These are the happiest cities in America in 2026

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These are the happiest cities in America in 2026
(NewsNation) — Your happy place might just be a different city.
A recent WalletHub study ranked 182 of the nation’s largest cities based on residents’ happiness, using factors such as income, mental well-being, physical health and social connections.
“Research shows that having more money only increases your happiness until you’re making at least $75,000 per year — anything more you earn likely won’t have an impact,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.
For its income metric, the website used $75,000 in annual income as a benchmark and measured the share of households in each city earning more than that amount.
The study found the five happiest cities in the U.S. are:
- Fremont, Calif.
- Bismarck, N.D.
- Scottsdale, Ariz.
- South Burlington, Vt.
- Fargo, N.D.
Other cities that ranked highly include Madison, Wis.; Portland, Maine and Columbia, Md.
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