
WASHINGTON —Â Does money buy happiness? Not always, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. That’s the conclusion of a new study that finds some of America’s happiest cities are also the wealthiest and healthiest in the nation.
The WalletHub study of the country’s 182 largest cities finds Fremont, California tops the list as the happiest place in the United States. Researchers ranked each location based on residents’ emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and the local community and environment — which includes the local divorce rate, the weather, and crime.
Fremont ranked number one among all U.S. cities when it comes to emotional and physical well-being, a measure which looked at local depression rates, life expectancy, food insecurity, drug use, and even local participation in sports. The city also ranked second in community and environment and finished in the top 50 in terms of income.
Health may be the key to happiness — not money
Rounding out the top five happiest cities are Columbia, Maryland, and California’s San Francisco, San Jose, and Irvine. What do all these cities have in common? They all ranked in the top five for emotional and physical well-being in WalletHub’s study.
That’s not to say making more money doesn’t make life easier for local residents, too. San Francisco also finished as the number one city when comparing incomes and employment rates. Specifically, this measure examined each city’s income growth, poverty rate, job satisfaction, and the number of people making more than $75,000.
Cities with a high-income workforce did well when it comes to their happiness scores, with cities like Seattle, Washington (#2 in income), Charleston, South Carolina (#3), and Austin, Texas (#4) all finishing within the top 30 happiest cities in America.
The less you need, the happier you are
When comparing the new study to a recent WalletHub report on the neediest cities in the U.S., it quickly becomes clear that when Americans have less problems, they’re happier more often. In that report, Detroit, Michigan finished as America’s neediest city. Unsurprisingly, Detroit ranked as the least happy city — finishing 182nd out of 182 cities.
Interestingly, Californians seem to “go with the flow” better than anyone. Despite nearly 30 California cities making the neediest cities list in 2021 — including Los Angeles and San Francisco finishing with some of the worst grades for homelessness and household facilities — the state is still home to 11 of top 20 happiest cities in the nation!
One of the biggest reasons may be the low depression scores around the state. In fact, California and Hawaii dominated the list of cities with the lowest depression rates in the U.S. — with Hawaii’s Pearl City leading the way, followed by Fremont, Honolulu, San Jose, and Irvine.
