When you’re known as the Sunshine State, you have a bit of a reputation to live up to. One town in Florida takes the nickname very seriously.
For the second year in a row, Naples, Florida has been named the happiest city in America according to the Gallup-Healthways State of American Well-Being 2016 Community Rankings . The newly released report measured how residents of 189 cities considered their physical health, financial well-being, social connections, community and sense of purpose in life.
Naples did well across the board, with residents reporting that they felt pride in their community, appreciated their daily lives and had strong ties to family and friends.
The nearby towns of Immokalee and Marco Island were also included in the No. 1 spot.
Despite Naples’ location on a scenic and wealthy area of the Florida coast, researchers report that they found that money and ocean views don’t necessarily mean happy people.
The median household income in Naples, Immokalee and Marco Island is actually not "off the charts," according to the study. While residents are on the wealthier side, they cited getting plenty of exercise, trying new things and maintaining bonds with loved ones as the biggest factors in their happiness.
Coming in last was Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma. The small town has a smoking rate and obesity rate of nearly 40 percent. Few residents interviewed report that they have someone in their life who supports a healthy lifestyle, or that they do something interesting daily.
The full top 10 list:
1. Naples–Immokalee–Marco Island, Florida
2. Barnstable Town, Massachusetts
3. Santa Cruz–Watsonville, California
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
5. Charlottesville, Virginia
6. North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton, Florida
7. San Luis Obispo–Paso Robles, California
8. Lynchburg, Virginia
9. Hilton Head Island–Bluffton-Beaufort, South Carolina
10. Boulder, Colorado
Congratulations to the Naples community, and here’s to finding a little more happiness wherever we live.
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