Financial security, access to healthcare, and strong family support services make these three California cities the least stressed in the United States.
A new study by WalletHub compared more than 180 cities, including the 150 most populous, across four key dimensions: work stress, financial stress, family stress, and health and safety stress.
The study evaluated the four dimensions across 39 metrics and came up with a weighted average and corresponding ranking for each city.
For example, under work stress, the study looked at things like average weekly hours worked, commuting times, job security and unemployment rate and under financial stress, metrics like median household income and poverty rate.
To get a health and safety score, the study reviewed city data on items like crime rate, the number of adults in poor health and those who couldn’t access healthcare because of high costs. Under family stress, the study looked at things like divorce and separation rates and access to affordable childcare.
“Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health, and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo. “When moving, it’s important to consider how a certain city may impact your mental health, not just your financial opportunities.”
Location, location, location
Americans have been totally stressed out since the run-up to last year’s presidential election, according to a 2024 survey by the American Psychological Association.
About 77% of adults reported worrying about the future of the nation, making it the most significant source of stress in the annual survey, followed by concerns about the economy at 73% of adults.
While current issues like impending healthcare cuts, mass deportation impacts, and a growing national debt due to the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill do not bode well for this year’s stress levels, it appears that where you live can make a difference.
Irvine in central Orange County and the Silicon Valley hubs of San Jose and Fremont, were identified in the WalletHub study as three of the nation’s least stressed.
In fact, when it came to Health and Safety, all three of the cities received top marks, offering their residents access to healthcare, opportunities for physical activity, low crime rates, and an overall positive sense of community well-being.
Fremont, recently named the best place to raise a family was ranked #2 of all 182 cities for being “least stressed.”
South Burlington, Vermont, was named the least stressed city in the United States.
Home to about 750 high-tech companies, including Tesla Motors, Fremont’s largest manufacturer and employer, it is no surprise that the city came out on top for financial security.
San Jose, a once farming and blue-collar hub that transformed into one of Silicon Valley’s major cities, ranked just below Fremont in financial security, offering residents high-paying jobs and many family-friendly amenities and entertainment options to enjoy.
In Irvine, where renters are staying put, the city scored high across all four dimensions, offering a near idyllic city where stress levels are low and residents are still within 40 miles driving distance from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.
California’s least stressed cities
These are California’s 10 least stressed cities, according to WalletHub, which looked at 182 cities across the United States. The higher the ranking, the least stressed the city.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: High-paying jobs, access to healthcare make these cities the least stressed in California
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
