Happiest Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterMar 8, 2021

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Mar 8, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the average person’s stress level to increase significantly for the first time since 2007. Therefore, it’s vital for people to boost their happiness however they can, whether through family, friends, activities, entertainment or work. What people might not realize is that where they live may also determine how happy they 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 18th 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 31 key indicators of happiness, ranging from the depression rate to the income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day.

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

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Happiest Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Emotional & Physical Well-Being	Income & Employment	Community & Environment
1	Fremont, CA	73.66	1	46	5
2	Bismarck, ND	71.59	5	5	23
3	Fargo, ND	70.94	9	3	17
4	Madison, WI	70.14	13	6	14
5	San Jose, CA	69.47	2	21	75
6	South Burlington, VT	68.73	8	11	61
7	Lincoln, NE	68.35	14	10	20
8	Columbia, MD	67.73	4	95	102
9	Cedar Rapids, IA	67.64	11	74	19
10	Santa Rosa, CA	67.59	7	32	33
11	Sioux Falls, SD	67.43	24	23	12
12	Irvine, CA	67.27	15	18	31
13	San Francisco, CA	67.11	3	15	131
14	Pearl City, HI	66.58	16	114	6
15	Burlington, VT	66.19	26	1	111
16	Minneapolis, MN	65.98	6	28	115
17	Plano, TX	65.87	21	44	26
18	Charleston, SC	65.10	43	16	9
19	Rapid City, SD	65.00	51	14	1
20	Seattle, WA	64.74	10	2	161
21	Boise, ID	64.55	33	13	46
22	Honolulu, HI	64.45	19	112	15
23	Portland, ME	64.40	32	17	74
24	St. Paul, MN	64.31	22	56	66
25	Scottsdale, AZ	64.22	53	48	3
26	San Diego, CA	64.17	30	39	25
27	Austin, TX	64.13	20	24	94
28	Overland Park, KS	64.09	41	12	30
29	Missoula, MT	63.76	29	19	83
30	Grand Rapids, MI	63.56	48	20	16
31	Cape Coral, FL	63.23	54	52	4
32	Raleigh, NC	62.97	28	70	67
33	Huntington Beach, CA	62.95	25	64	98
34	Aurora, CO	62.56	17	150	47
35	Omaha, NE	62.53	46	26	36
36	Des Moines, IA	62.33	37	88	29
37	Gilbert, AZ	62.09	62	47	13
38	Oakland, CA	61.38	12	127	147
39	Durham, NC	61.18	34	49	80
40	Garden Grove, CA	60.81	45	96	32
41	Anaheim, CA	60.81	40	87	55
42	Aurora, IL	60.57	31	152	73
43	Portland, OR	60.52	35	41	118
44	Oceanside, CA	60.50	36	101	60
45	Chula Vista, CA	60.24	38	111	54
46	Virginia Beach, VA	60.09	49	80	43
47	Oxnard, CA	60.02	64	109	10
48	Nampa, ID	59.97	70	60	18
49	Chandler, AZ	59.86	67	76	24
50	Nashua, NH	59.84	59	40	56
51	Washington, DC	59.59	23	69	166
52	Peoria, AZ	59.43	77	92	8
53	Port St. Lucie, FL	59.33	86	71	11
54	Santa Clarita, CA	59.26	44	149	39
55	Tempe, AZ	59.17	84	42	22
56	Colorado Springs, CO	59.07	56	66	85
57	Sacramento, CA	59.07	52	53	95
58	Glendale, CA	58.93	55	136	27
59	Salt Lake City, UT	58.51	57	22	145
60	Denver, CO	58.32	27	124	160
61	Boston, MA	58.24	50	37	130
62	Reno, NV	58.16	80	55	51
63	Amarillo, TX	58.08	71	67	41
64	Juneau, AK	57.96	18	8	182
65	Pembroke Pines, FL	57.94	88	134	7
66	Santa Ana, CA	57.85	61	61	101
67	Charlotte, NC	57.79	58	99	90
68	Chesapeake, VA	57.74	94	105	21
69	Manchester, NH	57.66	76	65	49
70	Grand Prairie, TX	57.20	85	90	34
71	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	57.06	93	36	81
72	Anchorage, AK	56.99	39	29	177
73	Billings, MT	56.92	90	25	104
74	Vancouver, WA	56.89	47	102	148
75	Yonkers, NY	56.89	60	146	79
76	Pittsburgh, PA	56.28	100	45	70
77	Garland, TX	56.24	78	108	86
78	Cheyenne, WY	56.08	72	9	176
79	Columbia, SC	56.08	128	4	45
