Is your city one of the 10 happiest in America? One West Coast state dominates the list

What is happiness? Some link it to success, others firmly believe it is love and many think it is the smallest joy in life. However, happiness is not just a feeling; rather, it is a balanced combination of mindset, positive mental state, healthy body, relationships, daily habits, financial stability and, of course, environment. While many people feel that money is directly proportional to happiness, the United States—one of the richest countries—ranks only 23rd on the World Happiness Report, proving that wealth is not everything. Interestingly, a recent study published on WalletHub claims that our location plays a crucial role in deciding our happiness when it ranked the 182 US cities on its happiness index. 

"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. Therefore, 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. The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather and caring neighbors," Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, revealed. Moreover, the researchers examined each city in the US based on 29 key indicators of happiness that included depression rate, income growth and average leisure time spent per day, among others.

Claiming the #1 spot as the happiest city in the US is Fremont in California, according to a recent ranking. Further, the study claimed that one of the contributing factors that make it an ideal city to reside in is its income rate. Nearly 80% of households have an income above $75,000. Moreover, Fremont has the highest rate of life satisfaction, the fifth-lowest depression rate and the fourth-highest average life expectancy. Apart from being the happiest city in the US, Fremont is also the sixth most caring city in the country. The second happiest city in the country is San Jose, again in California.

This city is known for its low separation and divorce rates, fostering healthy relationships among its residents. Furthermore, San Jose has the longest average life expectancy in the country, allowing people to enjoy life. "San Jose has the third-highest share of households with an annual income above $75,000, at over 72%. This enables residents to afford both necessities and some luxuries, keeping them content," the study shared. Next on the list is Irvine, again from California, which is the third-happiest city in the United States, largely because its residents are healthy.

"More than 88% of adults in Irvine report having good or better health, the third-highest percentage in the country. In addition, nearly 84% participate in physical activities. The city also has the seventh-highest life expectancy for residents," the study revealed. Residents of Irvine not only enjoy good physical health but also good mental health. The Californian city has the third-lowest percentage of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days in a month. Furthermore, Irvine has the eighth-lowest depression rate. Following Fremont, San Jose, and Irvine, the other seven cities in the United States that round out the top 10 spots on the list are Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Overland Park, Kansas; Lincoln, Nebraska; Madison, Wisconsin; Scottsdale, Arizona; San Francisco, California; and Huntington Beach, California.