Happiest Cities in America

The happiest cities to live, work,
and raise a family in America

The U.S. Declaration of Independence speaks about the “pursuit of happiness” as a universal right. Everyone gets joy from different things, whether it’s family, friends, activities, entertainment or work. But 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. For instance, people who make $75,000 a year won’t get any higher satisfaction from more money.

As this study aims to illustrate, moving to a certain city may help you be more content. There are 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. Each city was examined based on 28 key indicators of happiness, ranging from depression rate to income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day. Read on for the findings and methodology used to support the study.

The findings are segmented into two categories: The Main Findings Report and Methodology. The main findings survey for happiest cities has several factors combined to rank each city in the chart. The methodology section explains in extra detail all of the demographics used in this rankings system.

Main Findings Report

The American cities have a total overall score that determines where the city is ranked from 1-182. What determines the overall total score is a combination of the score for health, fitness, and recreation in the city, combined with the financial commerce and employment that the city distributes, along with the social unity, environment, and community that the city provides. Browse through the chart and see where your city ranks amongst the happiest places to live in the country.

Happiest Cities in the U.S.

Rank	City	Total	Health	Income	Community
1	Fremont, CA	79.89	3	6	1
2	Bismarck, ND	78.37	4	1	7
3	San Jose, CA	76.44	1	8	27
4	Pearl City, HI	75.19	2	57	2
5	Plano, TX	73.62	8	17	10
6	Fargo, ND	73.46	12	2	13
7	Sioux Falls, SD	71.96	7	48	20
8	Irvine, CA	71.17	13	33	11
9	Huntington Beach, CA	70.69	16	25	28
10	Grand Prairie, TX	70.54	29	16	3
11	Madison, WI	70.06	11	34	14
12	Columbia, MD	69.53	31	58	5
13	San Francisco, CA	69.28	5	4	126
14	Scottsdale, AZ	68.61	54	27	6
15	Overland Park, KS	68.12	23	54	34
16	Santa Clarita, CA	67.95	28	51	24
17	Glendale, CA	67.46	36	83	9
18	Oakland, CA	67.18	6	45	143
19	St. Paul, MN	67.16	17	62	67
20	Gilbert, AZ	66.24	60	13	23
21	Austin, TX	66.11	10	11	163
22	Santa Rosa, CA	66.05	22	37	79
23	Lincoln, NE	65.99	38	77	26
24	Des Moines, IA	65.98	18	71	122
25	Irving, TX	65.78	25	15	132
26	Honolulu, HI	65.72	65	10	29
27	Garden Grove, CA	65.68	40	90	31
28	Cedar Rapids, IA	65.62	46	41	39
29	Anaheim, CA	65.58	30	61	59
30	Garland, TX	65.57	24	73	92
31	Minneapolis, MN	65.42	9	40	134
32	San Diego, CA	65.37	14	28	74
33	Charleston, SC	64.90	82	9	12
34	Seattle, WA	64.87	42	5	99
35	Chula Vista, CA	64.55	21	84	53
36	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	64.47	70	26	30
37	Cape Coral, FL	64.26	52	79	19
38	Port St. Lucie, FL	64.10	45	92	56
39	Fort Worth, TX	64.09	33	68	109
40	Chandler, AZ	63.96	66	29	45
41	Raleigh, NC	63.90	20	65	104
42	Peoria, AZ	63.89	73	49	21
43	Oceanside, CA	63.82	19	139	50
44	Portland, ME	63.71	49	46	105
45	Aurora, IL	63.70	39	142	46
46	El Paso, TX	63.69	37	43	130
47	Brownsville, TX	63.59	56	67	43
30	Garland, TX	65.57	24	73	92
48	Chesapeake, VA	63.21	85	127	4
49	Pembroke Pines, FL	63.20	69	87	15
50	Arlington, TX	63.17	35	99	110
51	Charlotte, NC	63.11	46	101	48
52	Burlington, VT	63.10	43	7	178
53	Oxnard, CA	62.89	41	111	55
54	Virginia Beach, VA	62.80	72	112	16
55	Aurora, CO	62.55	48	86	83
56	Durham, NC	62.54	26	55	96
57	Boise, ID	62.27	76	35	62
58	Tempe, AZ	62.16	74	47	81
59	Grand Rapids, MI	62.14	78	64	47
60	Missoula, MT	61.99	89	19	63
61	Yonkers, NY	61.83	57	124	73
62	Omaha, NE	61.53	59	74	91
63	Boston, MA	61.53	62	18	106
64	Rapid City, SD	61.47	101	52	17
65	Billings, MT	61.43	93	23	52
66	Denver, CO	61.39	32	63	131
67	Fontana, CA	61.38	91	66	22
68	Colorado Springs, CO	61.24	88	59	36
69	Juneau, AK	61.00	58	3	152