80	Tallahassee, FL	55.99	96	43	93
81	Nashville, TN	55.93	104	77	35
82	Mesa, AZ	55.92	97	118	42
83	Fort Worth, TX	55.76	75	131	87
84	Chicago, IL	55.65	42	174	103
85	Irving, TX	55.31	73	63	144
86	Tampa, FL	55.23	111	58	50
87	West Valley City, UT	55.23	81	62	135
88	Lewiston, ME	55.13	130	7	84
89	Riverside, CA	54.79	83	34	155
90	Atlanta, GA	54.75	79	104	116
91	Huntsville, AL	54.70	155	31	2
92	Tacoma, WA	54.59	66	129	149
93	Moreno Valley, CA	54.48	95	125	78
94	Fort Wayne, IN	54.45	105	117	65
95	Springfield, MO	54.24	136	27	63
96	Casper, WY	54.21	65	93	169
97	Lexington-Fayette, KY	54.20	119	54	76
98	Fort Lauderdale, FL	54.12	99	137	58
99	Los Angeles, CA	53.99	69	132	139
100	Salem, OR	53.95	108	35	123
101	Las Cruces, NM	53.72	113	107	40
102	Arlington, TX	53.58	87	140	113
103	Modesto, CA	53.37	110	57	107
104	Dallas, TX	53.30	74	128	150
105	Ontario, CA	53.27	121	68	88
106	Spokane, WA	53.10	112	50	125
107	Fontana, CA	52.96	120	94	71
108	Jersey City, NJ	52.88	82	177	82
109	St. Petersburg, FL	52.57	124	51	112
110	Columbus, OH	52.48	106	110	117
111	Jacksonville, FL	52.41	137	98	52
112	Long Beach, CA	52.39	68	171	141
113	Bridgeport, CT	52.37	63	176	106
114	Milwaukee, WI	52.28	91	162	114
115	Henderson, NV	52.26	101	170	68
116	Warwick, RI	52.07	133	78	69
117	Lubbock, TX	51.93	116	33	157
118	Kansas City, MO	51.90	102	121	140
119	Glendale, AZ	51.71	107	145	110
120	Albuquerque, NM	51.04	89	72	178
121	Orlando, FL	50.93	129	97	105
122	New York, NY	50.91	109	178	57
123	Houston, TX	50.83	92	159	156
124	Rochester, NY	50.52	118	135	129
125	Brownsville, TX	50.21	151	122	28
126	Phoenix, AZ	50.13	103	148	158
127	Winston-Salem, NC	49.92	134	84	134
128	El Paso, TX	49.92	146	142	62
129	Fort Smith, AR	49.83	158	75	48
130	Miami, FL	49.82	126	133	128
131	Richmond, VA	49.68	117	144	146
132	Greensboro, NC	49.51	123	85	159
133	Jackson, MS	49.41	131	154	96
134	Norfolk, VA	49.35	122	160	126
135	Buffalo, NY	49.18	141	115	119
136	Indianapolis, IN	49.14	115	169	121
137	Corpus Christi, TX	49.11	132	103	151
138	Worcester, MA	48.92	114	126	172
139	Chattanooga, TN	48.84	159	79	77
140	Knoxville, TN	48.66	170	30	72
141	San Antonio, TX	48.61	145	89	133
142	Tucson, AZ	48.37	142	100	142
143	Oklahoma City, OK	48.36	144	113	132
144	New Haven, CT	48.16	98	153	175
145	Providence, RI	47.95	167	82	53
146	Wichita, KS	47.87	140	106	163
147	Little Rock, AR	47.56	150	165	64
148	Shreveport, LA	47.55	149	168	59
149	Cincinnati, OH	47.43	139	83	173
150	Stockton, CA	47.13	127	139	167
151	Las Vegas, NV	47.04	138	178	99
152	New Orleans, LA	47.00	143	156	138
153	Louisville, KY	46.55	164	123	97
154	Akron, OH	46.48	156	150	100
155	Bakersfield, CA	46.44	160	120	136
156	Fresno, CA	46.43	154	73	165
157	Baltimore, MD	46.23	125	173	164
158	Hialeah, FL	46.02	135	175	153
159	North Las Vegas, NV	45.92	147	181	91
160	Philadelphia, PA	45.80	165	158	89
161	Laredo, TX	45.72	166	86	143
162	Baton Rouge, LA	45.54	161	91	152
163	Newport News, VA	45.26	152	166	124
164	Charleston, WV	45.15	172	81	109
165	San Bernardino, CA	44.66	148	155	168
166	St. Louis, MO	44.30	157	147	162
167	Newark, NJ	43.97	153	182	108
168	Wilmington, DE	43.90	162	116	170
169	Birmingham, AL	43.87	169	143	137
170	Gulfport, MS	43.80	180	130	44
171	Columbus, GA	43.72	179	138	38
172	Tulsa, OK	43.32	163	119	171
173	Mobile, AL	43.24	173	161	92
174	Fayetteville, NC	42.55	171	163	127
175	Huntington, WV	42.50	181	38	122
176	Dover, DE	42.40	174	59	179
177	Montgomery, AL	42.37	177	164	37
178	Toledo, OH	42.18	176	141	154
179	Memphis, TN	40.16	168	172	174
180	Augusta, GA	38.76	182	157	120
181	Cleveland, OH	37.48	175	167	181
182	Detroit, MI	34.29	178	180	180

