A recent study sought to find the happiest cities in America, and one of those cities just so happens to be in North Texas.
According to the study by SmartAsset, Plano excelled all over the board. Over 52% of its households boost incomes exceeding $100,000, with a mere 4.9% falling below the poverty threshold of $31,200 for a family of four.
In Plano, the average number of mentally unhealthy days within 30 days stands at a low 3.9, while life expectancy reaches 82.2 years. However, a notable 19.1% of the population does not engage in regular physical activity. Health insurance coverage is widespread at 89.5%, and a significant majority, comprising 92.4% of the population, enjoys sufficient space for physical activities.
The marriage rate stands at 56.0%, contrasting with a relatively low overcrowding rate of 2.4%. Despite these positive aspects, traffic volume poses a challenge, with a considerable 417 vehicles per meter of roadway.
The Collin County city was beaten by Arlington, Virginia, the most joyful among large U.S. cities. It consistently places in the top 10 for various happiness indicators encompassing financial stability, well-being, and overall quality of life. With a life expectancy of 85.3 years, residents lead the nation, engaging in ample physical activity. Approximately 62.8% of individuals enjoy incomes surpassing $100,000, and the city boasts the second-lowest poverty rate at 6.5%. However, Arlington struggles notably in traffic management, ranking third highest in congestion.
None of the other Texan cities made it into the top 25. Fort Worth comes closest at No. 38, while Arlington is ranked as the 47th happiest locale. Dallas is notably low in spirits, securing the 11th spot as one of the least happy cities nationwide.
To find where Americans are happiest, SmartAsset evaluated 90 of the largest U.S. cities across 11 variables spanning personal finance, well-being and quality of life.
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