Happiest Cities in America: California claims top 3 spots on list for 2025

Cleveland, Detroit, Memphis round out bottom three of WalletHub’s annual study

MIAMI — Want to live somewhere that could make you happier? Where you live might matter more than you’d guess. WalletHub just released their annual study showing which cities have the happiest residents, and California towns are dominating the list.

Fremont, California tops the list as America’s happiest city in 2025, with San Jose and Irvine completing a California sweep of the top three spots. The findings looked at 29 different factors across 182 of the largest U.S. cities. You can find the complete list at the end of the article.

“Research shows that having more money only increases your happiness until you’re making at least $75,000 per year – anything more you earn likely won’t have an impact,” notes Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, in a statement. “Therefore, when deciding where to live to maximize your happiness, you’ll want to pick a city that offers more than just a decent average income. The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather, and caring neighbors.”

Why California Towns Are So Darn Happy

What’s Fremont got that other cities don’t? Money helps: nearly 80% of households there make over $75,000 a year, more than anywhere else in the study. Past that magic number, extra cash doesn’t seem to make people much happier, so most Fremont folks have hit the financial sweet spot.

But there’s more to it than fat paychecks. People in Fremont say they’re more satisfied with life than residents of any other city. They have the fifth-lowest depression rate in America and live longer than people in most other cities (fourth-highest life expectancy). Marriages last longer there too. Only 8.9% end in divorce, the lowest rate nationwide. And fewer Fremont residents report struggling with their mental health for long periods.

San Jose, in second place, boasts the nation’s longest average life expectancy. The city ranks high on measures of community well-being, with residents reporting they feel safe and proud of where they live. Like Fremont, San Jose has strong household incomes, with 72% of households earning above $75,000 yearly.

Irvine completes the top three with impressive health statistics—88% of adults report good or better health (third-highest nationwide), and nearly 84% stay active with regular physical activities. The city has the seventh-highest life expectancy, the third-lowest rate of poor mental health days, and the eighth-lowest depression rate. With 68% of households earning above $75,000 annually and the third-lowest divorce rate nationally, Irvine shows how physical health, mental wellbeing, and financial stability all contribute to happiness.

Top 10 Happiest Cities Span the Country

While California cities claim four of the top ten spots (Fremont, San Jose, Irvine, and Huntington Beach), the Midwest makes a strong showing as well.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota (4th) and Overland Park, Kansas (5th) prove that heartland cities can create environments where people thrive. Lincoln, Nebraska (6th) and Madison, Wisconsin (7th) add to the Midwest’s strong presence in the rankings.

Scottsdale, Arizona (8th) represents the Southwest in the top tier, while San Francisco (9th) adds another California city to the elite group.

What Makes People Happy in These Cities?

The WalletHub study spotted some trends in places where people report being happiest. Cities with fewer cases of depression, residents who sleep well, healthy people, and neighbors who look out for each other tend to score higher on the happiness scale.

Pearl City, Hawaii has the lowest depression rate in the nation—half that of Knoxville, Tennessee, which ranked worst in this category. When it comes to getting enough sleep, South Burlington, Vermont leads the country with rates twice as high as Detroit, Michigan, which came in last.

Money matters too, but in a specific way. Cities where more households earn above $75,000 tend to score better across multiple happiness measures. Job satisfaction, employment opportunities, and job security also play major roles in overall happiness.

“Money influences happiness only to a certain extent,” Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University tells WalletHub. “Having enough to meet basic needs is important but additional money beyond that doesn’t bring additional happiness. One of the strongest predictors of happiness is not success or wealth but rather your social relationships. Social connection is consistently rated as the top contributor to overall happiness.”

Other things that seem to matter include how many divorces happen in a city, whether hate crimes are common, if there are parks nearby, and whether people have free time to enjoy themselves. Cities that WalletHub previously named as “Most Caring” also tend to be happier places to live. It turns out being surrounded by kind neighbors might actually make you happier.

“The environment where you live can certainly influence your happiness,” says Holt-Lunstad. “Features such as the extent of green space (access to nature), how much sunlight you get, congestion of cars and crowds, and the safety and walkability of your community—can all influence happiness. Feeling safe is important. Cultural or local norms can also influence happiness.”

Where People Are Happiest (and Not)

The map of happiness shows some clear patterns. People in Western and Midwestern cities tend to be happier than those in Southern cities and old industrial towns, though you’ll find exceptions everywhere.

At the very bottom of the list sits Cleveland, Ohio (182nd), with Detroit, Michigan (181st) and Memphis, Tennessee (180th) not far behind. These cities scored poorly in all three categories WalletHub looked at—how people feel physically and emotionally, jobs and money issues, and community life.

Even within states, there are big differences. While California dominates the top rankings, cities like Stockton (112th) and San Bernardino (135th) score much lower, showing that happiness can vary widely even within the same state.

What City Planners Can Learn

City planners and local officials could learn a thing or two from these results. The happiest cities tend to have neighborhoods where you can walk places, parks and natural areas, active community groups, and enough good jobs so people can make at least $75,000 a year.

The huge difference between the happiest and unhappiest cities shows that improving mental health services, building stronger communities, creating better jobs, and making neighborhoods safer could help boost the mood in cities at the bottom of the list.

“The financial and economic stability of a city can influence how secure individuals may feel. With stability comes the ability to take chances, explore opportunities, and contribute to the community,” explains Holt-Lunstad. “With an economic safety net people can feel more secure pursuing opportunities such as education, entrepreneurial opportunities, and service that can not only benefit the individual but also have a ripple effect to benefit the community.”

It’s worth noting that mid-sized cities like Fremont, Sioux Falls, and Overland Park perform exceptionally well, perhaps offering more manageable models for balancing economic opportunity, community connection, and quality of life than larger metropolitan areas.

Methodology

The WalletHub study compared 182 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: Emotional & Physical Well-Being (50 points), Income & Employment (25 points), and Community & Environment (25 points).

These dimensions were evaluated using 29 metrics, each graded on a 100-point scale with 100 representing maximum happiness. Metrics included depression rate, suicide rate, adequate-sleep rate, physical health, sports participation, marijuana use, opioid prescriptions, mental health ratings, life expectancy, food insecurity, income growth, household income, poverty rate, job satisfaction, job opportunities, job security, unemployment rate, underemployment rate, bankruptcy rate, work hours, commute time, divorce rates, hate crime incidents, weather conditions, parkland acreage, leisure time, and community well-being scores.

The analysis drew upon data from numerous sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index, 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, and WalletHub’s own research. All data was collected as of January 2, 2025.

Full List: Happiest Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Emotional & Physical Well-Being Rank	Income & Employment Rank	Community & Environment Rank
1	Fremont, CA	73.54	1	93	4
2	San Jose, CA	69.34	3	45	10
3	Irvine, CA	69.32	2	62	14
4	Sioux Falls, SD	68.66	9	53	5
5	Overland Park, KS	66.93	4	59	47
6	Lincoln, NE	66.59	25	51	1
7	Madison, WI	65.83	15	24	9
8	Scottsdale, AZ	65.17	22	10	15
9	San Francisco, CA	64.96	6	68	43
10	Huntington Beach, CA	64.70	11	80	39
11	Bismarck, ND	64.34	10	30	84
12	Omaha, NE	64.34	36	89	2
13	Seattle, WA	64.13	5	4	135
14	Charleston, SC	63.93	20	9	48
15	San Diego, CA	63.79	21	27	23
16	Columbia, MD	63.45	7	162	83
17	Plano, TX	62.78	13	66	51
18	Honolulu, HI	62.47	26	52	29
19	South Burlington, VT	62.47	8	7	174
20	Garden Grove, CA	62.36	32	61	13
21	Nashua, NH	61.99	50	105	3
22	Raleigh, NC	61.59	16	88	60
23	Burlington, VT	61.36	27	1	152
24	Portland, ME	61.22	30	6	94
25	Pearl City, HI	61.20	14	144	112
26	Gilbert, AZ	61.20	33	26	38
27	Chula Vista, CA	61.17	35	77	22
28	Fargo, ND	60.85	24	32	107
29	Durham, NC	60.51	28	28	75
30	Anaheim, CA	60.42	38	70	32
31	Santa Clarita, CA	60.15	31	145	28
32	Santa Rosa, CA	60.11	47	38	35
33	Rapid City, SD	60.05	66	21	11
34	Minneapolis, MN	59.87	18	36	127
35	Oakland, CA	59.87	19	120	76
36	Jersey City, NJ	59.82	17	154	67
37	Cedar Rapids, IA	59.73	48	126	12
38	Glendale, CA	59.66	41	121	26
39	Pembroke Pines, FL	59.53	37	147	27
40	Chandler, AZ	59.47	43	43	49
41	Yonkers, NY	59.28	23	141	90
42	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	59.28	56	79	24
43	Oceanside, CA	59.12	39	104	58
44	Chesapeake, VA	58.95	55	86	31
45	Boston, MA	58.91	40	18	97
46	Fort Lauderdale, FL	58.74	46	78	54
47	Manchester, NH	58.60	77	81	6
48	Santa Ana, CA	58.50	68	23	33
49	Aurora, IL	58.50	34	155	40
50	Cape Coral, FL	58.27	72	83	8
51	Boise, ID	58.16	51	8	114
52	Charlotte, NC	58.08	42	102	61
53	Cheyenne, WY	58.08	73	39	25
54	Washington, DC	58.05	12	94	173
55	Grand Rapids, MI	57.65	83	19	19
56	Missoula, MT	57.42	62	16	109
57	Juneau, AK	57.42	29	35	178
58	Anchorage, AK	57.01	63	71	63
59	Austin, TX	56.94	44	22	142
60	Virginia Beach, VA	56.90	59	92	57
61	Pittsburgh, PA	56.64	80	12	56
62	Warwick, RI	56.52	57	129	59
63	Oxnard, CA	56.33	79	122	16
64	Peoria, AZ	56.07	67	91	70
65	Des Moines, IA	55.89	70	112	45
66	Orlando, FL	55.82	78	5	102
67	Nampa, ID	55.57	75	20	111
68	New York, NY	55.52	54	156	64
69	St. Petersburg, FL	55.29	82	25	69
70	Tampa, FL	55.24	87	46	46
71	Tempe, AZ	55.18	61	17	167
72	Fontana, CA	55.09	99	72	17
73	Port St. Lucie, FL	54.86	96	49	36
74	Atlanta, GA	54.81	58	90	129
75	Portland, OR	54.76	49	96	148
76	Riverside, CA	54.62	88	41	65
77	Los Angeles, CA	54.49	71	107	81
78	St. Paul, MN	54.45	60	127	113
79	Colorado Springs, CO	54.30	81	60	77
80	Casper, WY	54.08	116	84	7
81	Irving, TX	54.02	76	69	106
82	Miami, FL	54.01	74	13	151
83	Mesa, AZ	53.98	84	40	93
84	Worcester, MA	53.98	90	99	53
85	Salt Lake City, UT	53.89	65	37	169
86	Ontario, CA	53.86	108	65	30
87	Long Beach, CA	53.61	69	148	87
88	Aurora, CO	53.60	52	158	140
89	Moreno Valley, CA	53.59	104	110	20
90	Providence, RI	53.51	120	11	52
91	Bridgeport, CT	53.38	86	170	18
92	Sacramento, CA	53.31	91	31	110
93	Chicago, IL	53.03	53	179	99
