Fremont, Calif., has been named the happiest city in the U.S., according to WalletHub’s 2025 rankings.
For the rankings, shared with Becker’s March 6, the personal finance website compared 182 of the largest cities — including the 150 most populated cities, as well as at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment.
WalletHub evaluated these dimensions using 29 metrics, ranging from the depression rate to average leisure time spent per day. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing maximum happiness. Each state’s overall score was then based on the weighted average across all metrics.
The 20 happiest cities in America:
1. Fremont, Calif. — 73.54
2. San Jose, Calif. — 69.34
3. Irvine, Calif. — 69.32
4. Sioux Falls, S.D. — 68.66
5. Overland Park, Kan. — 66.93
6. Lincoln, Neb. — 66.59
7. Madison, Wis. — 65.83
8. Scottsdale, Ariz. — 65.17
9. San Francisco — 64.96
10. Huntington Beach, Calif. — 64.70
11. Bismarck, N.D. — 64.34
12. Omaha — 64.34
13. Seattle — 64.13
14. Charleston, S.C. — 63.93
15. San Diego — 63.79
16. Columbia, Md. — 63.45
17. Plano, Texas — 62.78
18. Honolulu — 62.47
19. South Burlington, Vt. — 62.47
20. Garden Grove, Calif. — 62.36