Posted by: Adam McCann

Stress is inevitable. Everyone experiences some type and level of it. But it’s not always a bad thing. Certain kinds of stress can have positive effects on a person’s well-being, at least in the right doses. According to Psychology Today, “A little bit of stress, known as ‘acute stress,’ can be exciting—it keeps us active and alert.”

When stress reaches an unmanageable level, however, it turns “chronic.” That’s when we become vulnerable to its damaging effects such as health problems and loss of productivity. In the U.S., stress affects more than 100 million people. The leading causes? Money tops the list, followed by work, family and relationships. By one estimate, workplace-related stress alone costs society more than $300 billion per year.

To determine the cities where Americans cope best, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 39 key metrics. Our data set ranges from average weekly work hours to debt load to divorce and suicide rates. Read on for our findings, expert insight and a full description of our methodology.

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

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/22759/geochart.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/2L0s8U2>  

Most & Least Stressed Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	‘Work Stress’ Rank	‘Financial Stress’ Rank	‘Family Stress’ Rank	‘Health & Safety Stress’ Rank
1	Detroit, MI	62.72	24	3	2	2
2	Cleveland, OH	61.13	21	1	11	15
3	Newark, NJ	59.14	6	4	3	70
4	Baltimore, MD	58.54	3	8	4	73
5	Philadelphia, PA	57.08	2	14	60	24
6	St. Louis, MO	56.78	30	2	52	13
7	Cincinnati, OH	56.21	18	23	40	4
8	Birmingham, AL	55.91	95	7	8	18
9	Wilmington, DE	55.19	27	31	5	36
10	Shreveport, LA	55.04	34	15	26	31
11	Toledo, OH	54.99	41	16	37	11
12	Gulfport, MS	54.60	22	38	23	12
13	Akron, OH	54.53	55	11	71	5
14	Milwaukee, WI	54.42	37	28	16	23
15	Memphis, TN	54.01	61	5	51	32
16	Norfolk, VA	53.24	51	17	20	60
17	Fayetteville, NC	53.22	53	13	47	37
18	Charleston, WV	53.13	7	99	126	1
19	Augusta, GA	52.98	84	20	15	48
20	Jackson, MS	52.33	136	10	25	44
21	Richmond, VA	52.14	42	33	6	86
22	Mobile, AL	52.05	94	12	75	19
23	Columbus, GA	52.03	83	9	28	89
24	Chicago, IL	52.01	8	27	46	113
25	New Orleans, LA	51.96	36	19	112	17
26	Huntington, WV	51.44	43	53	32	14
27	Montgomery, AL	51.17	93	6	100	43
28	Indianapolis, IN	50.94	16	24	136	22
29	San Bernardino, CA	50.84	167	37	1	53
30	Rochester, NY	50.75	57	47	18	57
31	Newport News, VA	50.60	56	26	29	90
32	Houston, TX	50.51	20	85	14	81
33	Little Rock, AR	50.17	143	18	120	6
34	Washington, DC	49.99	10	118	7	112
35	Columbia, SC	49.97	134	21	55	33
36	Las Vegas, NV	49.95	72	77	10	58
37	North Las Vegas, NV	49.71	147	40	9	50
38	Fort Smith, AR	49.69	115	36	85	7
39	Atlanta, GA	49.56	19	32	45	129
40	Chattanooga, TN	49.38	91	42	68	20
41	New Haven, CT	49.15	66	30	94	51
42	Miami, FL	49.03	78	25	21	155
43	Phoenix, AZ	48.89	69	64	31	46
44	Albuquerque, NM	48.79	59	44	76	34
45	Baton Rouge, LA	48.35	76	43	81	42
46	Dallas, TX	48.29	40	79	13	132
47	Tulsa, OK	48.27	110	55	50	27
48	Buffalo, NY	48.22	12	81	101	55
49	Spokane, WA	48.05	127	97	39	9
50	Kansas City, MO	47.86	45	73	117	10
51	Jacksonville, FL	47.86	85	35	107	38
52	Bridgeport, CT	47.73	44	34	96	102
53	New York, NY	47.67	5	90	41	156
54	Tacoma, WA	47.62	35	129	38	45
55	Stockton, CA	47.55	80	104	12	94
56	Hialeah, FL	46.96	60	29	35	172
57	Los Angeles, CA	46.80	75	72	19	121
58	Portland, OR	46.72	23	111	74	74
59	Columbus, OH	46.64	39	63	141	26
60	Louisville, KY	46.54	32	52	155	25
61	Tampa, FL	46.50	33	83	63	103
62	Denver, CO	46.48	15	116	44	122
63	Oklahoma City, OK	46.24	48	68	123	41
64	Springfield, MO	46.23	124	62	132	8
65	Orlando, FL	46.20	120	48	56	84
66	Tucson, AZ	46.15	114	56	64	68
67	El Paso, TX	46.08	58	96	33	95
68	Fresno, CA	46.00	156	50	24	93
69	Winston-Salem, NC	46.00	125	54	77	54
70	Corpus Christi, TX	45.94	54	138	80	40
71	Knoxville, TN	45.73	168	59	97	16
72	Bakersfield, CA	45.65	116	46	93	76
73	Wichita, KS	45.63	132	78	82	29
74	Fort Lauderdale, FL	45.57	26	45	137	105
75	Sacramento, CA	45.44	118	61	22	142
76	Pittsburgh, PA	45.31	31	74	145	56
