Best States for Work-Life Balance

Striking the right balance between work and personal life is crucial for maintaining both mental and physical health, as well as financial security. Where you live can play a major role in achieving it.

With October marking National Work and Family Month, B2B Reviews analyzed six key metrics that impact a worker’s ability to balance work with their personal life. We compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across these metrics to identify the best states for work-life balance in 2025.

To learn more about how we created these rankings, take a look at our methodology.

Best States for Work-Life Balance

Hiver over your state and sort the table to see where your state ranks overall or by category.

Top 10 States for Work-Life Balance

Learn what factors made these states rank best overall.

Minnesota comes in first place for work-life balance for the second year in a row. It takes workers an average of 23.1 minutes to commute to work, which is shorter than the national average commute time of 26.6 minutes. Minnesota employers work an average of 33 hours a week, which is the fourth lowest in the nation and less than the national average (34.2). Additionally, Minnesota’s average earnings per week are $1,304.49, which is the eighth-highest and exceeds the national average of $1,180.84.

Starting January 2026, the state will provide paid leave for most businesses, allowing employees to access up to 12 weeks of medical leave and 12 weeks of family leave. The state ranked tenth for remote workers, with 15.8% of the working population working from home, which is higher than the national average of 13.5%.

Delaware comes in second place, with an average commute time of 26.1 minutes, which is less than the national average (26.6). The state has the lowest average workweek in the nation, at 32.5 hours per week.

Delaware offers paid family and medical leave policies, allowing employees to access up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Additionally, the state has a lower-than-average (22.95) mental illness rate, placing it among the top ten, at 21.9.

Coming in third place is South Dakota. It takes workers an average of 17.6 minutes to commute to work, which is the lowest commute time in the nation. Additionally, South Dakota’s average workweek is 33.4 hours, which is less than the national average of 34.2 hours.

The state doesn’t have any paid and family leave policies; however, employees can access up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, which is on the higher end. As a result, South Dakota scored a higher-than-average number of points in this category.

California comes in fourth place. It has the fifth-shortest work week in the nation, at 33.2 hours. Additionally, the state has the fourth-highest weekly earnings, at $1,364.19 per week. California earned a higher-than-average number of points for family and medical leave policies. The state provides paid leave for up to eight weeks.

California also has a higher-than-average percentage of remote workers, at 15.5%. Finally, the state came in fifth for the lowest rates of mental illness. Only 21% of adults living in California have any mental illness, which is less than the national average of 22.95%.

Coming in fifth for best states for work-life balance is Nebraska. The state has the fourth-shortest commute time, with workers taking an average of 19.1 minutes to commute to work. The national average commute time is 26.6 minutes. Additionally, Nebraska employees enjoy a shorter-than-average workweek, at 33.5 hours, while the national average is 34.2 hours per workweek.

Hawaii takes sixth place with a shorter-than-average commute time of 26.4. Additionally, Hawaii has the second-shortest work week in the nation, at 32.8 hours. Hawaii also has higher-than-average weekly earnings, at $1,224.42 per week. The state also has the seventh-lowest rate of mental illness, at 21.2%.

New York takes seventh place, tying with Hawaii for the second-shortest work week (32.8 hours) and the ninth-highest weekly earnings ($1,277.89). New York also earned a higher-than-average number of points for paid family and medical leave policies by offering paid leave of up to 12 weeks. Finally, New York came in eighth for lowest mental illness rates, with only 21.3% of people dealing with mental illness.

Wisconsin comes in eighth place on our list. The state has the eleventh-shortest commute time in the nation, taking workers only 22.2 minutes to get to work. Wisconsin’s workweek is 33.3 hours on average, which is less than the national average of 34.2 hours./p>

In ninth place is Oregon. It has a shorter-than-average commute time, at 23.2 minutes. It also ranks eighth in average hours worked per week, with employees spending an average of 33.3 hours at work each week, which is lower than the national average. Oregon employees also earn more than the national average each week, at $1,235.76.

Additionally, Oregon earned a higher-than-average number of points for its family and medical leave policies, offering paid leave of up to 12 weeks. And finally, Oregon has the fifth-highest percentage of remote workers, with 17% of the working population working from home.

Rounding out our list for the top ten best states for work-life balance is Michigan. The state has an average commute time of 24.4 minutes, which is shorter than the national average of 26.6 minutes. Workers also enjoy a shorter-than-average workweek, at 34.1 hours.

