5 happiest places to live in America
Reno, Nevada: With a population of 273,448 and a media house price of $550,000, Reno tops the list of the happiest places to live in America. Outside described Reno as a 'modern boomtown', bustling with green, open spaces, climbing gyms and a summer arts festival as part of a local revival. The outlet noted 'ample public land and mountain vibe' in its decision to award the city the top spot in the rankings. It is a far cry from the city's historic reputation as a hub of casinos and gambling - and part of a steady transformation to a more rounded economy.
Reno was once the gambling capital of the United States - before nearby Las Vegas outgrew it. The 'biggest little city in the world' has long struck a chord with artists around the globe, featuring in everything from Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues' to Springsteen's 'Reno', The Grateful Dead's 'Friend of the Devil' and REM's 'All the Way to Reno'. Now, the city is home to 18 ski resorts, popular spots for whitewater events, winding cycle trails, a host of music venues and several significant sports stadia. Reno today has enough adventure for locals and tourists year-round, making it a go-to destination inclusive of all.
Wilmington, Delaware: Well-connected Wilmington neighbors Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore and Washington D.C., offering walkability and community to residents. Its population is 71,569 and Delaware's largest city is built at the meeting point of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, and has had its riverfront revitalized in recent years.
Wilmington boasts nearly 70 parks, including the 178-acre Brandywine Park and the Alapocas Run, a 415-acre space filled with hiking and biking trails.
Outside reports that the city has an inclusive local culture, with LGBTQ+ community leader Dinea Elliott Collins saying: 'When I travel to other parts of the country, I realize how safe and comfortable I feel in Wilmington.' The median house price is $255,000.
New Orleans, Louisiana: Population: 369,749. With a median house price of $360,000, some 80 per cent of residents in New Orleans live within a ten-minute walk of a park, making the city one of the most attractive for residents who enjoy outdoor spaces. Culturally, the city has many attractions bringing visitors each year - from the colonial-era French Quarter to St Charles Avenue and Magazine Street's rows of antique shops.
New Orleans remains one of the country's most-visited cities for its deep and complex history, preserving its past in a number of significant museums. In 2016, the city was also ranked the best in the US for live music, cocktail hour and cheap eats - but last for safety. Outside references the city's culture and cuisine, friendliness towards LQBTQ+ people and 'underrated' green spaces in awarding it third place.
Cincinnati, Ohio: In the late 1800s, Cincy was dubbed the 'Paris of America', due to ambitious architectural projects that still line the streets of its urban center. Developed as a river town for shipping, the city remains an industralized hub with a large economy attractive to large employers and a quaint market pavilion for merchants to sell local produce. It also remains one of the greenest, with 88 per cent of residents living ten-minutes from a park - and a temperate climate ensuring beautiful year-round vistas to be found in the city's 365 parks and recreation areas. Benefitting from large-scale immigration from Germany in the 1840s, the city also benefits from a rich brewing tradition and has more than 80 organizations still making local beer - surely pushing it up the rankings for happiest places to live. Today, Cincinnati's population is 309,513and the median house price is $272,750.
Charlottesville, Virginia: The independent city of Charlottesville is much smaller than most of its competitors (population: 45,373) but boasts the same balance of work opportunities and scenic getaways shared by the country's happiest. Outside notes the city's local University of Virginia has given Charlottesville a 'vibrant startup culture', with high rates of graduates and low unemployment. The city's commercial district, The Corner, also provides Charlottesville with a number of college bars and restaurants, as well as a considerable nightlife scene. Around the city, a 20-mile trail offers hikers and bikers a picturesque loop lined with places beautiful riverside spaces, and a number of breweries are 'scattered throughout the surrounding countryside', according to Outside. The median house price is $456,000.
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