Two Midwest cities are among the top 20 happiest cities in the country, according to a new ranking from WalletHub, a website that offers credit scores and reports.
Out of 182 cities, Madison, Wisconsin, and St. Paul, Minnesota, took 11th and 19th place respectively.
WalletHub determined the happiest cities by evaluating emotional and physical well-being, income and employment and community and environment based on 28 metrics.
Fremont, California, was ranked the happiest city. It was third in emotional and physical well-being, sixth in income and employment and first in community and environment ranking.
Madison was ranked 11th in emotional and physical well-being, 34th in income and employment, and 14th in community and environment. St. Paul took 17th in emotional and physical well-being, 62nd in income and employment, and 67th in community and environment.
The Midwest overall had a wide range of ratings. Detroit placed dead-last, while Chicago came in 99th place. The happiest cities were highly concentrated in the Southwest, with California alone holding four spots in the top 10.
Chicago ranked 53rd in emotional and physical well-being, 173rd in income and employment and 112th in community and environment.
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Aurora fared better, placing 45th overall and ranking 39th in emotional and physical well-being, 142nd in income and employment and 46th in community and environment.
Time Out, a travel publication, recently gave Chicago the title of best city in the world for the second year in a row. In Time Out’s report, it said 89 percent of Chicago citizens were happy with the city.
Visit WalletHub for the full list and rankings in individual categories.
