Happiest Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterMar 9, 2020

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Mar 9, 2020

The U.S. Declaration of Independence speaks about the “pursuit of happiness” as a universal right. However, everyone gets joy from different things, whether it’s family, friends, activities, entertainment or work. What people might not realize is that where you live may also determine how happy you are.

Location plays a hand in how bright or gloomy our days are. For years, researchers have studied the science of happiness and found that its key ingredients include a positive mental state, healthy body, strong social connections, job satisfaction and financial well-being. However, money can only make you so happy – people who make $75,000 a year won’t get any higher satisfaction from more money. Consider also the fact that while the U.S. is one of the richest countries, it ranks only 19th on the World Happiness Report.

But not everywhere in the U.S. experiences a uniform level of happiness. As this study aims to illustrate, moving to a certain city may help you be more content. WalletHub drew upon the various findings of positive-psychology research in order to determine which among more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities is home to the happiest people in America. We examined each city based on 30 key indicators of happiness, ranging from depression rate to income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day. Read on for our findings, methodology and expert commentary from a panel of researchers.

To see which states combine all the necessary components of happiness, check out WalletHub’s report on the Happiest States in America.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Happiest Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Emotional & Physical Well-Being’ Rank	‘Income & Employment’ Rank	‘Community & Environment’ Rank
1	Fremont, CA	75.32	4	28	5
2	Plano, TX	73.23	6	9	16
3	San Jose, CA	73.20	1	11	64
4	Irvine, CA	72.81	7	13	19
5	Madison, WI	72.19	5	21	13
6	Sioux Falls, SD	70.26	13	45	21
7	Huntington Beach, CA	69.90	8	70	44
8	Scottsdale, AZ	69.49	51	7	2
9	Santa Rosa, CA	69.33	10	34	32
10	Pearl City, HI	69.13	3	128	12
11	Bismarck, ND	68.86	18	15	31
12	Fargo, ND	68.41	26	32	30
13	Lincoln, NE	68.33	24	68	24
14	San Francisco, CA	68.30	2	2	158
15	Overland Park, KS	68.23	35	48	8
16	Santa Clarita, CA	67.86	17	127	29
17	Oceanside, CA	67.66	15	117	15
18	Glendale, CA	67.64	22	98	26
19	Anaheim, CA	67.10	23	65	43
20	Cape Coral, FL	66.96	52	63	3
21	Pembroke Pines, FL	66.80	28	134	10
22	Austin, TX	66.54	12	6	118
23	Gilbert, AZ	66.37	56	36	11
24	San Diego, CA	66.34	9	26	73
25	Chula Vista, CA	66.21	19	99	34
26	Garden Grove, CA	66.19	31	101	33
27	Grand Prairie, TX	65.89	46	74	23
28	Charleston, SC	65.86	80	3	4
29	Cedar Rapids, IA	65.64	54	38	18
30	Minneapolis, MN	65.44	14	47	112
31	Raleigh, NC	65.20	25	59	62
32	Aurora, CO	64.92	32	124	48
33	Chandler, AZ	64.92	63	42	20
34	Des Moines, IA	64.88	47	66	46
35	Irving, TX	64.80	37	17	106
36	Columbia, MD	64.58	20	106	98
37	Oxnard, CA	64.54	45	137	9
38	Peoria, AZ	64.49	69	67	6
39	Oakland, CA	64.27	11	79	132
40	St. Paul, MN	64.14	38	96	60
41	Fort Lauderdale, FL	63.96	42	62	88
42	Yonkers, NY	63.96	21	160	68
43	Garland, TX	63.80	41	122	57
44	Tempe, AZ	63.70	72	35	27
45	Boise, ID	63.62	66	12	54
46	Durham, NC	63.38	48	27	72
47	Las Cruces, NM	63.01	58	116	7
48	Aurora, IL	62.98	30	157	66
49	Charlotte, NC	62.88	55	86	49
50	Omaha, NE	62.81	64	73	38
51	Boston, MA	62.71	33	8	149
52	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	62.70	68	33	59
53	Santa Ana, CA	62.65	43	78	101
54	Denver, CO	62.60	34	88	105
55	Seattle, WA	62.54	27	1	173
56	Honolulu, HI	62.47	71	54	37
57	Port St. Lucie, FL	62.21	83	77	14
58	Nashua, NH	62.20	59	76	51
59	Rapid City, SD	62.04	105	23	1
60	Fort Worth, TX	61.97	50	102	91
61	Arlington, TX	61.95	49	132	82
62	Long Beach, CA	61.92	36	144	96
63	Portland, ME	61.88	60	10	128
64	Colorado Springs, CO	61.65	78	64	42
65	Washington, DC	61.37	16	60	177