It turns out the expression “happy wife, happy life” also plays a major role in determining America’s happiest cities. Fremont enjoys the lowest separation and divorce rate of any city, with Pearl City (#32 in happiness), Irvine (#5), Glendale (#18), and San Jose (#4) rounding out the top five for most stable marriages.
Complete List: Happiest Cities in the U.S.
Overall Rank |
City |
Total Score |
Emotional & Physical Well-Being |
Income & Employment |
Community & Environment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fremont, CA | 77.13 | 1 | 46 | 2 |
2 | Columbia, MD | 71.64 | 3 | 161 | 5 |
3 | San Francisco, CA | 71.15 | 4 | 1 | 44 |
4 | San Jose, CA | 71.00 | 2 | 6 | 55 |
5 | Irvine, CA | 70.38 | 5 | 16 | 12 |
6 | Madison, WI | 68.10 | 10 | 11 | 19 |
7 | Seattle, WA | 67.67 | 6 | 2 | 99 |
8 | Overland Park, KS | 67.46 | 12 | 54 | 13 |
9 | Huntington Beach, CA | 66.43 | 9 | 51 | 43 |
10 | San Diego, CA | 65.82 | 14 | 18 | 25 |
11 | Fargo, ND | 65.46 | 22 | 24 | 23 |
12 | Minneapolis, MN | 65.09 | 8 | 20 | 80 |
13 | Bismarck, ND | 64.65 | 48 | 32 | 4 |
14 | Santa Rosa, CA | 64.52 | 13 | 22 | 105 |
15 | Santa Clarita, CA | 64.44 | 15 | 100 | 29 |
16 | Oakland, CA | 64.35 | 7 | 105 | 87 |
17 | Sioux Falls, SD | 64.34 | 20 | 74 | 27 |
18 | Glendale, CA | 64.05 | 31 | 91 | 11 |
19 | Scottsdale, AZ | 63.78 | 50 | 43 | 6 |
20 | Anaheim, CA | 63.72 | 25 | 75 | 33 |
21 | Aurora, IL | 63.60 | 21 | 144 | 8 |
22 | Plano, TX | 63.33 | 37 | 48 | 24 |
23 | Oxnard, CA | 63.29 | 26 | 132 | 10 |
24 | Garden Grove, CA | 63.15 | 24 | 80 | 52 |
25 | Chula Vista, CA | 63.01 | 17 | 113 | 30 |
26 | Charleston, SC | 62.76 | 53 | 3 | 31 |
27 | Raleigh, NC | 62.35 | 23 | 71 | 63 |
28 | Honolulu, HI | 62.24 | 44 | 72 | 21 |
29 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 62.22 | 38 | 83 | 40 |
30 | Austin, TX | 62.04 | 35 | 5 | 109 |
31 | Portland, ME | 61.96 | 28 | 10 | 150 |
32 | Pearl City, HI | 61.78 | 36 | 148 | 22 |
33 | Oceanside, CA | 61.72 | 30 | 110 | 53 |
34 | Gilbert, AZ | 61.72 | 55 | 34 | 17 |
35 | Lincoln, NE | 61.10 | 27 | 67 | 104 |
36 | Boston, MA | 61.07 | 43 | 15 | 89 |
37 | South Burlington, VT | 60.65 | 11 | 56 | 181 |
38 | Santa Ana, CA | 60.62 | 45 | 31 | 86 |
39 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 60.59 | 51 | 125 | 15 |
40 | Burlington, VT | 60.32 | 34 | 9 | 170 |
41 | Portland, OR | 60.31 | 49 | 21 | 88 |
42 | Aurora, CO | 60.15 | 19 | 154 | 69 |
43 | Jersey City, NJ | 59.74 | 40 | 170 | 20 |
44 | Yonkers, NY | 59.69 | 18 | 163 | 102 |
45 | Chandler, AZ | 59.62 | 58 | 60 | 38 |
46 | St. Paul, MN | 59.54 | 33 | 96 | 121 |
47 | Omaha, NE | 59.48 | 52 | 79 | 56 |
48 | Juneau, AK | 59.27 | 32 | 14 | 179 |
49 | Sacramento, CA | 59.27 | 64 | 30 | 49 |
50 | Cheyenne, WY | 59.05 | 101 | 47 | 3 |
51 | Virginia Beach, VA | 58.90 | 62 | 120 | 18 |
52 | Peoria, AZ | 58.84 | 72 | 58 | 16 |
53 | Tempe, AZ | 58.79 | 71 | 17 | 50 |
54 | Los Angeles, CA | 58.70 | 39 | 85 | 128 |
55 | Salt Lake City, UT | 58.58 | 57 | 33 | 116 |
56 | Chicago, IL | 58.43 | 47 | 166 | 46 |
57 | Denver, CO | 58.41 | 16 | 134 | 153 |