77	San Antonio, TX	45.31	79	105	83	62
78	Glendale, AZ	45.17	139	51	62	85
79	Las Cruces, NM	45.16	113	49	90	92
80	St. Petersburg, FL	45.09	103	101	109	21
81	Providence, RI	44.95	169	41	89	65
82	Greensboro, NC	44.54	92	66	98	88
83	Worcester, MA	44.48	68	108	73	87
84	Nashville, TN	44.35	52	95	124	69
85	Fort Wayne, IN	44.33	160	100	79	28
86	Boston, MA	44.23	67	106	48	135
87	Vancouver, WA	44.17	64	103	95	79
88	Huntsville, AL	44.11	129	58	114	52
89	Dover, DE	44.11	176	39	42	158
90	Brownsville, TX	44.10	155	87	30	98
91	Charlotte, NC	43.73	17	102	143	99
92	Long Beach, CA	43.60	82	69	69	141
93	Moreno Valley, CA	43.35	177	71	17	97
94	Modesto, CA	43.29	122	146	54	77
95	Nampa, ID	43.28	146	80	67	83
96	Chesapeake, VA	43.13	111	57	125	100
97	Honolulu, HI	43.10	13	139	106	149
98	West Valley City, UT	42.71	175	112	34	71
99	Reno, NV	42.44	171	142	66	39
100	Fort Worth, TX	42.43	102	119	61	134
101	Salem, OR	42.19	158	127	103	47
102	Seattle, WA	42.12	65	170	53	104
103	Garland, TX	42.12	131	115	57	130
104	Aurora, CO	42.12	89	114	99	116
105	Jersey City, NJ	41.96	11	88	133	173
106	Arlington, TX	41.94	121	110	65	137
107	Oakland, CA	41.90	77	130	92	128
108	San Francisco, CA	41.81	47	168	49	151
109	Virginia Beach, VA	41.75	99	86	131	117
110	Austin, TX	41.72	46	160	58	161
111	Mesa, AZ	41.70	107	89	130	108
111	Henderson, NV	41.70	108	136	86	111
113	Anchorage, AK	41.62	29	174	115	72
114	Laredo, TX	41.62	166	144	27	140
115	Lewiston, ME	41.61	71	82	140	162
116	Yonkers, NY	41.54	9	132	116	167
117	Ontario, CA	41.50	179	75	59	119
118	Tempe, AZ	41.35	170	60	111	115
119	Minneapolis, MN	41.27	117	151	78	109
120	Oxnard, CA	41.25	140	131	43	143
121	Lubbock, TX	41.18	172	134	84	61
122	Grand Prairie, TX	41.07	135	109	36	159
123	Lexington-Fayette, KY	40.82	49	133	168	67
124	Cape Coral, FL	40.72	50	128	127	154
125	Amarillo, TX	40.71	152	159	108	30
126	Colorado Springs, CO	40.67	88	140	110	125
127	Oceanside, CA	40.66	109	94	119	145
128	Fontana, CA	40.61	174	84	87	126
129	Riverside, CA	40.57	182	91	70	96
130	Cheyenne, WY	40.41	38	167	153	66
131	Grand Rapids, MI	40.29	165	152	113	63
132	Tallahassee, FL	40.27	180	22	163	136
133	Durham, NC	40.09	70	157	121	127
134	Portland, ME	40.07	130	93	156	91
135	Warwick, RI	40.02	87	141	169	59
136	Peoria, AZ	39.84	123	107	151	106
137	Salt Lake City, UT	39.83	150	125	142	78
138	Aurora, IL	39.73	81	120	134	147
139	Port St. Lucie, FL	39.73	159	65	146	120
140	San Diego, CA	39.71	144	126	72	170
141	Santa Clarita, CA	39.62	112	70	154	153
142	Santa Ana, CA	39.36	178	76	88	157
143	Casper, WY	39.28	74	155	152	49
144	Pearl City, HI	39.19	1	164	148	182
145	St. Paul, MN	39.10	101	145	138	131
146	Manchester, NH	39.09	119	156	144	82
147	Glendale, CA	39.07	62	117	139	169
148	Raleigh, NC	38.87	63	162	122	163
149	Irving, TX	38.76	163	135	91	152
150	Rapid City, SD	38.08	100	137	171	75
151	Missoula, MT	38.08	149	92	173	35
152	Anaheim, CA	38.00	157	122	105	168
153	Chula Vista, CA	37.83	126	113	135	177
154	Juneau, AK	37.78	97	180	129	3
155	Burlington, VT	37.39	90	67	179	118
156	Garden Grove, CA	37.38	142	98	150	164
157	Charleston, SC	37.04	153	147	159	114
158	Santa Rosa, CA	37.04	150	154	104	171
159	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	36.84	173	148	128	138
160	Des Moines, IA	36.78	162	123	165	123
161	Columbia, MD	36.77	14	175	149	166
162	Gilbert, AZ	36.35	154	124	161	148
163	Omaha, NE	36.05	137	121	174	107
164	Nashua, NH	35.92	106	173	164	101
165	Chandler, AZ	35.66	164	143	157	144
166	Scottsdale, AZ	35.59	105	153	167	146
167	Madison, WI	35.58	104	171	160	139
168	Huntington Beach, CA	35.53	73	163	147	175
169	Pembroke Pines, FL	35.41	98	149	162	174
170	Boise, ID	35.09	181	172	118	110
171	Billings, MT	34.84	138	165	175	64
172	Lincoln, NE	34.60	141	161	178	80
173	San Jose, CA	33.23	145	176	102	180
174	Cedar Rapids, IA	33.19	148	158	177	133
175	South Burlington, VT	32.84	4	177	182	178
176	Fargo, ND	31.98	161	166	176	124
177	Plano, TX	31.96	128	178	158	176
178	Irvine, CA	31.79	86	169	166	179
179	Overland Park, KS	31.14	96	179	172	165
180	Sioux Falls, SD	31.06	133	150	181	150
181	Bismarck, ND	30.56	25	181	180	160
182	Fremont, CA	29.19	28	182	170	181