66	Grand Rapids, MI	61.02	91	25	47
67	Nampa, ID	60.97	84	104	28
68	El Paso, TX	60.97	76	120	41
69	Mesa, AZ	60.93	82	91	36
70	Salt Lake City, UT	60.84	74	51	78
71	Manchester, NH	60.54	75	108	45
72	Virginia Beach, VA	60.51	79	126	39
73	Billings, MT	60.48	81	40	84
74	Burlington, VT	60.46	61	14	176
75	Miami, FL	60.41	29	50	170
76	Dallas, TX	59.77	44	92	148
77	Reno, NV	59.62	98	16	79
78	Fontana, CA	59.49	94	71	53
79	Brownsville, TX	59.43	106	90	22
80	Los Angeles, CA	59.42	39	93	161
81	Chesapeake, VA	59.39	100	145	25
81	Ontario, CA	59.39	95	41	74
83	Riverside, CA	59.34	77	18	129
84	Tallahassee, FL	59.25	88	39	94
85	Lewiston, ME	59.23	148	4	63
86	New York, NY	59.09	53	158	100
87	Moreno Valley, CA	58.93	89	103	58
88	Missoula, MT	58.83	65	58	140
89	Jersey City, NJ	58.61	62	168	76
90	Portland, OR	58.48	85	57	99
91	Atlanta, GA	58.32	70	110	111
92	Orlando, FL	58.29	86	20	121
93	Modesto, CA	58.17	87	52	110
94	Hialeah, FL	58.16	40	166	164
95	Vancouver, WA	58.15	97	123	56
96	Pittsburgh, PA	58.14	114	37	67
97	Tampa, FL	57.94	107	53	75
98	West Valley City, UT	57.67	102	109	65
99	Sacramento, CA	57.49	96	29	120
100	Huntsville, AL	57.32	135	55	17
101	Cheyenne, WY	57.03	112	30	141
102	Dover, DE	56.91	99	72	107
103	Henderson, NV	56.32	120	107	61
104	Glendale, AZ	56.27	93	143	102
105	Bridgeport, CT	56.20	67	163	109
106	Nashville, TN	56.20	129	114	35
107	South Burlington, VT	56.10	108	31	153
108	Anchorage, AK	55.98	92	82	143
109	Salem, OR	55.84	116	49	124
110	San Antonio, TX	55.62	123	69	85
111	Houston, TX	55.56	73	131	159
112	Winston-Salem, NC	55.55	110	94	108
113	Chicago, IL	55.29	57	177	142
114	Tacoma, WA	54.59	103	148	114
115	St. Petersburg, FL	54.56	125	43	115
116	Fort Wayne, IN	54.32	136	115	50
117	Amarillo, TX	54.23	150	44	55
118	Lexington-Fayette, KY	54.14	104	119	139
119	Phoenix, AZ	54.13	90	130	156
120	Bakersfield, CA	54.07	122	46	135
121	Laredo, TX	53.94	109	56	172
122	Worcester, MA	53.90	117	113	126
123	Tucson, AZ	53.82	101	112	145
124	Columbia, SC	53.80	145	19	69
125	Greensboro, NC	53.78	113	95	131
126	Warwick, RI	53.65	131	83	104
127	Richmond, VA	53.28	111	150	137
128	Lubbock, TX	52.98	141	24	136
129	Springfield, MO	52.83	137	105	97
130	San Bernardino, CA	52.49	118	121	152
131	Casper, WY	52.41	164	61	119
132	Albuquerque, NM	52.05	121	97	160
133	Corpus Christi, TX	51.98	147	22	125
134	Chattanooga, TN	51.80	142	141	77
135	Jacksonville, FL	51.70	151	118	70
136	Newport News, VA	51.40	124	165	123
137	Columbus, OH	51.31	132	153	113
138	Knoxville, TN	51.13	160	85	52
139	Rochester, NY	50.84	133	111	146
140	Fresno, CA	50.82	115	100	178
141	Spokane, WA	50.78	134	84	165
142	Oklahoma City, OK	50.61	153	125	81
143	Fort Smith, AR	50.55	171	75	71
144	Fayetteville, NC	50.53	154	155	40
145	Wichita, KS	50.43	138	129	134
146	Norfolk, VA	50.24	140	151	116
147	Providence, RI	50.22	155	81	92
148	Stockton, CA	49.99	119	149	162
149	New Haven, CT	49.72	126	133	175
150	North Las Vegas, NV	49.63	156	152	89
151	Buffalo, NY	49.37	149	139	122
152	Juneau, AK	49.30	162	5	181
153	Kansas City, MO	49.26	130	147	167
154	Las Vegas, NV	48.96	144	136	144
155	Indianapolis, IN	48.95	146	174	86
156	Louisville, KY	48.35	163	156	80
157	Milwaukee, WI	48.19	127	178	151
158	New Orleans, LA	47.64	167	135	103
159	Wilmington, DE	47.36	161	140	138
160	Montgomery, AL	46.79	158	170	95
161	Baltimore, MD	46.76	139	173	166
162	Jackson, MS	46.64	143	179	127
163	Baton Rouge, LA	46.62	152	138	163
164	Philadelphia, PA	46.23	165	161	117
165	Shreveport, LA	45.60	169	175	87
166	Columbus, GA	45.24	176	146	90
167	Cincinnati, OH	44.79	159	142	174
168	Newark, NJ	44.15	128	181	180
169	Tulsa, OK	44.14	172	87	155
170	Akron, OH	43.54	170	169	147
171	St. Louis, MO	43.44	166	167	157
172	Memphis, TN	43.42	157	180	154
173	Mobile, AL	42.15	173	171	150
174	Little Rock, AR	42.15	177	154	93
175	Augusta, GA	42.02	175	162	133
176	Birmingham, AL	41.43	174	159	168
177	Gulfport, MS	41.42	178	172	83
178	Cleveland, OH	39.36	168	176	179
179	Huntington, WV	39.09	182	80	130
180	Toledo, OH	37.99	179	164	171
181	Charleston, WV	36.21	180	89	169
182	Detroit, MI	29.06	181	182	182

