Posted by: Adam McCann

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.

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 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.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/32619/geochart-happiest-cities.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2FO6VZY>  

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	Plano, TX	72.30	7	6	8
2	Irvine, CA	71.86	14	11	5
3	Madison, WI	71.81	3	14	7
4	Fremont, CA	71.17	10	37	1
5	Huntington Beach, CA	69.74	6	46	28
6	Fargo, ND	69.57	17	20	24
7	Grand Prairie, TX	69.30	20	35	6
8	San Jose, CA	68.90	1	18	44
9	Scottsdale, AZ	68.24	46	13	2
10	San Francisco, CA	67.53	4	2	125
11	Bismarck, ND	67.38	25	4	45
12	Overland Park, KS	67.37	22	56	26
13	Santa Rosa, CA	67.18	23	53	9
14	Austin, TX	67.16	15	8	80
15	Sioux Falls, SD	66.97	11	67	95
16	Pearl City, HI	66.77	2	147	15
17	Glendale, CA	66.25	27	102	12
18	San Diego, CA	66.01	8	36	46
19	St. Paul, MN	65.79	18	70	66
20	Charleston, SC	65.48	74	5	4
21	Gilbert, AZ	65.07	54	48	10
22	Anaheim, CA	65.02	29	79	34
23	Raleigh, NC	64.99	13	41	87
24	Cape Coral, FL	64.96	51	87	3
25	Cedar Rapids, IA	64.90	41	58	20
26	Minneapolis, MN	64.82	5	26	137
27	Chula Vista, CA	64.54	19	117	25
28	Pembroke Pines, FL	64.51	47	89	14
29	Honolulu, HI	64.21	55	34	17
30	Des Moines, IA	64.17	39	85	37
31	Irving, TX	64.07	28	17	119
32	Santa Clarita, CA	64.00	24	112	77
33	Chandler, AZ	63.83	62	55	16
34	Oceanside, CA	63.82	16	156	29
35	Omaha, NE	63.50	56	80	19
36	Lincoln, NE	63.43	32	86	62
37	Oakland, CA	63.16	12	75	131
38	Billings, MT	62.82	61	33	51
39	Tempe, AZ	62.80	66	54	21
40	Garden Grove, CA	62.70	37	107	67
41	Denver, CO	62.41	21	64	116
42	Fort Worth, TX	62.35	44	90	54
43	Burlington, VT	62.31	53	10	120
44	Peoria, AZ	62.30	65	77	23
45	Port St. Lucie, FL	61.96	76	73	13
46	Boise, ID	61.94	68	19	48
47	Garland, TX	61.86	31	120	103
48	Aurora, CO	61.83	26	121	104
49	El Paso, TX	61.73	58	98	39
49	Arlington, TX	61.73	40	128	59
51	Washington, DC	61.68	9	40	167
52	Charlotte, NC	61.22	52	92	57
53	Fort Lauderdale, FL	61.16	59	60	92
54	Seattle, WA	61.11	36	1	171
55	Aurora, IL	61.05	38	164	56
56	Missoula, MT	60.99	57	52	91
57	Santa Ana, CA	60.96	50	103	73
58	Boston, MA	60.96	34	12	152
59	Colorado Springs, CO	60.96	72	69	36
60	Durham, NC	60.90	30	28	113
61	Portland, ME	60.83	48	49	149
62	Grand Rapids, MI	60.33	83	31	49
63	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	60.14	79	32	68
64	Salt Lake City, UT	60.11	80	9	82
65	Yonkers, NY	60.10	45	157	79
66	Las Cruces, NM	60.08	33	123	69
67	Rapid City, SD	60.07	86	30	64
68	Dallas, TX	59.82	35	109	123
69	South Burlington, VT	59.81	90	63	31
70	Virginia Beach, VA	59.71	73	105	43
71	Long Beach, CA	59.58	42	138	108
72	Anchorage, AK	59.53	84	82	41
73	Cheyenne, WY	59.51	78	23	127
74	Columbia, MD	59.47	49	101	138
75	Mesa, AZ	59.25	77	116	47
76	Chesapeake, VA	58.63	94	122	27
77	Reno, NV	58.58	98	50	52
78	Tallahassee, FL	58.54	91	42	85
79	Atlanta, GA	58.46	64	88	100
80	Oxnard, CA	58.36	71	151	30
81	Nampa, ID	58.20	102	137	11
82	Los Angeles, CA	58.12	43	104	146
83	Orlando, FL	58.04	85	24	107
84	Portland, OR	57.72	92	27	102
85	Salem, OR	57.71	101	29	90
86	Brownsville, TX	57.55	95	68	88
87	Pittsburgh, PA	57.45	112	21	60
88	Riverside, CA	57.25	100	22	105
89	Fontana, CA	57.23	106	72	50
90	New York, NY	57.10	70	152	74
91	Nashua, NH	57.09	82	100	96
92	Huntsville, AL	57.00	130	47	22
93	Jersey City, NJ	56.85	93	168	33
94	West Valley City, UT	56.83	103	78	81
95	Manchester, NH	56.49	96	113	63
96	Ontario, CA	56.35	107	84	70
97	San Antonio, TX	56.34	115	57	55
98	Amarillo, TX	56.21	119	45	78
99	Vancouver, WA	56.17	108	97	61
100	Tampa, FL	56.02	121	38	58
101	Miami, FL	55.97	63	39	179
102	Dover, DE	55.94	81	61	145
103	Moreno Valley, CA	55.61	111	108	65
104	Glendale, AZ	55.36	89	159	86
105	Nashville, TN	55.34	126	96	35
106	Houston, TX	55.33	69	132	139
107	Chicago, IL	55.20	60	175	114
108	Columbia, SC	54.93	137	7	83
109	Greensboro, NC	54.90	97	94	98
110	Lewiston, ME	54.55	151	43	84
111	Laredo, TX	54.40	75	66	173
112	Hialeah, FL	54.33	67	160	169
