New Jersey may have a reputation for congested highways and a punishing cost of living, but a new national study suggests Garden State residents are handling it better than most Americans.
According to a 2026 report by financial research outlet WalletHub, which analyzed all 50 states across 40 stress-related metrics, New Jersey ranked 40th on the overall stress scale — placing it among the 11th least stressed states in the country.
The ranking comes with a notable asterisk. While New Jersey scored well in financial, family, and health-related stability, it ranked 10th in work-related stress, a category driven by long commutes and high professional expectations, both hallmarks of life in the metro corridor.
The state’s strengths, however, more than compensated. New Jersey ranked 46th in money-related stress, putting it among the five least financially stressed states in the nation. It also ranked 39th in family-related stress and 44th in health and safety stress — 12th and 7th best nationally, respectively.
The state also ranks among the lowest nationally in the percentage of adults reporting fair or poor health, and offers better-than-average access to mental health professionals.
The statewide numbers, however, mask a sharp internal divide. In a companion WalletHub study of individual cities, Newark ranked as the 22nd most stressed city in the country, driven by high work stress (12th nationally) and financial stress (16th nationally).
The contrast reflects what local analysts described as “a tale of two realities” — where the state’s high median income and robust healthcare system provide a cushion for many residents, urban centers like Newark face significantly higher levels of job insecurity and cost-of-living pressure.
New Jersey’s standing looks even stronger against the national backdrop. Louisiana claimed the unwanted top spot as the most stressed state in 2026, weighed down by the nation’s highest poverty rate and lowest job security scores. Kentucky and New Mexico followed close behind.
At the opposite end, South Dakota, Utah, and Minnesota ranked as the three least stressed states in the country.