*1=Most Stressed

 

Ask the Experts

Stress can be harmful to various aspects of our lives, including our jobs, finances and relationships. To help Americans find effective ways to manage their stress, we turned to a panel of health experts for advice. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. How can employers reduce work-related stress?
2. What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful?
3. What tips do you have for a person who wishes to find relaxation on a budget?
4. What activities should families engage in together to minimize stress and ease tensions between family members?

< >

• Faye Crosby Ph.D. – Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Gary D. Licker Chair, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Mindy Shoss Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida
• Thomas E. Rojo Aubrey Director of Behavioral Health Sciences, e-Course Supervisor Counseling Department, Glendale Community College, Maricopa Community Colleges
• Rebecca Thompson Ph.D. – Visiting Assistant Professor, Gettysburg College
• Julie Ann Liefeld Clinic Director, Southern Connecticut State University
• Alper Kayaalp Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology, South Dakota State University

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the most and least stressed cities in America, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across four key dimensions: 1) Work Stress, 2) Financial Stress, 3) Family Stress, and 4) Health & Safety Stress. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the four dimensions using 39 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 the highest levels of stress.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Work Stress – Total Points: 25

• Average Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Job Security: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)Note: This metric measures the annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter.
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Share of Households where No Adults Work: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Half Weight (~1.47 Points)
• Income Growth: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)Note: “Growth” compares income levels in 2017 versus in 2016.
• Job Satisfaction Ranking: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)Note: This metric is based on Indeed Job Happiness Index.

Financial Stress – Total Points: 25

• Median Annual Household Income: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
• Share of Households Behind on Bills in Past 12 Months: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Personal-Bankruptcy Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Median Debt per Median Earnings: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Food Insecurity: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: Food Insecurity is the percentage of the population who did not have access to a reliable source of food during the past year.
• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Household Income.
• Share of Mortgage Holders with Negative Equity: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric measures the proportion of mortgage holders whose balance on mortgage is higher than the value of homes.

Family Stress – Total Points: 25

• Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Share of Single Parent Households: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Median Duration of Current Marriage: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Strength of Social Ties: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)Note: This metric is based on responses to Sharecare’s RealAge® Test and was used to indicate where relationships with family and friends are stronger, thus providing an upside to one’s social life and well-being.
• Availability of Childcare Workers per Total Number of Children: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Child Care Cost: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)Note: Monthly Cost of Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private for 1 Child (proxy for child care cost).

Health & Safety Stress – Total Points: 25

• Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Share of Adults Who Could Not See a Doctor Because of Cost: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Share of Adults Diagnosed with Depression: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Mental Health: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)Note: This metric measures the share of adults with 14 or more mentally unhealthy days reported in the past month.
• Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Share of Insured Population: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Share of Adult Binge Drinkers: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)Note: This metric measures the share of adults consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion.
• Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Physical-Activity Rate: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Share of Obese Residents: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Share of Adults with Inadequate Sleep: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)Note: This metric measures the share of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours per night.
• Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• YouTube (for web embedding Detroit)
• 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, INRIX, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Indeed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Renwood RealtyTrac, County Health Rankings, Zillow, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, TransUnion, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Gallup-Healthways, Numbeo, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sharecare.

Image: WAYHOME studio / Shutterstock.com

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