Happiest US Cities of 2012: The List

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A survey called the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index reveals which metropolitan regions in the United States are happiest by measuring factors of well-being such as residents' health, job satisfaction, and access to basic necessities.

You can read more about the well-being survey and what it means, but here are 2012's top 25 and bottom 25 cities and their average well-being scores (out of a possible 100 points):

  1. Lincoln, Neb.: 72.8
  2. Boulder, Colo.: 72.7
  3. Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.: 72.4
  4. Provo-Orem, Utah: 71.7
  5. Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.: 71.6
  6. Barnstable Town, Mass.: 71.5
  7. Honolulu, Hawaii: 71.5
  8. Ann Arbor, Mich.: 71.4
  9. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, (D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.V.): 71.3
  10. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif.: 71.2
  11. Charlottesville, Va.: 71.1
  12. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.: 71.0
  13. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.: 70.8
  14. Denver-Aurora, Colo.: 70.4
  15. Madison, Wis.: 70.4
  16. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.: 70.3
  17. Bellingham, Wash.: 70.2
  18. Raleigh-Cary, N.C.: 70.0
  19. Bremerton-Silverdale, Wash.: 70.0
  20. Naples-Marco Island, Fla.: 69.9
  21. Des Moines-West De Moines, Iowa: 69.9
  22. Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine: 69.8
  23. Lancaster, Penn.: 69.6
  24. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: 69.6
  25. Salt Lake City, Utah: 69.5

The bottom 25 cities:

  1. Charleston, W.Va.: 60.8
  2. Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio: 61.2
  3. Mobile, Ala.: 62.4
  4. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas: 62.5
  5. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.: 62.7
  6. Fort Smith, Ark.-Okla.: 62.9
  7. Bakersfield, Calif.: 63.1
  8. Rockford, Ill.: 63.1
  9. Spartanburg, S.C.: 63.4
  10. Utica-Rome, N.Y.: 63.4
  11. Binghamton, N.Y.: 63.5
  12. Corpus Christi, Texas: 63.5
  13. Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.: 63.5
  14. McAllen-Edinburgh-Mission, Texas: 63.7
  15. Redding, Calif.: 63.7
  16. Yakima, Wash.: 63.8
  17. Topeka, Kan.: 63.8
  18. Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, Fla.: 64.0
  19. Dayton, Ohio: 64.0
  20. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.: 64.2
  21. Hagerstown-Martinsburg, Md.-W.Va.: 64.3
  22. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Penn.: 64.4
  23. Stockton, Calif.: 64.5
  24. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Penn.: 64.5
  25. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Fla.: 64.6

The survey included 189 metro areas. If you don't see your hometown on this list, you can search for it in Gallup's breakdown.

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Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.