Happiest Places to Live and Most are in California!

[Joe Splitrock]

I am always interested when "best places" lists are published to see the effect it can have on growth of cities. I know in my city of Sioux Falls that when we have made it on many lists and it attracts people to relocate. The truth is that some cities are down right horrible to live in. Hard to find jobs, high crime and other problems plague many cities. People do shop for a better city, either for their family or even for retirement. This Wallethub study is interesting because it rates happiness. Obviously the factors are subjective, but they have done a pretty good job. 

Those of you from California may find this study especially interesting because 8 of the top 10 happiest cities are in California. Often California does't make the best-places lists due to taxes and cost of living. Arguably these are very affluent cities and beautiful areas, but I think there is more to it. California has had hard times during economic down turns, but this is a great time for California.

Even more interesting was finding my own little city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota ranked number 5 in the middle of all those larger California cities. I know the secret, which is our low unemployment, low taxes, low cost of living, low crime rate, low traffic, family values and great community. 

I have spent time in half the top 25 cities and I can personally attest that they are great cities with much to offer. I am interested to hear what others think of studies like this and general thoughts on these cities? Do you notice any amazing city that is missing? The link has rating factors and top 150 list.

https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-places-to-live/...

1	Fremont, CA	77.55	2	1	1
2	San Jose, CA	75.79	1	3	15
3	Irvine, CA	70.99	5	9	6
4	San Francisco, CA	69.20	3	2	101
5	Sioux Falls, SD	67.63	10	21	3
6	Huntington Beach, CA	67.32	6	11	45
7	San Diego, CA	65.80	8	7	40
8	Oakland, CA	65.52	4	34	119
9	Santa Rosa, CA	65.29	20	15	23
10	Washington, DC	65.14	13	6	65
11	Chula Vista, CA	64.82	15	27	17
12	Santa Clarita, CA	64.79	17	29	29
13	Scottsdale, AZ	64.61	34	12	2
14	Garden Grove, CA	64.35	11	45	43
15	Madison, WI	64.28	28	13	22
16	Gilbert, AZ	63.87	37	4	9
17	Overland Park, KS	63.86	32	17	20
18	Anaheim, CA	63.48	14	37	62
19	Plano, TX	63.43	30	14	41
20	Glendale, CA	63.43	16	70	27
21	Seattle, WA	63.16	25	5	76
22	Austin, TX	63.01	12	33	74
23	Raleigh, NC	62.88	7	46	81
24	Minneapolis, MN	62.59	9	20	125
25	St. Paul, MN	62.43	19	38	80

[Jeff B.]

Californians are brainwashed and addicted to ... California, regardless of the nasty economics and freeway crowding.  I was moved to Whiteplains and just couldn't wait to get back.  They tried to move me again 10yrs later and I told'm what they could do with that.

The only way to "win" is to retire elsewhere with a better cost of living . . . but an addict has difficulty "getting of his juice"  :grin: