Americans across the country have been flocking to North Texas lately. A recent study suggests they will be much happier doing so.
Fintech company SmartAsset has ranked two North Texas cities among the happiest in the United States, with Frisco and Plano landing at fifth and sixth, respectively.
New York-based SmartAsset, a website focused on consumer financial information, drew from the 200 largest cities in the country. Roughly 80% of those cities were included, with the rest excluded due to a lack of data.
Overall, cities were ranked based on 13 factors spanning three broad categories: personal finance, well-being, and quality of life. Metrics included income, cost of living, life expectancy, marriage rates, and violent crime, among other variables that ultimately rolled into a final score.
California enjoyed the most and highest rankings on the list. Half of the top 10 locations are in the Golden State, helped by higher marriage rates, lower violent crime, and lower poverty rates.
Of all major U.S. cities, Sunnyvale in Northern California was ranked the best for well-being and quality of life. Its low poverty and violent crime rates, a high percentage of individuals earning at least $100,000 annually, and high marriage rates helped secure the city’s position. Arlington, VA, and Belleview, WA followed Sunnyvale for second and third place, respectively.
Texas was the second most represented state on the top 10 list, with both of the Lone Star State’s showings located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Frisco’s healthy marriage rates (62.6%) and exceedingly low poverty level (2.5%) helped solidify the city’s position among the top five in the country. This position was also buoyed by its cost of living as a ratio of median household income (29.6%), the second best in the United States. The city’s relatively low violent crime (about 86 instances per 100,000 residents) similarly boosted its standing.
At number six on the list, Plano sits just below Frisco. Like Frisco, Plano enjoys a relatively high marriage rate, the fourth best of all the cities in the study.
In terms of violent crime, Plano enjoys the 10th-lowest level at roughly 155 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents. Income is similarly impressive, with over a third of the population making a minimum of six figures per year. Overall, the typical cost of living expenses represent 40.4% of Plano residents’ median household income.
Unfortunately, certain cities had to land at the other end of the list. Birmingham, Alabama, fared the worst, ranked as the least happy major city in the United States. Personal bankruptcy rates, life expectancy, and poverty levels contributed to Birmingham’s ranking.
Newark, New Jersey, came in at the second lowest, while Memphis, Tennessee, was ranked the third unhappiest city in the country.