58 | New York, NY | 58.35 | 46 | 164 | 51 |
59 | Anchorage, AK | 58.18 | 60 | 102 | 54 |
60 | Long Beach, CA | 58.13 | 41 | 142 | 101 |
61 | Nashua, NH | 58.11 | 68 | 104 | 35 |
62 | Boise, ID | 58.09 | 59 | 13 | 119 |
63 | Cape Coral, FL | 58.05 | 89 | 45 | 9 |
64 | Colorado Springs, CO | 57.74 | 63 | 97 | 59 |
65 | Pittsburgh, PA | 57.72 | 80 | 29 | 41 |
66 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 57.65 | 67 | 84 | 62 |
67 | Charlotte, NC | 57.61 | 61 | 78 | 68 |
68 | Bridgeport, CT | 57.34 | 42 | 165 | 91 |
69 | Chesapeake, VA | 57.32 | 81 | 145 | 7 |
70 | Warwick, RI | 57.19 | 69 | 62 | 90 |
71 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 57.13 | 83 | 36 | 48 |
72 | Rapid City, SD | 57.12 | 76 | 27 | 76 |
73 | Missoula, MT | 57.12 | 88 | 40 | 28 |
74 | Durham, NC | 56.92 | 54 | 69 | 123 |
75 | Miami, FL | 56.78 | 56 | 52 | 142 |
76 | Des Moines, IA | 56.65 | 70 | 68 | 81 |
77 | Columbia, SC | 56.62 | 108 | 4 | 37 |
78 | Reno, NV | 56.13 | 65 | 37 | 143 |
79 | Casper, WY | 55.76 | 127 | 123 | 1 |
80 | Tampa, FL | 55.62 | 94 | 38 | 60 |
81 | West Valley City, UT | 55.50 | 78 | 82 | 85 |
82 | Tacoma, WA | 55.50 | 75 | 98 | 93 |
83 | Grand Prairie, TX | 55.08 | 98 | 89 | 42 |
84 | Vancouver, WA | 55.08 | 73 | 49 | 147 |
85 | Washington, DC | 55.05 | 29 | 57 | 182 |
86 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 55.03 | 115 | 65 | 14 |
87 | Mesa, AZ | 55.01 | 86 | 77 | 64 |
88 | Providence, RI | 54.84 | 113 | 25 | 47 |
89 | Irving, TX | 54.73 | 85 | 55 | 98 |
90 | Manchester, NH | 54.66 | 84 | 129 | 57 |
91 | Orlando, FL | 54.59 | 96 | 19 | 108 |
92 | Grand Rapids, MI | 54.32 | 104 | 53 | 66 |
93 | Atlanta, GA | 54.27 | 79 | 87 | 115 |
94 | Hialeah, FL | 54.20 | 66 | 157 | 110 |
95 | Tallahassee, FL | 54.16 | 130 | 8 | 45 |
96 | Ontario, CA | 53.97 | 119 | 64 | 32 |
97 | Garland, TX | 53.82 | 92 | 108 | 67 |
98 | Henderson, NV | 53.72 | 87 | 143 | 58 |
99 | Fontana, CA | 53.44 | 118 | 95 | 34 |
100 | St. Petersburg, FL | 53.39 | 100 | 35 | 134 |
101 | Modesto, CA | 53.21 | 112 | 42 | 92 |
102 | Moreno Valley, CA | 53.11 | 120 | 116 | 26 |
103 | Fort Worth, TX | 52.85 | 97 | 124 | 83 |
104 | Riverside, CA | 52.84 | 107 | 28 | 125 |
105 | Billings, MT | 52.51 | 122 | 26 | 107 |
106 | Spokane, WA | 52.17 | 126 | 7 | 129 |
107 | Arlington, TX | 52.14 | 93 | 122 | 118 |
108 | Glendale, AZ | 51.84 | 106 | 112 | 114 |
109 | Nashville, TN | 51.83 | 117 | 107 | 74 |
110 | Worcester, MA | 51.69 | 95 | 139 | 126 |
111 | Dallas, TX | 51.50 | 90 | 93 | 154 |
112 | Houston, TX | 51.41 | 74 | 140 | 164 |
113 | Norfolk, VA | 50.85 | 102 | 167 | 96 |
114 | Milwaukee, WI | 50.76 | 103 | 152 | 113 |
115 | Laredo, TX | 50.64 | 105 | 50 | 165 |
115 | Wilmington, DE | 50.64 | 125 | 126 | 77 |
117 | Tucson, AZ | 50.60 | 114 | 66 | 148 |
118 | New Haven, CT | 50.58 | 77 | 115 | 178 |
119 | Phoenix, AZ | 50.39 | 91 | 106 | 169 |
120 | El Paso, TX | 50.31 | 109 | 130 | 132 |
121 | Albuquerque, NM | 50.31 | 82 | 101 | 176 |
