The Most Chill Cities in America
Poor Detroit, Cleveland, Newark, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In a recent study conducted by WalletHub, these cities were found to be the five most stressed-out in America. But what about the places that are least wracked with anxiety?
Since travel is all about good vibes, we've culled the 20 cities that, at the other end of the spectrum, are the most chilled-out in the country. Some of the most relaxed cities on this list are go-to destinations, while others are places you may not have thought to visit. Besides having more carefree locals, all these cities are safe and comfortable options for a rejuvenating getaway.
If the locals are feeling good, you're sure to feel blissed-out, too.
20. Omaha, Nebraska
Total Score: 36.05*
Population: 466,893
One of the measures WalletHub factored in for work stress was a review of traffic congestion and commute time. On this front, Omaha has cities like New York beat, as it is home to a popular stop along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail that never gets congested.
Top things to do in this midwestern prairie city include enjoying nature at the Lauritzen Gardens Omaha's Botanical Center and getting cultural at the Durham Museum, Joslyn Art Museum and Omaha Children's Museum. The top way to chill in Omaha? The Henry Doorly Zoo, a great place to take a leisurely stroll among 160 acres of exhibits and gardens.
*When WalletHub analyzed cities for levels of stress, it graded them using a 100-point scale, with the least-stress cities getting the lowest scores. The study reviewed work stress, financial stress, family stress, and health and safety issues across 182 cities to determine its list.
19. Nashua, New Hampshire
Total Score: 35.92
Population: 88,341
Ranked one of the cities with the lowest crime on WalletHub's list, New Hampshire's southern city of Nashua is filled with riverside trails and waterside parks. Within an hour's drive are ski slopes for winter visits, as well.
In the summer, however, the top spot is definitely Mine Falls Park. Listed by TripAdvisor as the No. 1 place to visit in Nashua, it features a rejuvenating and relaxing mix of forest, wetlands and open fields.
18. Chandler, Arizona
Total Score: 35.66
Population: 253,458
WalletHub also assessed the number of adults diagnosed with depression in each city, while looking at the overall state of mental health among locals.
Under sunny Arizona skies, surrounded by the colorful Sonoran Desert landscape, is Chandler, where mental health is good and stress is low.
Visitors in Chandler can enjoy the great outdoors at cool parks, romp around indoor playgrounds, and examine artifacts and antique locomotives at the Arizona Railway Museum.
But it's the Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery that gets top marks from locals and visitors alike. Its dynamic mix of contemporary Western American and American Indian art, including oil paintings, pottery and wood sculptures, impresses. Better yet, there's no need to stress about admission: It's entirely free of charge.
17. Scottsdale, Arizona
Total Score: 35.59
Scottsdale: 249,950
Right next door to Phoenix is the far-more-relaxed city of Scottsdale. Here, five-star resorts and grassy green golf courses are surrounded by the brown and golden hues of the desert. (The same one that stretches out to Chandler.)
High rates of physical activity help account for Scottsdale locals enjoying minimal stress. Hiking is big here, at places like Papago Park and Camelback Mountain. Since hikers are pretty chill, we can see why Scottsdale is as well.
While visiting, make sure to stop by Old Town for world-class dining, arts and entertainment.
16. Madison, Wisconsin
Total Score: 35.58
Population: 255,214
The capital of Wisconsin is not too far from Chicago. And like its larger southern neighbor, Madison has a lake, a zoo, a college and Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings. What it doesn't have is stress. While Chicago is No. 24 on the list of most-stressed places, Madison can be found at the other end of the list.
Family-stress factors are minimal in Madison, with strong social ties and longer marriages contributing to an overall lack of tension.
At the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, enjoy the restorative benefits of the outdoors amid a fragrant assortment of roses and perennials, free of charge. How's that for a stress-busting activity?
15. Huntington Beach, California
Total Score: 35.53
Population: 201,874
Surf City USA, as it's known, is one of the most laidback cities in the country, and not just because it's filled with blissed-out surfers. It's considered safe and stable, with minimal worries about sleep, jobs or finances. Plus, Huntington Beach residents (and guests) get to wake up to an 1,850-foot beach every day. Sounds carefree enough for us!
