Study says Cape Coral is happiest city in Florida

Cape Coral is the happiest city in Florida, but it isn’t among the happiest in the nation, according to a new report from WalletHub.

“WalletHub drew upon the various findings of positive-psychology research in order to determine which among more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities is home to the happiest people in America,” their website states. “We examined each city based on 31 key indicators of happiness, ranging from the depression rate to the income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day.”

Fremont, California, is the happiest city in the country, with a total score of 73.66 and a rank of 1 out of 182 in “Emotional & Physical Well-Being” of its residents.

Cape Coral came in at No. 31 overall, the highest ranking in Florida. Its total score was 62.23, with an “Emotional & Physical Well-Being” ranking of 54, but a 4 for “Community & Environment.” It also scored a 52 on the “Income & Employment” scale.

The “Community & Environment” factors that WalletHub weighed include a city’s ranking on their “Most Caring Cities” list, the separation and divorce rate, hate-crime incidents, weather, acres of parkland, average leisure time spent per day, and well-being “community” rank.

Detroit was last on the list, with Cleveland; Augusta, Georgia; Memphis; and Toledo, Ohio, just ahead.

To see the full study and lists, click here.

Top 10 happiest cities in U.S., per WalletHub:

10. Santa Rosa, California
9. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
8. Columbia, Maryland
7. Lincoln, Nebraska
6. South Burlington, Vermont
5. San Jose, California
4. Madison, Wisconsin
3. Fargo, North Dakota
2. Bismarck, North Dakota
1. Fremont, California

Top 5 happiest cities in Florida:

5. Tampa
4. Tallahassee
3. Pembroke Pines
2. Port St. Lucie
1. Cape Coral

Other Florida city rankings:

98. Fort Lauderdale
109. St. Petersburg
111. Jacksonville
121. Orlando
130. Miami
158. Hialeah