94	Henderson, NV	52.88	92	128	55
95	Billings, MT	52.88	101	56	86
96	Denver, CO	52.76	45	136	171
97	New Haven, CT	52.74	126	47	34
98	Tallahassee, FL	52.59	111	33	78
99	Albuquerque, NM	52.40	89	64	120
100	Vancouver, WA	52.26	64	117	172
101	Garland, TX	52.16	93	115	85
102	Columbia, SC	51.90	107	67	80
103	Modesto, CA	51.66	122	74	50
104	Reno, NV	51.53	103	44	116
105	Hialeah, FL	51.53	94	101	104
106	Phoenix, AZ	51.13	97	85	128
107	Wilmington, DE	51.10	102	125	92
108	Huntsville, AL	51.02	124	48	91
109	Las Cruces, NM	50.89	129	42	72
110	Winston-Salem, NC	50.70	105	108	96
111	West Valley City, UT	50.70	114	58	123
112	Stockton, CA	50.61	110	103	95
113	Grand Prairie, TX	50.44	106	146	82
114	Lexington-Fayette, KY	50.43	98	151	101
115	Tacoma, WA	50.22	85	133	161
116	Greensboro, NC	50.08	100	109	138
117	Oklahoma City, OK	49.32	145	130	21
118	Nashville, TN	49.25	133	113	74
119	Jacksonville, FL	49.17	139	123	41
120	Glendale, AZ	49.14	115	97	131
121	Kansas City, MO	48.90	113	134	124
122	Spokane, WA	48.81	135	14	150
123	Columbus, OH	48.77	127	157	73
124	Dallas, TX	48.74	95	119	163
125	Fort Worth, TX	48.49	121	138	117
126	Fresno, CA	48.33	134	73	115
127	Bakersfield, CA	48.00	137	135	68
128	Arlington, TX	47.93	118	137	136
129	Newport News, VA	47.92	123	143	139
130	Fort Wayne, IN	47.80	132	153	89
131	Milwaukee, WI	47.78	125	163	103
132	Wichita, KS	47.76	119	118	149
133	Richmond, VA	47.38	109	150	162
134	Salem, OR	47.31	117	87	177
135	San Bernardino, CA	47.23	149	76	79
136	Rochester, NY	47.12	136	95	145
137	Lewiston, ME	46.75	163	2	134
138	Newark, NJ	46.67	112	174	143
139	New Orleans, LA	46.61	148	106	88
140	Philadelphia, PA	46.42	140	114	122
141	Norfolk, VA	46.33	130	131	153
142	Tulsa, OK	46.12	167	82	37
143	Dover, DE	45.72	142	116	141
144	Springfield, MO	45.70	165	63	62
145	North Las Vegas, NV	45.62	151	160	66
146	Las Vegas, NV	45.40	140	159	118
147	Indianapolis, IN	45.28	138	173	98
148	Louisville, KY	45.20	131	177	126
149	Chattanooga, TN	44.88	160	124	71
150	Fayetteville, NC	44.74	152	132	119
151	Houston, TX	44.67	128	152	170
152	Laredo, TX	44.62	164	3	155
153	Buffalo, NY	44.53	143	100	164
154	Cincinnati, OH	44.33	156	140	108
155	Lubbock, TX	44.14	147	54	168
156	Amarillo, TX	44.08	157	98	133
157	Charleston, WV	43.93	171	15	132
158	El Paso, TX	43.90	150	139	144
159	Knoxville, TN	43.52	172	50	100
160	Little Rock, AR	43.05	153	149	154
161	Tucson, AZ	42.42	159	75	165
162	Baltimore, MD	42.31	144	172	158
163	St. Louis, MO	42.14	146	168	156
164	San Antonio, TX	42.05	154	111	175
165	Columbus, GA	41.92	162	161	125
166	Baton Rouge, LA	41.71	169	142	121
167	Corpus Christi, TX	41.48	168	55	166
168	Shreveport, LA	40.77	173	178	42
169	Akron, OH	40.02	174	164	105
170	Brownsville, TX	39.51	179	57	130
171	Augusta, GA	39.32	161	167	176
172	Jackson, MS	39.16	155	180	180
173	Mobile, AL	39.11	170	176	137
174	Montgomery, AL	38.49	158	175	181
175	Huntington, WV	37.84	182	29	44
176	Birmingham, AL	37.29	166	171	179
177	Toledo, OH	36.30	180	165	146
178	Gulfport, MS	35.89	178	169	147
179	Fort Smith, AR	35.61	181	34	157
180	Memphis, TN	34.88	175	182	160
181	Detroit, MI	34.18	177	181	159
182	Cleveland, OH	34.01	176	166	182

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category. Credit: WalletHub