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

artwork 2021 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?
What advice do you have for people dealing with the pandemic blues?

Ask the Experts

Joseph A. Allen
Ph.D. – Professor, I/O Psychology – University of Utah Health; Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational & Environmental Health; Director, Center for Meeting Effectiveness; Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Graduate Programs
Read More

Bradley Brummel
Associate Professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Kendall College of Arts and Sciences – The University of Tulsa
Read More

Sharon Glazer
Ph.D. – Cross-Cultural Organizational Psychology, Professor & Chair, Division of Applied Behavioral Sciences – University of Baltimore; President – Healthy Organization, Inc.
Read More

Nathan A. Bowling
Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Psychology – Wright State University
Read More

Michael Andreychik
Ph.D. – Professor of Psychology – Fairfield University
Read More

Shelly S. Rauvola
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Industrial-Organizational Psychology – DePaul University
Read More

More Experts

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 31 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 (~2.53 Points)
Depression Rate: Double Weight (~5.06 Points)
Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~2.53 Points)
Adequate-Sleep Rate: Double Weight (~5.06 Points)
Physical-Health Index: Double Weight (~5.06 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults reporting good or better health.
Sports-Participation Rate: Double Weight (~5.06 Points)
Share of People Age 12 or Older Who Used Marijuana in the Past Month: Half Weight (~1.27 Points)
Retail Opioid Prescriptions Dispensed per 100 Persons: Quarter Weight (~0.63 Points)
Share of Adults with Mental Health Not Good: Double Weight (~5.06 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults with 14 or more mentally unhealthy days reported in the past month.
Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~2.53 Points)
Food-Insecurity Rate: Double Weight (~5.06 Points)
Average COVID-19 Deaths per Capita: Double Weight (~ 5.06 Points)
Average COVID-19 Cases per Capita: Double Weight (~5.06 Points)

Income & Employment - Total Points: 25

Income-Growth Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
Share of Households Earning Annual Incomes Above $75,000: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
4+ Star Job Opportunities per Total People in the Labor Force: Full Weight (~1.56 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 (~1.56 Points)
Note: This metric measures the probability of unemployment.
Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
Bankruptcy Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
Weekly Work Hours: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
Commute Time: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)

Community & Environment - Total Points: 25

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*: Double Weight (~7.14 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.

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, The New York Times and WalletHub research.

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