To determine the nation’s happiest cities, analysts compared more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 29 metrics. Metrics pertained to three key dimensions — emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment — and ranged from the depression rate to average leisure time spent per day. Read more about the methodology here.
Here are the 10 happiest cities, according to the analysis:
1. Fremont, Calif.
2. Overland Park, Kan.
3. San Jose, Calif.
4. Madison, Wis.
5. Irvine, Calif.
6. Honolulu
7. San Francisco
8. Pearl City, Hawaii
9. Columbia, Md.
10. Scottsdale, Ariz.
Here are the 10 least happy cities, according to the analysis:
1. Detroit
2. Cleveland
3. Montgomery, Ala.
4. Birmingham, Ala.
5. Shreveport, La.
6. Huntington, W.Va.
7. Toledo, Ohio
8. Jackson, Miss.
9. Mobile, Ala.
10. Akron, Ohio