Additionally, the state earned a higher-than-average number of points for family and medical leave policies, because while the state doesn’t offer leave, employees can still access up to 8 weeks of paid leave.

Methodology

The B2B Reviews team compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across six metrics to determine the best states for work-life balance in 2025. Data points included average commute times, average hours worked per week, average earnings per week, state-level family & medical leave policies, the percent of remote workers, and state-wide mental illness rates.

States were ranked within each metric, earning a total score based on the weighted values shown below.

Average Commute Time – 30 Points

Using the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), we found the average commute times for each state. States with a lower average commute time earned more points.

Average Hours Worked per Week – 25 Points

Examining the August 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (the most recent available at the time of this article), we identified the average number of hours worked per week. States with fewer average hours per week earned more points.

Average Earnings per Week – 5 Points

Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, B2B Reviews compiled the average weekly earnings for each state and the District of Columbia. States with higher average earnings per week scored better.

Family and Medical Leave Policies – 10 Points

We gathered each state’s family and medical leave policy from the National Conference of State Legislatures. We then awarded points based on whether a state had unpaid, paid, or no leave policies, as well as the length of the leave policy. The table below shows how states were scored based on their leave policies.

Percentage of Remote Workers – 5 Points

Using the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) data, we found the percentage of remote workers in each state. States with a higher percentage of remote workers ranked higher.

Mental Illness Rates – 25 Points

B2B Reviews gathered mental illness data from Mental Health America (MHA), a leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. We found the percentage of adults in each state and the District of Columbia with any mental illness (which is defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder). States with lower rates of mental illness earned more points.

The Bottom Line

Work-life balance (WLB) is vital, but it is easy to mess up. When asked about the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, Dr. Donnie Hutchinson, a recognized leader in work-life balance and self-care for first responders, said, “The possibility of getting out of balance is highly probable. [Work-life balance] generally has an ebb and flow methodology. It’s challenging and unlikely to stay in an optimal WLB state.”

With October marking National Work and Family Month, B2B Reviews aimed to raise awareness about this crucial issue. The month aims to highlight and celebrate the advancements in creating a healthier workplace while reminding employers of the advantages of implementing work-life balance initiatives.

During National Work and Family Month, there are many ways you can focus on creating a better work-life balance, including:

1. Set Clear Boundaries: Establish firm boundaries between work and personal time. Avoid checking emails or working outside of designated hours to maintain a healthy outlook.
2. Prioritize Self-Care: Be purposeful in setting aside time each day for activities that help you recharge, whether it’s exercise, meditation, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones.
3. Utilize Flexible Work Arrangements: If your employer offers flexible schedules, remote work options, or paid family leave, take advantage of these.
4. Delegate Tasks: At work and home, delegate tasks when possible to free up time for activities that align with your personal priorities.
5. Take Breaks Throughout the Day: Incorporate regular breaks into your routine to avoid burnout. A few short breaks can improve productivity and mental well-being.
6. Plan Family and Personal Time: Prioritize and schedule quality time with family or for personal activities, just as you would a work meeting. This ensures that time for yourself or your loved ones is buried under your workload.
7. Engage in Professional Development: Use this month to learn new strategies or tools that help with time management, task prioritization, or stress reduction, improving your work-life balance long-term.
8. Practice Mindfulness: Stay present in both your work and personal life. Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing and brief meditations, can help reduce stress and improve focus.
9. Take Advantage of Paid Time Off (PTO): Open a dialogue with your employer about your work-life needs, whether it’s more flexibility, additional support, or clearer expectations to avoid overworking and inevitable burnout.
10. Communicate with Your Employer: Open a dialogue with your employer about your work-life needs, whether it’s more flexibility, additional support, or clearer expectations to avoid overworking.

“Much like how a chiropractor can thoughtfully adjust our spines and necks into ultimate alignment, we can do the same with our daily behaviors,” says Dr. Hutchinson. “When we find ourselves out of balance, we should hold ourselves accountable and thoughtfully snap, crack, and pop our daily behaviors to re-align with our priorities in life.”

By actively embracing the advantages of a healthy work-life balance, you enhance not only your own well-being but also that of those around you.

Fair Use Statement

If you wish to share our findings, please do so for non-commercial purposes only and provide a link back to this report so readers can access our methodology.

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