Plus, the city welcomes 281 days of sunshine a year, boosting serotonin to foster calm and happiness.
14. Pembroke Pines, Florida
Total Score: 35.41
Population: 170,712
While Fort Lauderdale may get all the attention (and beach), beating it out in terms of stress — by 10 points, no less — is this little town to the west. Pembroke Pines, bordering the Everglades, moves as slowly as its swamp next door.
But don't think this town is sleepy. Oh no!
Visitors and locals alike love the town's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for its live music, first-rate dining options and expansive swimming pools. And Pembroke Gardens offers a wonderful collection of shops, restaurants and entertainment options in a mood-boosting outdoor setting.
13. Boise, Idaho
Total Score: 35.09
Population: 226,570
When it comes to job security and safety, Boise is among the best in the country. This might explain why townspeople here get more sleep each night than most —they can rest easy knowing they're safe and secure.
Explore the city's history by visiting the Art Deco Boise Art Museum, the Old Oregon Trail and the Old Idaho Penitentiary, a decommissioned prison dating back to 1872.
When you 're done sightseeing, grab a bite at one of the local hotspots; the biscuits and gravy at Goldy's Breakfast Bistro is guaranteed to make you happy. Then head to the Stillwater Float Center to soak away your stress while combating conditions like hypertension, arthritis, back pain, muscle fatigue and insomnia.
12. Billings, Montana
Total Score: 34.84
Population: 109,642
Under the big sky of Montana, along the Yellowstone River, is the small town of Billings, which happens to be the largest city in the state. In Montana, people are outnumbered by animals, and not just at ZooMontana. The state has, on average, about 2.5 cows per person, more than almost any other state in the U.S.
Perhaps it is this connection with wildlife that keeps stress levels down across the state. But WalletHub found financial stress is lower in Billings than most cities, too, with fewer bankruptcies and foreclosures than most.
Without the burden of stress, residents and visitors can enjoy the great outdoors, as well as the landmark Moss Mansion Museum, Yellowstone Art Museum and Yellowstone Cellars & Winery — the latter of which can definitely provide for a relaxing afternoon!
11. Lincoln, Nebraska
Total Score: 34.60
Population: 284,736
The Midwest claims six of the top 20 most chilled-out spots in the country, including Nebraska's cool capital city. Work stress is low here, with residents registering overall job contentment, in part because they don't have to endure many overtime hours.
When they aren't working, locals spend their time among the sculptures in the Sunken Gardens, attending football games at the University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium or taking a quiet walk around Holmes Park and Lake. Visitors seeking R&R would be wise to follow suit.
10. San Jose, California
Total Score: 34.60
Population: 1.035 million
The capital of Silicon Valley is situated near tech behemoths like Google, Facebook and Apple — employers that are renowned for providing workers with a healthy work-life balance, not to mention park-like campuses to enjoy. With bosses catering to employee happiness, it is easy to see why San Jose's residents are laidback and happy.
When not taking a lunch break on the lawn, San Jose locals take advantage of California sunshine at the Municipal Rose Garden, Los Gatos Creek Trail and Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. The Tech Interactive Museum, while not particularly geared toward chilling out, is also a favored activity.
9. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Total Score: 33.19
Population: 132,228
The people of Cedar Rapids enjoy some of the most affordable housing in the U.S., allowing them to worry less about paying their bills and more about what they want to do on a Saturday afternoon.
If you've always thought there wasn't anything to see in Iowa, Cedar Rapids will happily prove you wrong with its high-quality Museum of Art and National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in the Czech Village and New Bohemia District. (The city is home to immigrants from both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and shares both countries' cultural traditions with pride.)
8. South Burlington, Vermont
Total Score: 32.84
Population: 19,141
Fewer than 20,000 people live in South Burlington, making it a tight-knit community of friends and family. And those close social connections help the psyche. The city touts low depression rates, a high overall sense of well-being among locals and a low percentage of adults in poor health, according to WalletHub.
