Put On A Happy Place
Inspired by positive psychology, WalletHub looked at 29 factors, including rates of depression, the percentage of people getting a good night’s sleep, and income to determine the happiest cities in America. Let’s see which American cities will put a smile on your face.
1. Fremont, California
In addition to their other findings, the researchers discovered that more money does equal more happiness—but not beyond earnings of $75,000 a year. Topping the list with a 74% score, Fremont has the highest percentage of households earning $75,000 or more per year, nearly 80%, which is a significant factor in the city's good vibes.
Indy beetle, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
2. Overland Park, Kansas
And dropping to the upper 60s, the second-happiest city has our lowest poverty rate and great sports participation. There’s also lots of sleep after, so it checks off some great positive-psychology boxes!
3. San Jose, California
Also in California is San Jose, taking the spot for third place. It tops life expectancy for city dwellers as well as low rates of divorce, separation, and depression, so a whole lot less stress all around.
mplstodd, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
4. Madison, Wisconsin
Coming in at #4 is Madison, Wisconsin, runner-up for the percentage of residents getting enough shut-eye—but that’s not to say it’s a sleepy town. Remember, well-rested means perky in the morning!
college.library, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
5. Irvine, California
So all that California sun probably helps keep our fifth-happiest city’s rate of depression pretty low, plus ranking #2 in sports participation and #3 for lowest divorce and separation rates.
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
Speaking of sunny places, our sixth-happiest city leads on community and environment, likely helped by the fact that the island of Oahu is actually free of active volcanoes!
7. San Francisco, California
San Francisco ranks #3 for emotional and physical well-being. And despite being #81 out of 182 for income and employment, it ends up with the title of seventh-happiest city in the United States.
8. Pearl City, Hawaii
The least depressed city in America, this eighth-happiest city also has the second-lowest rate of separation and divorce, and ranks #2 on the survey’s look at community and environment.
Anthony Quintano CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
9. Columbia, Maryland
This Maryland city ranks #9 on the happiness list, despite coming in at #170 for income and employment, so its #5 ranking for physical and emotional well-being clearly helped in the end.
Powerhawk5k, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
10. Scottsdale, Arizona
Despite the longest work hours on the list, this desert city has been deemed the tenth-happiest place in America. And even with all that time on the job, the city ranks #5 for sports participation.
11. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
At the 65% mark in our happiness index, Sioux Falls scores #10 for physical and emotional well-being, helping it reach #11 overall, despite ranking #57 on income and employment.
12. Huntington Beach, California
Twelfth happiest, this California city scores #4 on the sports-participation list, but #77 for income and employment. Somehow it balances out, ranking 11th for emotional and physical well-being.
Toksave, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
13. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Thirteenth happiest with respectable rankings for emotional and physical well-being (#17), and for income and employment (#22), this snowy city slips on community and environment (#57).
14. Garden Grove, California
Scoring #15 on community and the environment, the 14th-happiest city in America ranks #24 for emotional and physical well-being, but ends up down the employment and income list at #52.
Justin.skoda, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
15. San Diego, California
Here’s another California city whose overall happiness ranking (#15) scores far higher than its income and employment ranking (#43). The tourists love it, so no surprise the locals do too!
16. Fargo, North Dakota
Very snowy Fargo ranks #134 out of 182 for community and environment, but ends up as the 16th-happiest city in America, scoring an impressive #11 for physical and emotional well-being.
Jonathan Geiger, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
17. Portland, Maine
Portland’s standout ranking is #3 for income and employment, coming in at #17 for happiness overall. And in case you’re wondering, the West Coast’s Portland, in Oregon, comes in at #67.
Oregon Department of Transportation, Flickr
18. Seattle, Washington
Eighteenth-happiest Seattle loves to participate in sports, ranking #3, and reaches #8 for income and employment. However, the tech hub sinks down to #128 for community and environment.
19. Lincoln, Nebraska
Coming in at #19, Nebraska’s capital city scores respectably enough on many factors, but its #43 on community and environment falls below the city’s other two main measures.
