This Map of the Happiest Cities in America Shows the West Coast Really is the Best Coast
Access to sports, sleep, and less working hours a day make a difference.
All of us could do better with more happiness in our lives. And one way to change that up in a big way is to surround yourself with things that make you happy – including where you live. Of course, not all cities are made the same, but some are seen as better for an overall happiness. Here’s what you need to know.
WalletHub wanted to determine which cities were the happiest in the United States. Using data, WalletHub compared the 182 of the largest cities in the country looking at key indicators of what would make a city happy. The data pulls out 30 relevant metrics and ranked each city’s average based on maximum happiness. Some of those metrics included how many hours is spent at work, access to sports, and getting enough sleep.
“Location plays a hand in how bright or gloomy our days are,” WalletHub writes. “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.”
So where are the happiest cities? Mostly cities on the west coast, it so happens. California took 6 out of 10 of the top spots of happiest cities and Washington State one as well. Though Maryland did represent.
Source: WalletHub
Based on those weighted metrics, WalletHub determined the happiest cities in America to be:
- Fremont, CA
- Columbia, MD
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Madison, WI
- Seattle, WA
- Overland Park, KS
- Huntington Beach, CA
- San Diego, CA
The cities that ranked the lowest for happiness among the cities WalletHub looked at included:
- Shreveport, LA
- Mobile, AL
- Fort Smith, AR
- Augusta, GA
- Cleveland, OH
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntington, WV
- Memphis, TN
- Gulfport, MS
- Detroit, MI
Now, of course, this isn’t a one-sized-fits-everyone kind of situation. The top happiest cities don’t guarantee you’ll be happy if you move there, but it can give a starting point if you’re looking for something new.
