Whether big or small, families are some of the most connected groups of people in the world. These bonds continue to grow over the years through thick and thin, and regardless of how close you live to one another or how often you visit, family is always there when you need them most. With this in mind, we wanted to learn which parts of the country have the strongest connections.

To find this, we surveyed Americans in every state to learn about their family dynamics. We asked about how often they are in touch, the activities they do together, the characteristics of their family, and more. Read on to see how the state your family calls home ranked.

Key Takeaways

1 in 4 Americans are in touch daily with family members outside of their home.
35% of Americans say they never get into a serious argument with family members.
1 in 3 Americans say their family only gets together when they absolutely have to.
Dining at home, watching TV, and shopping are the most common activities families do together.
The average American ranks their family's happiness as 7.3 out of 10.
74% of Americans would describe their family as happier than most.

The States Where American Families Are the Happiest

A happy family can look different to many people. To determine which states have the happiest families, we surveyed Americans and asked a variety of questions about their family’s dynamic. To build a happiness scale, we awarded points to respondents who are in contact with family members more often, as well as those who enjoy time with their family and more.

Leading the way with the happiest families in the U.S is Tennessee with a score of 95.9 out of 100. Nearly 2 in 5 residents of the state say they are in contact with their family daily. Overall, 1 in 4 Americans are also in touch daily with family members outside of their home. Sometimes, all it takes to calm your mind after a busy day is a call from mom or dad.

Following closely behind in second is Maryland with a score of 95.8 out of 100. Residents of the state are among the most likely to never get in serious arguments with family. In third is Idaho with a score of 95.4 out of 100. When it comes to residents’ relationships, 80% of Idahoans rank their family as a 7 or higher out of 10, with 10 being the happiest.

On the other end of the scale, Oregon received the lowest score of 76.1 out of 100. When it comes to serious arguments, 1 in 10 residents say they fight with family members monthly. Next on the list for least happy families is Michigan with a score of 80.0 out of 100. While the state did not receive a particularly low score, residents of Michigan are the most likely to say they are not on good terms with all of their family members.

The Happiest U.S. Cities for Families

On a more local level, we found families in Virginia Beach, VA, Albuquerque, NM, and Los Angeles, CA, are the happiest, as all three cities recorded a score of 95 or higher. Virginia Beach and Los Angeles had the highest percentage of residents who said they can’t get enough when spending time with their families. Even when you are unable to spend time together, looking back on photos of times together can help to fill that gap until you can create new memories together.

While 1 in 5 Americans say they love time with their loved ones, 58% of people prefer to spend time with their families in moderation. In addition, 74% of Americans would describe their family as happier than most.

Part of a happy relationship is having someone to turn to. Whether that be in good or bad times, a family member can be one of the most important people in your life. In our study, we found Americans feel they have the most open communication with their spouse/partner, parental figures, and siblings.

On the other hand, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Pittsburgh, PA, ranked as the least happy cities for families. When it comes to family gatherings, 1 in 3 Portland residents say their family only gets together when they have to. A lack of visits does not necessarily mean these families are unhappy, however, as distance can prevent people from getting together more often.

Taking a Look Inside American Family Dynamics

It is not easy for every family to spend time together in person often, but when they are together, dining at home, watching TV, and shopping are the most common activities families do together. Another 1 in 2 people say their family travels together, while 57% enjoy cooking together.

Spending time with those you love can make any task more enjoyable. We found that 36% of Americans even spend time with their family doing chores. While there may be a bit of enjoyment in doing chores together, this can also be viewed as an act of kindness which can help to grow relationships even further.

Every family is different, from size and location of residence to values and beliefs, but at the end of the day there are certain characteristics that are a sign of a happy family. In our study, we found that “supportive,” “loving,” and “loyal” were the most common descriptors of families.

In addition, 1 in 2 people would describe their family as respectful, and 41% consider their family to be patient. Perhaps these characteristics play a role in the 1 in 6 Americans who view their family as “very happy.”

Capture the Moment with Mixbook

While many Americans live close to their family, this is not always the case. That’s why keepsakes and photos are vital to staying connected, even when we aren’t physically together.

At Mixbook, we understand the significance of these memories. Whether creating a photo book celebrating your latest family get-together or decorating your walls with cherished family photos, our photo products help tell your family’s story, enabling you to relive unforgettable, happy memories that will be cherished for years to come.

Methodology

In this study, we surveyed Americans in every state to find where families are the happiest. To determine this rating, we asked a variety of questions to gauge how people view their family's happiness, how they think others view their family and more. We assigned points to all answer choices that represented happiness. We then averaged respondents' scores by state and city to create a Happiness Score. Finally, we adjusted those scores on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the happiest.

Our scoring did not take into account the size of families, as it does not directly relate to their level of happiness.