Burton Hills said, “Happiness is not a destination”. But are there destinations that can bring you happiness? At least temporarily. Building on that can where you live impact your happiness? Certainly. Seasonal depression is much more common in areas that have long, dark winters. And if you aren’t used to it the constant rain and overcast skies in Seattle can dampen your mood- pun intended. What about the happiest cities in the Carolinas?
Luckily the folks at WalletHub helped us answer this question. The top 2 in North Carolina are Charlotte and Raleigh. They conducted a study on the happiest cities in the US. To determine which of over 180 of the largest U.S. cities has the happiest residents, researchers at Wallet Hub drew upon the findings of positive psychology research. Each city was analyzed based on 30 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income-growth rates, and leisure time spent daily.
The happiest cities in the US included 4 from California, as well as Kansas, Maryland, South Dakota, and Vermont. Meanwhile of the 6 North Carolina cities on this list, 3 were in the bottom half of the rankings. I’d have to disagree though, having lived in several other places North Carolina is a wonderful place to live. Keep reading to see where the NC and SC cities ranked as well as the full top 10. Want more info? Read the full WalletHub study.
22. Raleigh, NC
Total Score: 62.37
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 13
Income & Employment: 77
Community & Environment: 76
46. Charlotte
Total Score: 59.29
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 40
Income & Employment: 70
Community & Environment: 80
71. Durham
Total Score: 56.83
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 39
Income & Employment: 76
Community & Environment: 141
114. Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem North Carolina NC Downtown Skyline Aerial at Sunset.
Total Score: 50.97
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 108
Income & Employment: 115
Community & Environment: 96
130. Greensboro
Total Score: 48.77
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 97
Income & Employment: 108
Community & Environment: 168
170. Fayetteville
Total Score: 38.84
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 168
Income & Employment: 164
Community & Environment: 169
35. Charleston
Total Score: 60.23
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 65
Income & Employment: 21
Community & Environment: 31
Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina, USA downtown city skyline from Finlay Park at dusk.
Total Score: 52.20
Emotional & Physical Well-Being: 126
Income & Employment: 68
Community & Environment: 38
