Science Says Missouri Suddenly 1 of the Least Stressed Out States

I have to admit that I didn't know that us Missourians were this chill. Missouri has just been ranked among the least stressed out states in America and I have questions.

Let's begin with the facts. Wallet Hub just named the most and least stressed out states in America and it's not just one writer's opinion, but based on upward of 40 different metrics. All of those different numbers are really based around 4 different areas of stress in life: work, money, family and health-related issues.

Looking at the map, the lighter the color, the less stressed the state is which is why Missouri is a very light blue.

Why is Missouri (allegedly) so carefree?

Missouri seems to be rated well for work and family-related stress issues. The breakdown is kind of complicated, but it looks like Missouri's more affordable childcare and short commute times helped the state appear less stressed than others.

Missouri is also a relatively safe state if you don't count a few parts of St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. The more rural parts of the state do rank well for low crime rates.

The other factor contributing to Missouri getting a pat on the back for being lower stressed has to do with a wide range of outdoor activities. Wanna go out on the lake? Missouri has tons of options. Wanna relax on a river cruise? You can do that. Relaxing hunting weekend with your friends or family? Of course that's a Missouri thing.

My kids tell me that "chill" is no longer one of those cool words that is commonly used, but I'll use it anyway because Missouri is really a chill place when you think about it.