Washington D.C. is One of the Happiest Places to Live
The basis for what constitutes happiness is subjective, but it’s typically thought that emotional and physical health, having a growing and high-paying career, and being surrounded by a vibrant community can make a person feel good. Those are the broad metrics the personal finance site WalletHub used in calculating its “Happiest Places to Live” list that ranks 150 of the largest U.S. metro areas. Washington D.C. made the No. 10 spot.
The top 10 is dominated by California cities—aside from the inclusion of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the No. 5 spot—and Washington, D.C. rounding it out. Ranking highest in income and employment metrics, D.C. is No. 1 in the break-out category ranking “highest income growth.” It’s also is No. 2 in places with the lowest suicide rates.
WalletHub arrived at the ranking by weighing 30 metrics in three main categories: 1) Emotional & Physical Well-Being, 2) Income & Employment and 3) Community & Environment. The study uses scientific research to determine which metrics correlate most with happiness.
The least happy place on the list? That would be Detroit, Michigan.

