America's Happiest Cities
If the recession or life in general has got you feeling down, you may want to consider moving to a happier place to live.
A new study reveals the happiest metro areas in the United States, ranking 187 cities on six categories: life evaluation, emotional health, work experience, physical behaviors and basic access [to food, shelter and health care]. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on random, phone interviews with more than 350,000 Americans in 2009, asked questions ranging from "Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?" to "Do you have a personal doctor?"
So, which cities are the happiest in America? Click ahead to find out!
By Natalie ErlichPosted 22 Feb 2010
10. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calif.
Population: 797,740
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 85
Work Experience: 5
Physical Health: 36
Healthy Behaviors: 14
Basic Access: 36
9. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
Population: 531,488
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 126
Work Experience: 7
Physical Health: 73
Healthy Behaviors: 46
Basic Access: 14
8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va-Md-W.Va
Population: 5,358,130
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 15
Work Experience: 91
Physical Health: 12
Healthy Behaviors: 40
Basic Access: 24
7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
Population: 1,819,198
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 51
Work Experience: 14
Physical Health: 8
Healthy Behaviors: 10
Basic Access: 27
6. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif.
Population: 405,396
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 48
Work Experience: 19
Physical Health: 16
Healthy Behaviors: 8
Basic Access: 86
5. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.
Population: 466,741
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 33
Work Experience: 16
Physical Health: 32
Healthy Behaviors: 5
Basic Access: 48
4. Provo-Orem, Utah
Population: 540,820
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 5
Work Experience: 49
Physical Health: 4
Healthy Behaviors: 37
Basic Access: 12
3. Honolulu, Hawaii
Population: 905,034
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 2
Work Experience: 36
Physical Health: 3
Healthy Behaviors: 8
Basic Access: 8
2. Holland-Grand Haven, Mich.
Population: 260,364
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 3
Work Experience: 31
Physical Health: 1
Healthy Behaviors: 50
Basic Acess: 10
1. Boulder, Colo.
Population: 293,161
Subindex Rank:
Emotional Health: 27
Work Experience: 1
Physical Health: 7
Healthy Behaviors: 4
Basic Access: 10