All the rankings are directly tied to poverty levels especially minority populations. Fact is, the south has a ton of black people and rednecks that are very poor. It is what it is. But among those in each state that are not at poverty level, how would it look? The upper 50-75 in Alabama may be just as happy as Colorado. Col has unreal low levels of ghettos and poverty. And very few rednecks/minorities.