Located along Lake Champlain, South Burlington offers water sports, hiking, nearby skiing and quality craft beer at the Magic Hat Brewing Company, a local favorite that tourists also love. Enjoy a pint after a day exploring the area's abundant natural assets.
7. Fargo, North Dakota
Total Score: 31.98
Population: 122,359
The people of Fargo get a lot of sleep at night. And while this can partly be attributed to cold winters that call for bundling up in bed, it also likely has to do with the fact that locals are happier than those in other cities, enjoying lots of physical activity during the day in the summer and winter months. This activity additionally keeps residents fit, with WalletHub finding Fargo to have a relatively low rate of obesity.
The data also revealed that the people of Fargo avoid the bad habits of smoking and binge drinking at higher rates than others. And despite what the TV and film adaptation of "Fargo" has suggested, the crime rate here is pretty low, too.
If you are in Fargo, check out the recreated 19th-century Bonanzaville, which offers a glimpse into what life was like long ago through 43 historic buildings and more than 400,000 artifacts.
6. Plano, Texas
Total Score: 31.96
Population: 286,143
Located near Dallas (No. 46 for stress) and Fort Worth (No. 100), low-key Plano gets to have big Texas-style fun without all the hassle. Debt-per-median earning, positive equity in affordable housing and steady household incomes keep financial stress at bay among locals.
You may have thought about visiting Dallas-Fort Worth, but the dreamy atmosphere of Plano is worth enjoying too. Walk around the historic downtown and enjoy its laidback restaurants, including, of course, plenty of terrific BBQ joints.
5. Irvine, California
Total Score: 31.79
Population: 277,453
Orange County's Irvine may be landlocked — unlike its SoCal neighbors such as Huntington Beach — but that doesn't mean it isn't a calming place to spend a few days.
For its residents, Irvine is perfect, as it has some of the nation's lowest crime rates. Family is important here, and the city has low divorce rates as well.
That dedication to family is the reason many of the city's attractions are kid-friendly, including the Pretend City Children's Museum, Orange County Great Park and Tanaka Farms, where you can enjoy good old-fashioned tractor rides and pick-your-own fruits and veggies in the heart of a metropolitan area.
4. Overland Park, Kansas
Total Score: 31.14
Population: 191,278
This city just outside of Kansas City is the second-largest in the state, and while that may make for some stressful commuting, worry is less acute here than in KC (ranked 50 on the most-stressed list). WalletHub finds Overland Park has some of the most affordable housing in the country, as well as one of the lowest poverty rates.
Museums and entertainment are important to residents, which also ensures there's plenty for out-of-towners to enjoy. Stroll through the Johnson County Museum or check out the stained-glass architecture of the Museum at Prairiefire.
3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Total Score: 31.06
Population: 176,888
Lack of sleep landed many cities high on the stressed-out list, but in Sioux Falls, locals are getting more zzz's each night than in most of the cities analysts reviewed.
It's easy to sleep peacefully through the night when you can spend your day outdoors at Falls Park, home of the falls for which the city is named — and the No. 1 attraction in town, according to TripAdvisor.
2. Bismarck, North Dakota
Total Score: 30.56
Population: 72,865
As far as capital cities go, Bismarck is relatively small but big on being carefree. Its Missouri River is used for daily relaxation and play, and residents love to spend the day lazily fishing on it.
Fishing may be a calming activity, but not everyone takes to the water. As a capital city goes, this one has a sizable share of dining establishments, cultural attractions and things to do.
Moreover, WalletHub found Bismarck's minimal stress can be attributed to residents having some of the nation's highest median credit scores.
1. Fremont, California
Total Score: 29.19
Population: 234,962
The least-stressed city in America, according to WalletHub, is Freemont, a suburb located on the San Francisco Bay. Here, divorce and poverty rates are low, while median credit scores are high.
Job security and a good living can keep the stress away, sure, but consider the city's location, as well. From Mission Peak Regional Preserve to Coyote Hills Regional Park, and Sunol Regional Wilderness to Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area, this is a city that loves its outdoor living.
So, too, do its visitors, ranking Coyote Hills the top attraction in the area.