artwork 2020 happy cities

Ask the Experts

Many factors can affect a person’s happiness. For additional insight, we asked a panel of experts for their thoughts on the following key questions:

To what extent is the current political climate affecting the happiness of Americans?
What tips do you have for someone who is unhappy with his or her career?
Does an individual’s happiness increase or decrease with age?
How much does where you live influence your happiness?
Can money buy happiness?
Do Americans place too much importance on happiness?

Ask the Experts

: Cristina Bicchieri
Harvie Professor of Social Thought and Comparative Ethics, University of Pennsylvania
Read More

: Alison Ledgerwood
Ph.D. – Professor and Chancellor's Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of California
Read More

: Comila Shahani-Denning
Ph.D. – Professor of Psychology and Director of MA Program in I/O Psychology, Hofstra University
Read More

: Carrie L. Wyland
Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Psychology, Tulane University
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the happiest cities in America, WalletHub compared 182 of the largest cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Emotional & Physical Well-Being, 2) Income & Employment and 3) Community & Environment.

We evaluated these categories using 30 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Our analysis draws upon the findings of the following research, each of which has indicated a correlation between our data and happiness:

Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity (Chan and Diener, 2010)
Happiness from Ordinary and Extraordinary Experiences (Bhattacharjee and Mogilner, 2014)
Sports Participation and Happiness: Evidence from U.S. Micro Data (Huang and Humphreys, 2010)
Unhappy Cities (Glaeser, et al., 2014)

Emotional & Physical Well-Being - Total Points: 50

Life-Satisfaction Index: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Depression Rate: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Adequate-Sleep Rate: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
Physical-Health Index: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults reporting good or better health.
Sports-Participation Rate: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
Share of People Aged 12 or Older Who Used Marijuana in the Past Month: Half Weight (~1.82 Points)
Retail Opioid Prescriptions Dispensed per 100 Persons: Quarter Weight (~0.91 Points)
Illness & Disability Index: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Food-Insecurity Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)

Income & Employment - Total Points: 25

Income-Growth Rate: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Share of Households Earning Annual Incomes Above $75,000: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
4+ Star Job Opportunities per Total People in the Labor Force: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of job opportunities at 4+ star rated companies on Glasssdoor.com per the total people in the labor force.
Job Security: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the probability of unemployment.
Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Bankruptcy Rate: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Commute Time: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)

Community & Environment - Total Points: 25

Strength of Social Ties: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric is based on responses to Sharecare’s RealAge® Test and was used in our report in order to highlight the places where relationships with family and friends are stronger, as living in these places will surely provide an upside on one’s social life as well.
WalletHub’s Most Caring Cities Ranking: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Ideal Weather: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
Note: This metric uses data from WalletHub’s Cities with the Best & Worst Weather ranking.
Acres of Parkland per 1,000 Residents: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
Average Leisure Time Spent per Day*: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Well-Being “Community” Rank: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the “Community” section of the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, which refers to “liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.”

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Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gallup-Sharecare, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Feeding America, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, The Trust for Public Land, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Glassdoor.com, Indeed, Sharecare and WalletHub research.

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