70	Long Beach, CA	60.87	51	93	116
71	Santa Ana, CA	60.57	44	110	120
72	Cheyenne, WY	60.46	96	22	94
73	Washington, DC	60.35	15	31	171
74	Tallahassee, FL	60.01	95	38	117
75	Los Angeles, CA	60.00	50	72	127
76	Anchorage, AK	59.94	87	56	72
77	Mesa, AZ	59.61	79	88	87
78	Las Cruces, NM	59.59	67	100	86
79	Riverside, CA	59.52	83	53	101
80	New York, NY	59.51	71	113	77
81	Dallas, TX	59.15	27	95	172
82	Moreno Valley, CA	59.06	94	115	44
83	Nashua, NH	58.99	103	44	93
84	South Burlington, VT	58.86	75	30	168
85	Ontario, CA	58.86	90	118	58
86	Portland, OR	58.82	99	12	107
87	Jersey City, NJ	58.66	77	144	76
88	Reno, NV	58.48	102	89	61
89	Orlando, FL	58.42	61	76	154
90	Pittsburgh, PA	58.14	120	60	35
91	Fort Lauderdale, FL	58.12	80	105	173
92	Amarillo, TX	58.04	145	21	33
93	Laredo, TX	57.73	34	69	165
94	San Antonio, TX	57.39	98	32	139
95	Warwick, RI	57.32	134	42	8
96	Atlanta, GA	57.18	68	145	114
97	Kansas City, MO	56.78	105	131	60
98	Salt Lake City, UT	56.75	100	91	119
99	Chicago, IL	56.66	53	173	112
100	Modesto, CA	56.54	124	106	32
101	Casper, WY	56.51	139	81	54
102	Nampa, ID	56.43	109	140	41
103	Lewiston, ME	56.09	159	50	66
104	Nashville, TN	55.94	127	102	42
105	Henderson, NV	55.86	131	137	25
106	Vancouver, WA	55.81	119	96	70
107	Fort Wayne, IN	55.74	81	128	137
108	Tacoma, WA	55.73	110	98	115
109	Huntsville, AL	55.48	152	82	18
110	Manchester, NH	55.39	111	78	133
111	West Valley City, UT	55.28	113	94	125
112	Columbus, OH	55.21	122	138	51
113	Houston, TX	54.86	55	134	179
114	Sacramento, CA	54.70	92	85	148
115	Glendale, AZ	54.49	86	148	145
116	Salem, OR	53.73	147	20	108
117	Columbia, SC	53.60	144	39	88
30	Garland, TX	65.57	24	73	92
118	Springfield, MO	53.48	138	107	68
119	Greensboro, NC	53.47	112	114	111
120	Lexington-Fayette, KY	53.45	149	80	71
121	Newport News, VA	53.41	116	152	98
122	Phoenix, AZ	53.40	84	141	153
123	Spokane, WA	53.25	140	75	69
124	Hialeah, FL	53.16	64	168	180
125	Bakersfield, CA	52.85	129	117	102
126	Miami, FL	52.52	63	120	182
127	Tampa, FL	52.35	126	108	128
128	San Bernardino, CA	52.10	107	149	155
129	Wichita, KS	51.77	114	126	157
130	Lubbock, TX	51.75	142	14	169
131	Tucson, AZ	51.72	104	121	160
132	Bridgeport, CT	51.60	108	153	147
133	Jacksonville, FL	51.57	132	125	124
134	Norfolk, VA	51.53	118	150	129
135	Oklahoma City, OK	51.36	156	122	64
136	Worcester, MA	51.34	133	116	138
137	St. Petersburg, FL	51.01	143	36	161
138	Corpus Christi, TX	50.62	148	24	164
139	Providence, RI	50.52	158	135	37
140	Winston-Salem, NC	50.31	125	132	144
141	Albuquerque, NM	50.28	130	109	159
142	Milwaukee, WI	49.96	115	169	141
143	Louisville, KY	49.75	165	135	49
144	Indianapolis, IN	49.71	137	172	89
145	North Las Vegas, NV	49.65	162	162	40
146	Fresno, CA	49.39	106	163	151
147	Rochester, NY	49.20	123	157	158
148	New Orleans, LA	49.00	160	133	78
149	Knoxville, TN	48.80	170	104	38
150	Cincinnati, OH	48.77	141	165	100
151	Richmond, VA	48.61	117	159	176
152	Dover, DE	48.59	97	130	177
153	Baton Rouge, LA	48.39	136	103	167
154	Stockton, CA	48.20	128	151	149
TEXT	Buffalo, NY	47.47	146	154	135
156	Las Vegas, NV	47.12	155	156	123
157	Fayetteville, NC	46.85	169	147	85
158	New Haven, CT	46.39	150	160	150
159	Baltimore, MD	46.26	135	158	166
160	Akron, OH	45.84	157	171	113
161	Augusta, GA	45.59	164	170	80
162	Chattanooga, TN	45.57	172	129	97
163	Philadelphia, PA	45.45	171	143	103
164	Fort Smith, AR	45.07	177	119	65
165	Montgomery, AL	45.04	166	175	75
166	Memphis, TN	44.84	153	179	136
167	Jackson, MS	44.63	163	177	90
168	St. Louis, MO	44.53	151	178	146
169	Newark, NJ	43.93	121	182	170
170	Tulsa, OK	43.73	168	123	162
171	Toledo, OH	43.58	167	161	140
172	Shreveport, LA	42.90	174	164	95
173	Cleveland, OH	42.85	154	180	156
174	Columbus, GA	42.84	175	167	57
175	Mobile, AL	41.09	176	174	84
176	Wilmington, DE	40.92	161	155	181
177	Charleston, WV	39.55	180	70	121
178	Little Rock, AR	39.26	178	146	118
179	Gulfport, MS	38.72	179	166	82
180	Huntington, WV	38.35	181	97	142
181	Birmingham, AL	37.81	173	176	175
182	Detroit, MI	28.65	182	181	174

