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

Culture
Vitolda klein vknnqur vcq unsplash
Austin ranked 35th in the emotional and physical health category. | Unsplash/Vitolda Klein

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 RankCityTotal ScoreEmotional & Physical Well-BeingIncome & EmploymentCommunity & Environment
1Fremont, CA77.131462
2Columbia, MD71.6431615
3San Francisco, CA71.154144
4San Jose, CA712655
5Irvine, CA70.3851612
6Madison, WI68.1101119
7Seattle, WA67.676299
8Overland Park, KS67.46125413
9Huntington Beach, CA66.4395143
10San Diego, CA65.82141825
11Fargo, ND65.46222423
12Minneapolis, MN65.0982080
13Bismarck, ND64.6548324
14Santa Rosa, CA64.521322105
15Santa Clarita, CA64.441510029
16Oakland, CA64.35710587
17Sioux Falls, SD64.34207427
18Glendale, CA64.05319111
19Scottsdale, AZ63.7850436
20Anaheim, CA63.72257533
21Aurora, IL63.6211448
22Plano, TX63.33374824
23Oxnard, CA63.292613210
24Garden Grove, CA63.15248052
25Chula Vista, CA63.011711330
26Charleston, SC62.7653331
27Raleigh, NC62.35237163
28Honolulu, HI62.24447221
29Cedar Rapids, IA62.22388340
30Austin, TX62.04355109
31Portland, ME61.962810150
32Pearl City, HI61.783614822
33Oceanside, CA61.723011053
34Gilbert, AZ61.72553417
35Lincoln, NE61.12767104
36Boston, MA61.07431589
37South Burlington, VT60.651156181
38Santa Ana, CA60.62453186
39Pembroke Pines, FL60.595112515
40Burlington, VT60.32349170
41Portland, OR60.31492188
42Aurora, CO60.151915469
43Jersey City, NJ59.744017020
44Yonkers, NY59.6918163102
45Chandler, AZ59.62586038
46St. Paul, MN59.543396121
47Omaha, NE59.48527956
48Juneau, AK59.273214179
49Sacramento, CA59.27643049
50Cheyenne, WY59.05101473
Source: WalletHub.com