What is the Happiest and Safest City in America?
Have you ever wondered where the happiest city in America is? Well, the happiest city is a place where people are smiling, enjoying life, and just overall feeling good vibes.
It’s like a city-sized happiness party, even though money can’t guarantee happiness, moving to a different city could make your life better.
New info shows that cities in the U.S. are pretty different when it comes to things like the surroundings, how much people earn, how happy they are, and the sense of community.
So, picking the right city might just bring you more joy and a better life overall! Now, we’re going to dive into what makes a city the happiest, and why everyone will be cheerful there.
So read on as we explore the secrets of the happiest city in America!
Where is the Happiest City in America?
If a place has cool stuff like beautiful beaches, mountains to explore, interesting museums, and good things like proper healthcare and easy transportation, the people there are usually happier.
Here is the top twenty list of the happiest cities in America;
1. Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada is the happiest city in America! With cool stuff like a whitewater park, arts festivals, and mountains, it’s known as the “Biggest Little City.” Living here is affordable.
And there’s no state income tax, attracting companies like Patagonia and Amazon.
Winter means snow fun at Mount Rose, and there’s a place called Sky Tavern to teach kids to skiReno is a happy place to be, with pleasant weather and around 300 sunny days!
2. Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware is the 2nd happiest city and a great place for everyone, especially young LGBTQ+ folks.
They’re big on community, hosting regular LGBTQ+ gatherings. Music lovers enjoy the free Clifford Brown Jazz Festival with top-notch artists.
Three State Parks are free to explore for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Wilmington is a cool, inclusive, musical, and nature-friendly spot!
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana is the 3rd happiest city with a rich culture, blending Indigenous influences into its cuisine, like the famous gumbo.
It’s a historic hub for LGBTQ+ folks, boasting one of the country’s largest concentrations of gay bars. Many, like Heather West, discover the city’s outdoor treasures later in life, from parks to swamps for activities like kayaking.
New Orleans is a natural wonderland, featuring parks like Audubon and outdoor areas with a backcountry vibe like Bogue Chitto.
4. Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio is the 4th happiest city and it has a nice climate and tons of green spaces, but global warming might make summers uncomfortable.
To tackle this, the Green Cincinnati Plan aims to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2050.
Cincinnati is LGBTQ+ friendly and has a lively arts scene, good job opportunities, and a fair cost of living. Also, there’s a cool food market and over 80 breweries, with a unique touch of Korean fried chicken.
5. Charlottesville, Virginia
With a startup spirit and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia is the 5th happiest city in the state and offers an excellent work-life balance with lots of jobs.
The city has a super low unemployment rate of 2.7%, and about 30% of folks have grad degrees. Entrepreneurs have cool resources, like microloans from the Community Investment Collaborative.
But it’s not all work – there’s a 20-mile trail for hiking and biking, kayaking trips on the Rivanna River, and concerts by local musicians. Plus, awesome food in Belmont, like fried green tomatoes at Mockingbird!
6. Hood River, Oregon
Hood River, by Mount Hood, Oregon is another happy city with a small town blending Portland’s vibe with mountain life.
There are fruit farms everywhere, and in summer, people hang out at Hood River Waterfront Park or grab a drink at Pfriem Family Brewing.
Food is a hit with spots like River Daze Café and KickStand Coffee giving back to charities. Outdoorsy folks love it; you can sail, get used gear, or borrow cool stuff from the library.
7. Minneapolis Minnesota
Minneapolis Minnesota, is a happy city where everyone enjoys the outdoors through events like Melanin in Motion and Slow Roll MSP.
It’s welcoming to immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community, with supportive laws for gay marriage and transgender healthcare.
The city has good hospitals, vibrant arts, and a huge farmers’ market since 1876, where many vendors are Hmong.
8. Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is a fantastic city with the world’s largest hot-springs pool and tons of outdoor fun like hiking and biking.
The city runs entirely on renewable energy and gives residents perks for being eco-friendly. Over 300 miles of bike routes, can be found in the Glenwood Canyon, which is also ideal for fishing and kayaking.
It’s a friendly town, hosting events like the Big Gay Raft Trip, making everyone feel welcome!
9. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a city that has cool stuff like the People’s Bridge leading to City Island for baseball and riverboat lessons.
The area offers kayaking, biking trails, and hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
Housing is decent, and there’s a new 48-unit development downtown, including affordable units by former NFL player LeSean McCoy.
10. Plano, Texas
Plano, Texas is another happy city known for safety, comfort, and a great mix of work and play. It’s evolved with big companies like Toyota setting up shop.
Hosting events like the North Texas Pride Festival, Plano is diverse and caring, with an excellent public school system.
Whether you’re into biking, running, or enjoying a brew at Union Bear, Plano is all about outdoor fun and staying eco-friendly.
11. Anchorage, Alaska
Galen Hecht moved from Santa Fe to Anchorage, Alaska, known as a city adjacent to the “real” Alaska. Anchorage is surrounded by over 200 parks and a 500-mile trail network, with 95% of residents praising the trail system.
With landmarks like the Alaska Native Heritage Center and murals honoring the history of the local Native people, Anchorage serves as a central location for learning about Indigenous traditions.
Additionally, the city has a strong reputation for inclusivity and is a top gay-friendly small community.
12. Madison, Wisconsin
Madison has 280 parks, including conservation parks, the city is home to the largest farmers’ market in the country, held every Saturday near the state building.
