)

• The University of Utah's football team went 13-0 last season. University of Illinois? 5-7.