Where you live can determine how happy — or unhappy — you feel.
Fremont, California, has been named the happiest city in the United States, according to a new study from WalletHub. The California city also topped the list in 2025.
One contributing factor to its ranking is that the city has the highest share of households — nearly 80% — with an income above $75,000.
Five other California cities made the top 25 happiest: Irvine (No. 8), San Jose (No. 10), San Francisco (No. 17), San Diego (No. 21) and Huntington Beach (No. 25).
Los Angeles, meanwhile, ranked as the 87th happiest city overall, coming in 75th for emotional and physical well-being, 96th for income and employment, and 126th for community and environment.
Back East, New York City was ranked a relatively dismal 59th with a total score of 57.63.
Out of 182, NYC ranked 48th for emotional and physical well-being, 71st for community and environment — and 152 for income and employment. However, NYC did have the fifth-lowest suicide rate.
Northerly neighbor Yonkers was the 38th happiest city overall and 18th in emotional and physical well-being. Yonkers wasn’t that far ahead of NYC when it came to income and employment, ranking 146, though it did fall behind in community and environment coming in 99th place.
In the Garden State, Jersey City beat out New York City, ranking 31st happiest overall. Jersey City also ranked much higher than NYC in emotional and physical well-being, coming in at No. 16.
According to the study, Jersey City was the city with the lowest rate of depression and had the second-lowest suicide rate.
For its research, WalletHub analyzed 182 of the largest U.S. cities, evaluating them across 29 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income growth and average daily leisure time. The company noted that studies have shown that increasing income up to $75,000 increases happiness, but making more than that does not, so cities where a lot of people make at least that are likely to have “maximized” their happiness.
Back in California, residents of top-rated Fremont also have the highest rate of life satisfaction, the seventh-lowest depression rate and the fifth-highest average life expectancy in the country. The city also ranks fifth among the most caring cities in America.
Fremont has the lowest separation and divorce rate in the country at just 9.3%, as well as the lowest share of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month.
Oakland, California, which came in 52nd overall, also had the fifth-highest income growth.
In New Jersey, Newark came in low on the happiest ranking at No. 147, and it had the fourth-lowest adequate-sleep rate and the second-lowest sports-participation rate. Despite that, it was also the city with the lowest suicide rate.
But Jersey City fell just slightly behind in other categories, coming at 75 for community and environment and 154 for income and employment.
Elsewhere in the state of New York, Rochester came in at No. 142 for happiness and had the fourth-highest separation and divorce rate. Buffalo ranked at No. 149. and was tied as the city with the fifth fewest work hours.
Top 10 happiest cities in the U.S.
- Fremont, CA
- Bismarck, ND
- Scottsdale, AZ
- South Burlington, VT
- Fargo, ND
- Overland Park, KS
- Charleston, SC
- Irvine, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
- San Jose, CA
10 least happy cities in the U.S.
- Detroit, MI (ranked No. 182)
- Memphis, TN (No. 181)
- Shreveport, LA (No. 180)
- Cleveland, OH (No. 179)
- Huntington, WV (No. 178)
- Toledo, OH (No. 177)
- Augusta, GA (No. 176)
- Fort Smith, AR (No. 175)
- Dover, DE (No. 174)
- Akron, OH (No. 173)
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