20. Bismarck, North Dakota
At #20, state capital Bismark scores #12 on physical and emotional well-being and #11 on income and employment, but gets snowed under at #149 for community and environment.
21. Gilbert, Arizona
This desert city ranks high up at #7 for community and the environment, and has the fifth-lowest divorce and separation rate among the country’s cities, helping to put it at #21 on our list.
22. Charleston, South Carolina
This historical and cultural treasure of the South ranks pretty high up for community and environment (#15), as well as income and employment (#18), helping it reach #22 on our list.
23. South Burlington, Vermont
Next door to Burlington, the 23rd-happiest city in the US scores #1 for sleep time and sports participation, though somehow scores an underwhelming #139 for community and environment.
24. Glendale, California
Here’s another California city where low-ranked employment and income (#92) can’t stop it getting a pretty high happiness score (#24), helped by its community and environment ranking (#13).
Gedstrom, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
25. Anaheim, California
Land of Disneyland, 25th-ranked Anaheim reaches #26 for emotional and physical well-being, and #36 for community and environment, but hits a lower #55 ranking for income and employment.
26. Oakland, California
It’s not all A’s for Oakland as the 26th-happiest city in America ranks 14th for emotional and physical well-being, but 104th for employment and income—though it still comes in fifth for income growth.
Basil D Soufi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
27. Chula Vista, California
Located along the east side of San Diego Bay, Chula Vista is another California city whose overall happiness (#27) outshines its employment and income (#87).
Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
28. Raleigh, North Carolina
A growing tech hub on the East Coast, 28th-happiest Raleigh scores #9 on physical and emotional well-being, though #126 on income and employment.
Abhiram Juvvadi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
29. Santa Rosa, California
Located in California’s wine country, the 29th-happiest city in America comes in at #28 for emotional and physical well-being, and #34 for employment and income.
NoeHill, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
30. Santa Clarita, California
Ranking #122 for employment and income, this city northwest of Los Angeles reaches #30 on the overall happiness list, likely boosted by Magic Mountain’s thrills and plenty of hiking trails.
Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
31. Boise, Idaho
Ranked #31 on the happiness list, Idaho’s capital hits #5 on the income and employment chart, compared to #76 for community and environment.
32. Oxnard, California
The 32nd-happiest city in the US reaches #16 for community and environment, while crouched down at #94 on the employment and income index.
Vox851, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
33. Chandler, Arizona
Maricopa County’s Chandler hits the #33 spot for overall happiness, and manages to reach #17 on the list for community and environment.
Chandlernews, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
34. Oceanside, California
As often seems to happen in sunny California, Oceanside’s #34 place overall surpasses its #102 rank for employment and income.
Scotwriter21, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
35. Plano, Texas
A Dallas–Fort Worth suburb, Plano scores a decent #35 on the happiness list, though only reaches #93 when it comes to income and employment.
36. Rapid City, South Dakota
While #36 on a happiness list of 182 cities sounds pretty good, Rapid City’s #19 ranking for income and employment surpasses some of its other measures.
37. Aurora, Illinois
At a smidgen above 60%, the 37th-happiest city is our last before we hit percentages in the upper 50s. On employment and income, it ranks 149th out of 182, a drag on the final score.
Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
38. Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska’s biggest city does well on community and environment, ranking #14, but gets poor scores on physical and mental well-being and on income and employment, leaving it at #38 overall.
39. Yonkers, New York
Next door to New York City, Yonkers ranks 39th on the happiness scale, and outdoes itself on physical and mental well-being, reaching #22 on that scale.
40. Chesapeake, Virginia
Overlapping Virginia’s Great Dismal Swamp, things aren’t totally dismal, as the city squeezes into our top 40 of happy cities, ranking an impressive #12 for community and environment.
Chesapeake Bay Program, Flickr
California Dreaming
So these are the happiest cities in America—with an awful lot in California, though to be fair it is the largest state with an awful lot of cities. And experts are going to juggle factors in whatever way makes them happy. So enjoy your happy place—and if it’s not, maybe move to one!
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