The 10 happiest cities in the US, ranked
The happiest cities combine elements of healthy living, thriving communities, and work-life balance. Five of the top 10 are cities in California.
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- A WalletHub study ranked the 182 largest US cities by how happy their residents were.
- Cities in Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota were among the 10 happiest in the country.
- Five of the top 10 cities are in California.
Money can only contribute to your happiness up to a point — where you live may also impact how content you are, according to a new WalletHub study.
"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," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report.
The study from the personal-finance company named the top 10 happiest cities in the US based on emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment.
The WalletHub team used factors like weather, safety, divorce and separation rate, job security and satisfaction, life expectancy, depression rate, and commute times to rank 182 of the most populous cities in the US.
"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," Lupo said. "The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather, and caring neighbors."
WalletHub said the data used in the report was collected from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and previous WalletHub studies, among other sources, and was accurate as of January 2.
Here are the 10 happiest cities in the US.
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Located an hour from Los Angeles, Huntington Beach is known for its beaches and surfing culture, which, according to the city's website, have earned it the title of "Surf City USA."
The city has 10 miles of beaches along the Pacific Coast Highway and a vibrant food scene.
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Once a hippie capital, San Francisco is the largest city to make it in the top 10.
With 245 sunny days each year and summer high temperatures around 70 degrees, the Bay city ranked fourth in a US News & World Report ranking of best places to live based on weather.
The city was named sixth best in the WalletHub study's emotional and physical wellbeing ranking, which considered factors like depression, suicide, and adequate sleep rates, as well as sports participation and physical health index.
With a lively culture and thriving industry, the city is also walkable and has a robust public transit system, with nearly 35% of households being car-free, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority.
The city also ranked as the second best city for young professionals in a Niche ranking.
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Known for its luxury spa resorts and golf courses, Scottsdale, Arizona, ranked as the eight happiest city in the US, and the best US city to find a job.
Located in the Sonoran Desert, the city has a landscape of rocky hills and cacti and enjoys sunshine year-round with 299 sunny days each year. The city has beautiful architecture with attractions such as the Taliesin West, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Scottsdale, which has become a millionaires' hub in recent years, also came 10th in the study's income and employment ranking, which looks at factors like poverty rate, job satisfaction, and commute time.
Niche also ranked it the best city to retire in the US in 2024.
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The Wisconsin capital and home to the University of Wisconsin, Madison has a lively food scene, high-performing education, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The Midwestern city was ninth in the study's community and environment ranking, which looks at factors like ideal weather, divorce rate, hate-crime incidents, and average leisure time spent per day.
The city also ranked sixth for quality of life in a US News & World Report list.
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The Nebraska capital and home to the University of Nebraska came No. 1 in the study's community and environment ranking.
The city, where most residents own their homes, provides a suburban feel, while also offering a lively downtown with bars, coffee shops, and parks.
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Overland Park, Kansas' second largest city after Wichita, has a charming downtown with local arts and boutiques, as well as vibrant food and music scenes.
The city came fourth in the study's emotional and physical well-being ranking, and Niche named it the seventh best place to raise a family and second best place to buy a home.
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The South Dakota city provides both a small-town and suburban feel and abundant outdoor activities.
The city came fifth in the study's community and environment ranking and ninth in the emotional and physical well-being ranking.
The low cost of living and thriving job market also contributed to the city's ranking as the eighth best place to buy a home in a Niche ranking.
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An hour outside of Los Angeles, Irvine is home to beautiful parks, low crime rates, and well-respected schools like UC Irvine.
WalletHub reported that over 88% of adults in Irvine report "have good or better health," which is the third highest percentage in the country. Nearly 84% of residents participate in physical activities, and the city has the seventh highest life expectancy for residents.
In a Niche study, the city was also ranked the second healthiest city in the US and the fifth best city for outdoor activities.
This wellbeing also expands to mental health as well, with the city having the third lowest percentage of adults who say they have 14 or more mentally unhealthy days each month, and the eighth lowest depression rate, WalletHub reported.
The city also ranked as the third lowest for separation and divorce rate in the study, and ranked as the sixth best city in the country to raise families, Niche reported.
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Known as the "Capital of Silicon Valley," San Jose fosters a vibrant and diverse community with a thriving industry and warm climate.
The city, which gets 300 days of sunshine annually, has the longest life expectancy in the country, according to the study.
It also has the third-highest share of households with annual incomes over $75,000 and the most million-dollar homes in the country, LendingTree reported in January.
According to WalletHub, San Jose has one of the best scores on Sharecare's Community Well-Being Index, which measures how much residents enjoy where they live, feel safe, and have pride in their community.
The city also had the fourth lowest separation and divorce rate, and was found the eighth best city for families in the US in a LendingTree study.
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Fremont ranks as the happiest city in the US, according to the WalletHub study.
Also a Bay Area city, Fremont had the highest share of households with an income above $75,000 in the story, with nearly 80% of households making above that.
The city also had the lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, at 8.9%, and the lowest share of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month, WalletHub reported.
Fremont was ranked the No. 1 city in the US for emotional and physical wellbeing in WalletHub's report. It also came fourth on the community and environment ranking.
"With our vibrant community, exceptional quality of life and abundant opportunities, Fremont has earned its reputation as a beacon of happiness and wellbeing," Fremont's then-mayor Lily Mei told Metro Silicon Valley in 2024.
The high quality of schools, community safety, and plenty of outdoor spaces also contributed to the city's ranking as the happiest city in the US.
