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 |