A recent study determined the happiest cities in America based on five factors of well-being: the likelihood of learning new things, positive social relationships, enjoyment of the community, financial security, and physical/mental well-being as impacted by location. But by the numbers, what does it mean to live in those cities? We analyzed the cost of living in the top five cities from that list: Naples, Florida; Sarasota, Florida; Salinas, CA; Fort Collins, CO; and Barnstable Town, Massachusetts. Discover what it means to live in America’s happiest cities.

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Tyler on February 17, 2017 at 5:13am
Lol, whoever wrote this article has obviously never been to Salinas
Jan on February 24, 2017 at 5:16am
Maybe they mean Monterey or Carmel Ca ;)
Elaine on February 25, 2017 at 12:27pm
Salinas...really? Have you been there. It's all day laborers and agriculture. Miles and miles and miles of fields. Work? Where? Only agriculture.
hilary a. on February 26, 2017 at 1:08am
Ft Collins definitely belongs on this list. it is a great town and has it all! College town, great climate, wonderful people, great scenery. Fantastic place!
Credence Global Bank on February 27, 2017 at 9:56am
Hi Hilary, thanks for the input! Fort Collins definitely sounds like a wonderful place to live.
Russ f. on March 2, 2017 at 5:45pm
Happiness comes from within, not location
Lin on March 5, 2017 at 1:45pm
I can't believe Salinas is mentioned. In the Bay Area no one wants to live there. It's has a huge gang problem. The I city is poorly managed. Did you do your research on crime!!!!!
Credence Global Bank on March 6, 2017 at 10:24am
That's so true, Russ! Thanks for reading the blog and sharing your opinion!
Laura on March 7, 2017 at 9:38am
I lived 5 years in the Monterey area, but thankfully in Pacific Grove. I went to Salinas only for things like a cheaper dentist. It has zero appeal! Now I live south of Ft. Collins, and have for 30 years; Colorado is awesome!
Nikon15 on April 20, 2017 at 1:23pm
Salinas, Ca is by far the most troubling city in the US. Last place I would live.
Gerry b. on April 21, 2017 at 11:00am
There are zero happy cities in the USA. No body even knows their neighbors. Everybody hates everybody
Robert D. on April 24, 2017 at 4:32pm
Salinas, CA! Really. Who knew.
Michele j. on April 30, 2017 at 7:06pm
Nice article but some states dont know the cost of living in some some states. When the govermrnt orders a cost t of wage it means cost of apartments. Dumb housing increases but dumb congresss doest freeze rhe limits which people cant afford. If apartments dont know the costbof living. Dumb
Florine W. on May 7, 2017 at 2:04pm
The rate of homes cannot see, but I do plan on relocation to Florida
Credence Global Bank on May 8, 2017 at 1:19pm
Thanks for reading the blog, Florine!
IronMike on May 23, 2017 at 10:09pm
These article generate a list of things they think will make people happy then generate a list of places that have those thing.. What they never do is ask the people there if they are happy.
Manny B. on June 6, 2017 at 11:00am
Being a proud owner in Naples, Florida since 2012, I totally enjoy living in Naples. Did look in Sarasota, and was disappointed with the area in general. When I looked, housing was high for what you were getting, also taxes are higher than in Naples. We are close to everything, from fine dining , fabulous beaches to 1.5 hours away from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale
Credence Global Bank on June 7, 2017 at 1:59pm
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Manny!
Mary C. on June 10, 2017 at 10:29pm
The happiest folks live in The Villages, Florida.
Raul on June 20, 2017 at 8:23pm
Salinas CA! I could not imagine myself living there. You probably mean Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Aptos, or any city in San Francisco Bay Area.
Suzanne on June 21, 2017 at 2:42pm
Salinas? LOL WOW! It was a great place to grow up in the 70's (I did) but it is a horrific place now! If you check it out, bring a bulletproof vest...
Nakiah on June 30, 2017 at 6:25pm
Tyler lol that's EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING!!!