Methodology

In order to determine the happiest cities in America, the 182 largest cities were compared, 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.

These categories were evaluated using 28 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.

Then each city’s weighted average across all metrics is determined to calculate its total score and then the resulting scores are used to rank-order the survey list.

The analysis draws upon the findings of the following research, each of which has indicated a correlation between the 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 (~3.70 Points)
Emotional-Health Index: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Depression Rate: Double Weight (~7.41 Points)
Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Adequate-Sleep Rate: Double Weight (~7.41 Points)
Physical-Health Index: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Sports-Participation Rate: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Share of People Aged 12 or Older Who Used Marijuana in the Past Month: Quarter Weight (~0.93 Points)
Retail Opioid Prescriptions Dispensed per 100 Persons: Quarter Weight (~0.93 Points)
Illness & Disability Index: Double Weight (~7.41 Points)
Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Food-Insecurity Rate: Full Weight (~3.70 Points)
Income & Employment - Total Points: 25
Income-Growth Rate: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
Share of Households Earning Annual Incomes Above $75,000: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Job Security: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric measures the probability of unemployment.
Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Bankruptcy Rate: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Commute Time: Half Weight (~1.00 Points)
Community & Environment - Total Points: 25
Strength of Social Ties: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)

Note: This metric is based on responses and was used in the 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.
Most Caring Cities Ranking: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Ideal Weather: Half Weight (~2.50 Points)

Note: This metric uses data from cities with the best & worst weather ranking.
Acres of Parkland per 1,000 Residents: Half Weight (~2.50 Points)
Average Leisure Time Spent per Day*: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gallup-Healthways, 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.

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