10 Mar Madison is among the 10 happiest cities in America, according to new research
It is not uncommon to go on a vacation and wonder, “Why am I not living here?” While the U.S. only ranks 23rd on the World Happiness Report, there are pockets of happiness that outshine the rest of the country, as not everyone’s experience of joy is equal. If you’re unhappy where you are living—or are looking for a fresh start—you might want to consider the happiest cities in the U.S.
Personal finance company WalletHub just released its rankings of America’s happiest cities. The company ranked cities based on 29 metrics of happiness, from depression rates to the income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day. Each metric was ranked on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness.
“The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather, and caring neighbors,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report.
Here are how the happiest and unhappiest cities measured up.
10 happiest cities
- Fremont, Calif.
- San Jose, Calif.
- Irvine, Calif.
- Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Overland Park, Kans.
- Lincoln, Neb.
- Madison, Wis.
- Scottsdale, Ariz.
- San Francisco, Calif.
- Huntington Beach, Calif.