Yep, there’s a poll for just about anything you can imagine. Case in point, some results have revealed what are being called the happiest cities in America and the results are pretty surprising I’d say! Let’s just say that maybe you do want to mess with Texas and apparently, all work and no play in the tech scene make for some pretty unhappy folks! Don’t worry though, the findings did reveal that more than one third of America is happy so you have about a 33% chance of being greeted with a smile when you approach someone…
About the poll. Conducted by Harris explored the many factors which may play into Americans’ happiness, including age, gender and race/ethnicity and the findings also show that place matters and can greatly affect the happiness index.
And so, here’s the Top 10 Happy places according to the findings:
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (38% “very happy”)
- On the positive side, they are among the Americans most likely to say their spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to them (75%) and that they rarely worry about their health (59%), as well as being among the least likely to feel their voices are not heard in national decisions that affect them (67%).
- But even America’s happiest city shows room for improvement. Dallas/Fort Worth residents are among the Americans least likely to agree that they have positive relationships with their family members (though it’s worth noting that 83% do agree with this sentiment) and among the most likely to agree that they rarely engage in hobbies and pastimes they enjoy (34%).
Houston, TX (36% “very happy”)
- Like their Dallas/Fort Worth neighbors, Houston residents are also among those most likely to say their spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to them (79%) and among the least likely to feel their voices are not heard in national decisions that affect them (67%).
- However, Houston residents stand out from those of most other markets in that, well, they don’t stand out in any negative way, attitudinally speaking.
Philadelphia, PA (34% “very happy”)
- Those in the city of brotherly love are among the most likely to say their relationships with friends bring them happiness (92%) and they’re generally happy with their lives at this time (86%), while being the least likely by far to agree that they won’t get much benefit from the things they do anytime soon (24%).
- Like Houston residents, Philadelphians don’t appear to have any especially negative sentiments.
Atlanta, GA (34% “very happy”)
- Atlanta residents are among those most likely to agree that they are optimistic about the future (81%) and that their spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to them (77%), as well as being among the least likely to feel their voices are not heard in national decisions that affect them (67%).
- On the down side, those in Atlanta are among the least likely to agree that their relationships with friends bring them happiness (though at 84%, a vast majority still agree with this) and the most likely by far to agree that they frequently worry about their financial situation (71%).
Los Angeles, CA (33% “very happy”)
- Angelenos are the group least likely to agree that their work is frustrating (32%) and are among those least likely to agree that they rarely engage in hobbies and pastimes they enjoy (28%).
- Los Angeles sentiments do not show any especially negative tendencies.
NYC Metro, NY (33% “very happy”)
- The good: New Yorkers are among those most likely to say they rarely worry about their health (57%).
- The bad: They are also among those most likely to feel their voices are not heard in national decisions which affect them (73%), to frequently worry about their financial situations (67%) and to find their work frustrating (41%).
Washington, D.C. (33% “very happy”)
- The District of Columbia is home to many highs and lows, with its residents being among those most likely to say their relationships with friends bring them happiness (94%), they have positive relationships with their family members (91%) and that they’re generally happy with their lives at this time (85%), while being among the least likely to frequently worry about their financial situations (56%).
- However, district residents are also less likely than those in other major markets to feel optimistic about the future (70%) and among those most likely to find their work frustrating (40%) and to say they won’t get much benefit from the things they do anytime soon (39%).
Chicago, IL (32% “very happy”)
- Chicagoans are among those least likely to agree that their voices are not heard in national decisions that affect them (67%) and that they rarely engage in hobbies and pastimes they enjoy (27%).
- They are also, however, among those least likely to agree that their relationships with friends bring them happiness (84%), that they’re generally happy with their lives at this time (72%) and that they rarely worry about their health (47%).
Boston, MA (31% “very happy”)
- Bostonians are among those least likely to frequently worry about their financial situations (56%).
- They are also among those least likely to feel their spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to them (60%) and to agree that they rarely worry about their health (46%).
San Francisco, CA (28% “very happy”)
- Bay area residents are among those most optimistic about the future (79%).
- Looking at negative attitudes, San Franciscans are among the least likely to feel their spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to them (60%) and that they rarely worry about their health (46%), and among those most likely to feel their voices are not heard in national decisions which affect them (73%).
To view the full findings, or to see other recent Harris Polls, please visit the Harris Poll News Room (Source: Harris)