Jamie on July 10, 2017 at 3:43pm
barnstable town. ma is not a happy place. honestly
Natalie on July 14, 2017 at 1:57pm
I have lived in Sarasota most of my life and can confirm that it belongs on this list.
LMKEL on July 15, 2017 at 4:49am
Eden Prairie or Chanhassen MN is two of the happiest places in the USA. If I could, I would pack up and hide away until my time was up.
Credence Global Bank on July 17, 2017 at 9:59am
Hi Natalie, that's great to hear! Thanks for sharing your feedback.
Credence Global Bank on July 17, 2017 at 10:01am
Thanks for sharing your suggestions! We'll have to check these places out. :)
Linda, N. on July 21, 2017 at 11:27am
Naples is one of those places that only the rich can afford to live in. I have been there a few times and the people that live there are stuck up snobs. The cost of living there is not FL those of us that live pay check to pay check. There is not even enough parking down town for the residents to have dinner. Don't expect the people that live there to give you the time of day.
Ricky b. on August 2, 2017 at 8:35am
I believe happiness does come from within.no matter where you are,though if you live in a decent place it does tend to help stay happier.almost like if there were a pleasantville.
Louise on August 5, 2017 at 10:06am
Wow ! Salinas is a prison city ! Not to far from the border. I myself wouldn't want to live there
Doug B. on August 7, 2017 at 8:45am
I live in Tacoma, Washington. It's happy, home to great music and arts, and, though buying a home is expensive, more and more people are doing just that.
Betsy G. on August 12, 2017 at 10:12am
Barnstable MA? Nah -- Cambridge MA!! Superbly run by a very capable municipal team, the ONLY town in MA that stayed in the black when 'tax reform' was tried in the '80's -- a truly International City, low crime and high cultural integration . Hard to buy here? Yes! High rents? O yeah, for most. But us townies are hanging in there to keep this a great city for locals, too! Great parks n recreation, daycare, schools, elderly n disability services -- oh and the ever beautiful Rivah Chahls (Charles River) on whose banks we play!
Renee on August 20, 2017 at 10:22am
I'm with you Russ its not the location the locations are fine.its the people in these location their attitudes,morals, disrespectful to others.And if everyone is saying Salinas Ca is not a nice place to visit it should be taken off the list falsifying the truth.
URKiddinMee on August 31, 2017 at 7:29am
Oh, Heck! Now there'll be even MORE Snowbirds flocking to Sarasota bringing their lack of driving skills and "smarter than the locals" attitude. ?
Lisa i. on August 31, 2017 at 10:35am
How is Key West Fl not on list? That is a 100% HAPPY place to live. Everyone is happy all the time. Being originally from Boston, I wondered how everyone is happy everyday...dont people have to vent? Not down here! Or any of the keys for that matter...this article huge swing and a miss
Amanda on August 31, 2017 at 11:01am
Naples is definitely for the those who have money. My grandparents had were snowbirds there for years and when I was growing up we went to visit them every spring break. Everywhere we went was expensive and my grandparents moved to the Villages because the cost of living and the taxes were to high.
Craig on September 3, 2017 at 10:47am
I think Tampa Fl should have made the list. It has great weather, people, cost of living is reasonable. It also has the the arts, sports and close to Mickey.
Annie on September 10, 2017 at 5:23pm
Salinas? Are you KIDDING ME? Toilet bowl of Calif!
Credence Global Bank on September 11, 2017 at 1:38pm
We appreciate the input, Craig. Thanks for reading!
Jay on September 15, 2017 at 3:10am
Salinas is great!!! If you're a thug! I recently visited Spokane , Wa (from sac, ca) and I think I'll be moving there when I retire!
Hannah T. on September 18, 2017 at 5:23am
Salinas: the library was dedicated to and named for resident, John Steinbeck. Salinas made the financial decision to shut down the Library. But check the celery and lettuce outerwraps. "Grown in Salinas, CA". Perfect foggy, misty mornings and bright looking down on this community. Everyone describes Salinas accurately.