113	Lexington-Fayette, KY	54.13	113	76	112
113	Henderson, NV	54.13	120	125	53
115	Sacramento, CA	53.96	114	59	118
116	Modesto, CA	53.50	117	81	121
117	Newport News, VA	53.29	105	155	128
118	Tucson, AZ	53.19	99	114	134
119	Springfield, MO	53.03	132	106	71
120	St. Petersburg, FL	52.76	135	25	133
121	Richmond, VA	52.66	104	139	157
122	Tacoma, WA	52.59	109	140	153
123	Warwick, RI	52.41	136	44	151
124	Lubbock, TX	52.29	133	16	142
125	Casper, WY	51.99	161	71	97
126	Kansas City, MO	51.96	110	148	129
127	Phoenix, AZ	51.94	87	136	172
128	Oklahoma City, OK	51.59	155	110	38
129	Corpus Christi, TX	51.50	145	15	124
130	Winston-Salem, NC	51.44	116	118	141
131	Juneau, AK	51.21	160	3	175
132	Albuquerque, NM	51.15	123	111	150
133	Columbus, OH	51.14	128	133	111
134	Bakersfield, CA	50.98	139	74	126
135	Bridgeport, CT	50.92	88	169	161
136	Jacksonville, FL	50.55	153	95	72
137	Knoxville, TN	50.43	166	62	32
138	Louisville, KY	50.31	158	124	42
139	Norfolk, VA	49.97	129	129	143
140	Chattanooga, TN	49.94	167	99	40
141	Wichita, KS	49.79	138	131	130
142	Worcester, MA	49.77	125	149	159
143	Rochester, NY	49.76	134	142	140
144	San Bernardino, CA	49.56	124	134	166
145	Buffalo, NY	49.22	144	126	117
146	Fresno, CA	48.86	127	119	158
147	Milwaukee, WI	48.75	122	172	147
148	Baton Rouge, LA	48.56	140	93	168
149	Stockton, CA	48.35	118	150	165
150	Spokane, WA	48.08	142	91	176
151	Indianapolis, IN	47.83	147	177	89
152	Fort Wayne, IN	47.63	152	143	132
153	New Orleans, LA	47.57	164	127	76
154	North Las Vegas, NV	47.19	157	158	99
155	Las Vegas, NV	47.02	149	146	144
156	Tulsa, OK	46.50	170	83	110
157	Wilmington, DE	46.32	156	144	154
158	Providence, RI	45.81	169	115	122
159	New Haven, CT	45.56	131	141	182
160	Montgomery, AL	45.48	143	176	155
161	Baltimore, MD	44.75	148	161	177
162	Jackson, MS	44.70	150	178	178
163	Shreveport, LA	44.59	171	173	75
164	Memphis, TN	44.45	146	179	156
165	Philadelphia, PA	44.27	168	165	115
166	Columbus, GA	44.27	174	154	109
167	Fayetteville, NC	44.17	159	153	170
168	Akron, OH	44.05	154	166	174
169	Cincinnati, OH	43.50	165	145	162
170	Fort Smith, AR	43.33	176	135	136
171	St. Louis, MO	42.85	162	170	160
172	Augusta, GA	42.38	175	163	106
173	Mobile, AL	42.22	172	174	135
174	Newark, NJ	41.86	141	182	180
175	Huntington, WV	41.58	182	51	18
176	Little Rock, AR	41.40	178	130	101
177	Gulfport, MS	41.06	179	162	94
178	Cleveland, OH	40.81	163	180	164
179	Birmingham, AL	40.78	173	167	163
180	Charleston, WV	39.68	180	65	93
181	Toledo, OH	39.48	177	171	148
182	Detroit, MI	29.19	181	181	181

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:

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

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• Robert R. Provine Ph.D. – Neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Barry Schwartz Ph.D. – Dorwin P. Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action, Psychology, Swarthmore College
• Kristin Horan Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida

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 (~3.39 Points)
• Emotional-Health Index: Full Weight (~3.39 Points)
• Depression Rate: Double Weight (~6.78 Points)
• Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~3.39 Points)
• Adequate-Sleep Rate: Double Weight (~6.78 Points)
• Physical-Health Index: Full Weight (~3.39 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults reporting good or better health.
• Sports-Participation Rate: Double Weight (~6.78 Points)
• Share of People Aged 12 or Older Who Used Marijuana in the Past Month: Half Weight (~1.69 Points)
• Retail Opioid Prescriptions Dispensed per 100 Persons: Quarter Weight (~0.85 Points)
• Illness & Disability Index: Double Weight (~6.78 Points)
• Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~3.39 Points)
• Food-Insecurity Rate: Full Weight (~3.39 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.”

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 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.

Image: wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock.com

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