Austin finishes 30th in ranking of the nation’s happiest cities

Mar 3, 2022

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Austin ranked 30th in a new WalletHub study that examines how content the residents of more than 180 large U.S. cities are based on their physical and emotional health and other social and economic criteria.

The city scored 62.04 out of 100 in the ranking. In contrast, No. 1 Fremont, California scored 77.13 in the analysis that compared cities over three overall dimensions: Emotional and physical well-being, household income and job availability and community amenities and the environment.

Austin ranked 35th in the emotional and physical health category, fifth in income growth and 109th in community and environment. Metrics in the first category include city residents’ depression rates, and weather and separation and divorce rates are included in the community/environment category.

Researchers who study the science of happiness say key factors include positive attitudes, physical health, binding social connections, financial stability and satisfaction in the workplace.

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Happiest American Cities in 2022

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	2	6	55
5	Irvine, CA	70.38	5	16	12
6	Madison, WI	68.1	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	63.6	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	61.1	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