Not sure where to buy a house? Try these happy cities

Home is where the happy is

Can a home equal happiness? If you buy a house in Fremont, California, it just might. According to a new ranking, Fremont is the nation’s happiest city, boasting ample health, employment and community opportunities.

Heading for happiness

WalletHub recently ranked 182 of the country’s biggest cities by overall “happiness” scores, which factored in income growth, average leisure time, depression rates and 26 other key health, economic and community indicators.

Fremont emerged as the clear winner, taking the No. 1 spot for community and environment and the No. 3 rank for emotional and physical well-being. The city also has the lowest rate of separation and divorce in the entire country.

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Coming in second overall was Bismarck, North Dakota, which claimed the top spot for income and employment. San Jose took third overall, as well as the No. 1 rank for well-being.

Rounding out the top 10 were: Pearl City, Hawaii; Plano, Texas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Irvine, California; Huntington Beach, California; and Grand Prairie, Texas.

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Overland Park, Kansas has the highest rates of adequate sleep, while Seattle claims the highest sports participation rate. Residents in Burlington, Vermont boast the fewest work hours, and Laredo, Texas has the lowest rate of suicide in the nation.

Feeling blue

Coming in last for happiness levels was Detroit, which ranked near the bottom in all indicators. Detroit residents also get the least adequate sleep in the country.

The remaining bottom five all hailed from the South, including Birmingham, Alabama; Huntington, West Virginia; Gulfport, Mississippi; and Little Rock, Arkansas.

Salem, Oregon claims the highest rate of depression, while Missoula, Montana ranked first in the rate of suicide. Residents in Anchorage, Alaska work the most hours in the nation, while those in North Las Vegas, Nevada see the lowest income growth.

Buy a house in these happy cities

Are you interested in buying a home in one of the nation’s happiest cities? Shop around and see what mortgage rates you qualify for today.