The Essentials

Happiest US Cities: A New Ranking

The latest research data is in for which US cities are the happiest. Researchers analyzed positive psychology findings of 180 of the largest US cities using 29 key indicators of happiness — from income growth to the amount of available leisure time to mental depression rates.

 

And the happiest city in America is Fremont, California, with the highest number of households with an income above $75,000, a low divorce rate and the lowest share of adults reporting mentally unhealthy days.

 

Coming in at number two is Overland Park, Kansas, followed by San Jose, California and Madison, Wisconsin.

 

But New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Phoenix didn’t score in the top 20.

 

Surprisingly, perhaps, Fargo, North Dakota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were ranked much happier cities.