If you live in Illinois, Connecticut or Rhode Island, the chances are you know someone who is not happy. Not happy at all.

Around a quarter of the population living in these regions have described them each as the 'worst possible state to live in', according to a survey.

The map data doesn't explain the nature of the residents' grievances.

Around a quarter of Illinois, Connecticut and Rhode Island residents described their state as the worst possible one to live in, according to a survey

'Worst possible US states to live in' Illinois (21-25% population said)

(21-25% population said) Connecticut (17-20%)

(17-20%) Rhode Island (17-20%)

(17-20%) Louisiana (13-16%)

(13-16%) Mississippi (13-16%) Advertisement

... and where the most satisfied live Utah

Colorado

Wyoming

Texas

North Dakota

Minnesota

Iowa

Wisconsin

New Hampshire

Maine Advertisement

However, classic socio-economic indicators would clearly be relevant - including work-life balance, healthcare, crime levels, education, housing, income and the environment.

While 21-25 per cent of people in the Gallup survey ranked these three states as the 'worst', Louisiana and Mississippi also featured prominently - with 17-20 per cent describing the two southern states as the worst.

Socio-economic factors would have played a part in residents' evaluation of their states. Illinois (pictured, Chicago) ranked among the worst

On a positive note, ten states had only 1-2 per cent of their population who weren't happy: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Maine.

Posters took to Reddit to discuss the findings, including one who said of Connecticut and Rhode Island: 'Poor economy I guess, though everyone in the area has a bit of an inferiority complex from the rest of the country picking on their size.'

Another said: 'Connecticut is low because of the overwhelming tax burden.'

How would you describe the state you live in? Best or one of the best possible Best possible state to Worst possible

states to live in live in state to live in Montana 77% 24% 0% Alaska 77% 27% 4%

Utah 70% 15% 2%

Wyoming 69% 21% 1%

Texas 68% 28% 2%

Hawaii 68% 25% 4%

New Hampshire 67% 13% 1%

North Dakota 66% 21% 2%

Colorado 65% 16% 1%

Vermont 61% 14% 3%

Oregon 61% 13% 3%

Minnesota 61% 13% 2%

Washington 58% 14% 3%

South Dakota 57% 13% 3%

Maine 57% 10% 2%

Iowa 56% 13% 1%

Idaho 54% 11% 3%

Nebraska 52% 10% 3%

California 51% 13% 6%

Wisconsin 49% 8% 2%

Virginia 47% 7% 3%

Tennessee 47% 10% 3%

Florida 46% 11% 4%

Massachusetts 46% 7% 6%

Georgia 41% 9% 3%

New York 41% 9% 12%

Arizona 41% 10% 5%

Delaware 39% 7% 3%

Alabama 39% 10% 7%

South Carolina 39% 10% 7%

Oklahoma 39% 7% 6%

Kentucky 38% 8% 6%

Arkansas 37% 8% 4%

West Virginia 36% 11% 6%

Pennsylvania 34% 6% 3%

Indiana 34% 6% 3%

Kansas 34% 5% 3%

North Carolina 34% 6% 6%

Nevada 33% 9% 7%

Ohio 32% 4% 5%

Connecticut 31% 3% 17%

Missouri 29% 4% 3%

Maryland 29% 5% 9%

New Jersey 28% 6% 10%

New Mexico 28% 5% 7%

Michigan 28% 5% 9%

Louisiana 27% 7% 13%

Mississippi 26% 7% 15%

Illinois 19% 3% 25%

Rhode Island 18% 3% 17%

(Source: Gallup)

For real happiness, go to Boulder, Colorado...

If you want to lead a happy life, Boulder, Colorado, it seems, is the place to be – because it was named as the happiest city in the U.S. last October.

It topped a list of 25 of America's happiest cities, revealed in the book The Blue Zones of Happiness, by National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner.

Along with National Geographic and Gallup, he developed an index to measure a population's happiness based on 15 metrics including civic engagement, walkability and healthful food options.

Boulder tops the list with walkability, access to nature and sense of community being contributing factors to its residents' happiness.

The metro area of Santa Cruz-Watsonville California came second in the list, followed by Charlottesville, Virginia, Fort Collins, Colorado, and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande in California.

California is clearly a dreamy place to live, as eight of its cities, including the metro areas of San Diego-Carlsbad and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, make the happiness list.