Madison is easy to navigate without a car, offering over 200 miles of cycling and hiking trails and a bus rapid-transit system. With features like a new pump track at Aldo Leopold Park and top-notch medical treatment at UW Health University Hospital, the city places a high value on green spaces.
Madison is known for its compassion, LGBTQ+ friendliness, and vibrant social scene, like live music at Memorial Union and diverse dining options on “Willy Street.”
13. Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, in western Maryland, is charming with its historic buildings and mountain backdrop, just an hour from Baltimore and D.C.
The city is walker-friendly, has covered bridges in the countryside, and hosts a fun annual high-wheel bike race. There are many parks close by where one may go hiking, backpacking, and riding.
Frederick is known for its strong public education, LGBTQ+ inclusivity (scoring 100 on the equality index), and a growing Pride festival.
14. Saint Petersburg, Florida
Situated on the Pinellas Peninsula, Saint Petersburg is a year-round beach, sports, and art enthusiast’s dream come true.
With 244 miles of coastline, the city provides convenient access to professional sporting events, a lively downtown waterfront, and a four-mile fishing pier next to the famous Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Although the city is lauded for being LGBTQ+ friendly, new legislation in Florida has sparked worries and warnings from civil rights organizations. Despite this, many people still find the city to be friendly and encouraging.
15. Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, once called Grit City, is a revitalized industrial port town located 34 miles south of Seattle. With 46 miles of shoreline, 120 parks, and museums, it has transformed toxic areas like Commencement Bay into popular spots for orcas and paddlers.
Ongoing improvements include the Dune Peninsula and renovated Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park.
Known for glasswork, Tacoma is an art-forward city with a diverse population, an active Pride celebration, and hardy residents who embrace outdoor activities and community support, such as unique breakfast spots TibbittsFernHill and Campfire Coffee.
16. Portland, Oregon,
People really love living in Portland, Oregon. The city has a diverse and lively culture that brings everyone together.
You’ve got these amazing natural spots like the Willamette River and parks that make the city look attractive. If you’re into outdoor stuff, there’s plenty to do here, keeping everyone lively and healthy.
Portland’s food scene is fantastic and the chill atmosphere makes people happy to be here.
17. Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert, Arizona, is a happy place for families because the city is welcoming and kind.
There are lots of entertaining things for families to do, like activities and parks that are well taken care of. Gilbert is also known for having good schools and being safe, making it a nice place for everyone.
People enjoy living here because there are plenty of jobs, the weather is nice, and the economy is doing well.
18. Peoria, Arizona
People really love living in Peoria, Arizona, because it’s a friendly and hospitable place where neighbors are like friends.
It’s a happy neighborhood with lots of parks and fun things for families to do, making life here really well. Peoria is also safe and has clean streets, and good schools, which make people feel even more comfortable.
The city is doing well with jobs and has nice weather, making the quality of life here even better.
19. Fullerton, California
People love living in Fullerton, California, because it’s a happy city with a mix of different people, making it feel like a big family.
There’s always something exciting to do, with lots of events, parks, and places to hang out. Fullerton also has really good schools, making life here even better.
The weather is great, there are plenty of jobs, and it’s close to cool stuff, making it a fantastic place to call home.
20. Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada, is a really happy place and it’s known for being safe and great for families, making people feel happy and secure.
There are lots of nice parks and events that encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. Henderson is even better because it cares about the environment and keeps green spaces.
People here have a high quality of life because there are good schools, plenty of jobs, and the weather is lovely.
The Safest City in America to Live In?
Staying safe and secure in where you live involves protection from COVID-19, crime, and disasters. Economic safety, like having insurance and job security, is also important.
A study by WalletHub looked at 182 cities, considering things like traffic accidents, hate crimes, and COVID-19 vaccination rates, to see which places are safer overall.
The top five safest American cities to live in are shown below;
1. Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua, New Hampshire is one of the safest cities to live in America. There is not much crime and the people there are very kind.
Nashua has become a role model for safety for other cities, and the residents feel secure.
In New Hampshire, safety is a top priority for people, and it’s cool that in the analysis, New Hampshire was the only state where the safest towns had no reports of violent crimes.
2. Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Maryland is really a safe city. The community is protected, and they really care about keeping everyone secure.
Crime, like robberies and assaults, has gone down a lot in the past four years, all thanks to County Executive Ball’s leadership who made that possible.
Robberies were really much and it has really dropped by almost half from 2019 to 2021, assaults have also gone down by 13 percent, and burglaries also dropped by 33 percent. This has made people trooped in to live there because it’s now safer compared to before.
3. South Burlington, Vermont
South Burlington, Vermont, is also rated as one of the safest cities in America.
South Burlington offers its citizens a sense of security that makes it stand out due to its low crime rate and dedication to public safety.
The city has a friendly neighborhood, a good law enforcement agency, and the beautiful surroundings contribute to making the place safe for people to live in.
4. Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert, Arizona is really safe, and it’s great for families. The crime rate is low and people living there feel safe and welcome.
Over the years, the number of serious crimes like rapes, murders, thefts, and arsons actually went down despite lots of people relocating to live in the city.
That’s why most people prefer living in Gilbert.
5. Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island is one of the safest cities to reside in. The city offers exceptionally pleasant living conditions and low rates of crime.
People may easily move around the city because of its own railway and airport. For convenience and safety, this makes the city a wise choice.
Therefore, the happiest city in America is like a large bowl of positive energy. People there enjoy a great mix of nature, fun events, and a friendly community.
Whether it’s Reno, Wilmington, or any other happy spot, it’s all about finding your own share of happiness in a city that feels just right and safe for you to live in.