122 | Stockton, CA | 50.15 | 99 | 150 | 137 |
123 | Fresno, CA | 50.10 | 123 | 86 | 136 |
124 | Nampa, ID | 50.06 | 145 | 99 | 39 |
125 | Brownsville, TX | 50.05 | 133 | 73 | 122 |
126 | Bakersfield, CA | 49.98 | 132 | 103 | 100 |
127 | Jacksonville, FL | 49.89 | 147 | 109 | 36 |
128 | Las Cruces, NM | 49.74 | 110 | 118 | 156 |
129 | Winston-Salem, NC | 49.43 | 138 | 94 | 97 |
130 | San Antonio, TX | 49.31 | 116 | 88 | 160 |
131 | Rochester, NY | 48.96 | 131 | 114 | 139 |
132 | Newark, NJ | 48.75 | 111 | 182 | 73 |
133 | Las Vegas, NV | 48.61 | 124 | 169 | 95 |
134 | Columbus, OH | 48.28 | 128 | 138 | 145 |
135 | North Las Vegas, NV | 48.21 | 135 | 175 | 61 |
136 | Buffalo, NY | 48.20 | 121 | 136 | 157 |
137 | Greensboro, NC | 48.12 | 129 | 70 | 167 |
138 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 47.90 | 134 | 121 | 144 |
139 | Corpus Christi, TX | 47.54 | 137 | 62 | 159 |
140 | Huntsville, AL | 46.79 | 152 | 119 | 79 |
141 | Philadelphia, PA | 46.78 | 148 | 146 | 75 |
141 | Wichita, KS | 46.78 | 143 | 127 | 130 |
143 | Amarillo, TX | 46.75 | 159 | 76 | 70 |
144 | Lewiston, ME | 46.71 | 166 | 12 | 78 |
145 | Salem, OR | 46.39 | 144 | 41 | 175 |
146 | Newport News, VA | 46.38 | 141 | 174 | 72 |
147 | New Orleans, LA | 46.35 | 146 | 111 | 146 |
148 | Oklahoma City, OK | 46.32 | 155 | 135 | 82 |
149 | Baltimore, MD | 45.97 | 142 | 178 | 84 |
150 | Richmond, VA | 45.97 | 136 | 176 | 133 |
151 | Dover, DE | 45.74 | 151 | 92 | 155 |
152 | Kansas City, MO | 45.61 | 140 | 128 | 166 |
153 | San Bernardino, CA | 45.36 | 149 | 137 | 140 |
154 | Cincinnati, OH | 45.15 | 139 | 147 | 163 |
155 | Fort Wayne, IN | 45.00 | 154 | 149 | 117 |
156 | Springfield, MO | 44.95 | 167 | 44 | 103 |
157 | Lubbock, TX | 44.89 | 157 | 23 | 168 |
158 | Baton Rouge, LA | 44.37 | 156 | 90 | 152 |
159 | Louisville, KY | 44.10 | 158 | 151 | 111 |
160 | Indianapolis, IN | 43.70 | 150 | 177 | 131 |
161 | St. Louis, MO | 43.68 | 153 | 160 | 149 |
162 | Tulsa, OK | 43.35 | 163 | 117 | 138 |
163 | Little Rock, AR | 43.25 | 164 | 133 | 106 |
164 | Knoxville, TN | 43.10 | 169 | 59 | 94 |
165 | Akron, OH | 42.29 | 162 | 168 | 112 |
166 | Chattanooga, TN | 42.24 | 165 | 141 | 120 |
167 | Columbus, GA | 40.90 | 177 | 131 | 65 |
168 | Fayetteville, NC | 40.83 | 161 | 155 | 171 |
169 | Jackson, MS | 40.60 | 160 | 159 | 174 |
170 | Birmingham, AL | 39.54 | 168 | 158 | 162 |
171 | Toledo, OH | 39.17 | 172 | 171 | 127 |
172 | Charleston, WV | 39.13 | 173 | 81 | 173 |
173 | Shreveport, LA | 39.01 | 175 | 173 | 71 |
174 | Mobile, AL | 38.94 | 171 | 172 | 124 |
175 | Fort Smith, AR | 37.45 | 180 | 61 | 158 |
176 | Augusta, GA | 36.64 | 178 | 162 | 135 |
177 | Cleveland, OH | 36.52 | 170 | 156 | 180 |
178 | Montgomery, AL | 35.54 | 174 | 180 | 161 |
179 | Huntington, WV | 35.53 | 182 | 39 | 141 |
180 | Memphis, TN | 34.86 | 176 | 181 | 172 |
181 | Gulfport, MS | 34.71 | 181 | 153 | 151 |
182 | Detroit, MI | 32.31 | 179 | 179 | 177 |