Ray V. on September 18, 2017 at 7:00am
Please DON'T tell anybody BUT Chapel Hill NC is a jewel. One of BEST reasonable tuition PUBLIC universities, several outstanding professional schools, world class medical research, accessible health care. Active ARTS community for ALL ages and tastes from alternative rock, opera, symphonic. Beautiful scenery, three large lakes, mild year-round climate (hot humid July August) besides UNC, fellow basketball rival.....medical and academic power house DUKE, Durham Bulls minor league baseball, NC State...agriculture, engineering. The economic center of it all RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK (Cisco, GE jet engines, IBM, Baxter, Big Pharma research, average salary $75,000 (Yes, you need special skill sets, (good community college teaches relevant tech, medical, allied health, biotech, And.......last BUT not least Carolina BBQ, Yum. Yes, over time housing cost slowly rises, true when QUALITY of LIFE is high. Biggest shortcoming,='inadequate public transportation, limited to buses. That last
Ruby on September 19, 2017 at 1:24am
Being happy start's with you no matter where you live ..there is good and bad in every state and city. .it's the simple thing's in life that are most enjoyable....
Francisco on September 19, 2017 at 7:03pm
I'm happy in La Jolla
Dave on September 23, 2017 at 3:52am
Bithlo Florida . You can tell that by seeing all those teeth less smiles and locals with healthy skin from years of showering in toxic well water since town has 6 or 7 junk yards ( check out google earth )
Rick B. on September 26, 2017 at 4:33pm
Salinas, CA? It has one of the highest rates of violent crime in our country.
Lisa L. on September 27, 2017 at 7:13pm
The. cities are neither happy nor unhappy.
Tchiock on October 4, 2017 at 5:11am
Salinas?? Har, hardy har, har!
Credence Global Bank on October 5, 2017 at 5:47am
That’s a good point, Ruby! Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom. ?
Sal on November 1, 2017 at 12:56am
I’m fine in Salinas. Own several properties and have great tenants. People talk too much and no experience living in town. Monterey is nice, same weather as Salinas. Salinas has cleanest air in California.
Laura on November 9, 2017 at 4:36am
My idea of the "happiest place" is being able to experience different areas of the country. We’ve lived in Michigan, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii and California. We love different aspects of ALL OF THEM. We feel that variety is truly the spice of life. You can find good people if you look for them !
Tom on November 15, 2017 at 12:08am
Salinas…really? High crime rates, far too many gangs, urban sprawl, major freeway going right though the middle of the city.
Kurt S. on November 24, 2017 at 5:24am
I'm very surprised Austin, Tx. isn't on the list. What a phenomenal city Austin is other than the traffic! Austin is very liberal and very friendly and laid back.
Greg on December 2, 2017 at 11:35am
Salinas, Are you kidding me, gang infested life, I wouldn’t stop there for gas
Dave on December 12, 2017 at 7:37am
I moved to Pensacola, FL a year ago from Tacoma, WA., where I couldn't afford to purchase a home. I was easily able to afford a home here. The taxes on my new construction house are $220ish per year, with incentives such as senior citizen, Veteran, and Homesteading Benefits. My 4bd. 3bath home for under $149,000. People are friendly, courteous and welcoming. The Infrastructure is Extremely good and Industry is growing in leaps and bounds. Lots of work. My $3,900 per month pension leaves me with plenty let for saving, investing and entertaining. I'd like to ask Credence Global Bank what the criteria is to make the Happiest Cities List? If been to Salinas also!???
Darrell on December 16, 2017 at 2:51am
If you have to move somewhere else to make you "happy"., you may want to rethink and get emotional counseling
Johnson on December 17, 2017 at 1:58pm
Salinas, can’t help but think of mice and men. People need to stop and unplug . The world is also a very beautiful place if you look at it yourself without the bias of the corporate media.
MARINE on December 19, 2017 at 12:08pm
Agree!....Salinas is an incredible place to live..... everyone in San Diego should move to Salinas👍....... Don’t worry be happy😁
Mattbenes on December 27, 2017 at 6:10am
Barnstable Town? Barnstable, yes. Town of Barnstable,yes. Curious where you came up with Barnstable Town?