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.
Main Findings
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 |
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.