California dominated a list of the happiest cities in the U.S., according to a new ranking comparing residents’ well-being across the country.
A total of 29 California cities were recognized among the happiest cities to live in the country, according to a new survey by WalletHub.
WalletHub analyzed 182 of the largest cities in the country using insights from positive-psychology research. Each city was assessed using 29 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income growth, and average daily leisure time.
Leading the list nationally is Fremont, which ranked No. 1 overall with a total score of 74.09. The Bay Area city secured the top spot in emotional and physical well-being and ranked fourth in the category measuring community and environment.
A primary contributing factor behind Fremont’s ranking was that it has the largest share of households, nearly 80%, earning more than $75,000 annually, according to WalletHub.
Fremont also recorded the highest rate of life satisfaction, the seventh-lowest depression rate, and the fifth-highest average life expectancy in the country.
At 9.3%, Fremont had the lowest separation and divorce rate in the U.S., another contributing factor to the city’s happiness ranking, according to the study.
Emphasizing the significance of mental health in overall happiness and satisfaction, the study noted that Fremont has the lowest share of adults who reported having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month.
Additionally, Fremont ranked fifth among the most caring cities in the U.S. in a recent WalletHub analysis.
Several other California cities were featured on the list, including Irvine and San Jose, which ranked eighth and 10th, respectively. The Bay Area also had strong representation, with several cities from the region placing relatively high.
The California cities ranked among the happiest in the U.S. include:
- Fremont: Rank 1
- Irvine: Rank 8
- San Jose: Rank 10
- San Francisco: Rank 17
- San Diego: Rank 21
- Huntington Beach: Rank 25
- Chula Vista: Rank 30
- Santa Clarita: Rank 40
- Glendale: Rank 43
- Santa Rosa: Rank 44
- Oceanside: Rank 47
- Garden Grove: Rank 48
- Rancho Cucamonga: Rank 49
- Oakland: Rank 52
- Anaheim: Rank 55
- Santa Ana: Rank 64
- Fontana: Rank 72
- Oxnard: Rank 74
- Sacramento: Rank 80
- Ontario: Rank 85
- Los Angeles: Rank 87
- Riverside: Rank 93
- Long Beach: Rank 94
- Moreno Valley: Rank 107
- Modesto: Rank 112
- Stockton: Rank 115
- Fresno: Rank 136
- San Bernardino: Rank 139
- Bakersfield: Rank 152
Nationally, Fremont was followed by Bismarck, ND; Scottsdale, AZ; South Burlington, VT; and Fargo, ND to round out the top five happiest cities in the U.S.
Methodology
WalletHub compared 182 of the largest cities in the U.S., including the 150 most populated cities along with two of the most populated cities in each state. All cities were evaluated across three main dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment.
All the categories were assessed using 29 metrics, which were graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 corresponding to maximum happiness.
Yet Republicans want to move to rural Appalachia and make coal great again.
“Most Happiest?” Seriously?
Awkward phrasing for sure, but I think they mean the highest number of cities on the list of “happiest” cities.
it’s not really awkward, coat is just illiterate and can’t understand the difference between the most “Happiest Cities”, which is what the title says, and “Most Happiest”, which is how s/he misquoted (pun, if you wish) it.
I know, I was trying to be charitable
For people who, unlike you, are literate and can distinguish between Most “Happiest” and “Most Happiest”, yes seriously.
the point of the story is that Sb or Goleta are not on the list. Oxnard, really??
There’s a minimum population threshold and we’re too small to be included
Wrong as always. It’s an article about California … it doesn’t have a point about SB or Goleta.
Yes really!! Lived in the Shores for years and kept a boat in the Channel Islands Harbor.