Happy cities

[Airencracken]

http://articles.health.msn.com/id/100103843

Is Your Town Down?

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Which towns stand in the face of depression
By: Sara Vigneri
More on this in Health & Fitness

Maybe it was all those years of futility for the Phillies. Or the shadows cast by New York City to the north and Washington, D.C., to the south. Whatever the reasons, Philadelphia has earned the melancholy distinction of being America's most depressed city, followed closely by Detroit and St. Petersburg, Florida. Men's Health compiled this list based on antidepressant sales, courtesy of NDC Health; suicide rates, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the number of days inhabitants reported being depressed, based on the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, accessed through bestplaces.net.

Where can you find happiness? Texas, that's where. Three of its cities placed in the top four: number one, Laredo; number two, El Paso; and number four, Corpus Christi.

The 20 Happiest Cities

1. Laredo, TX: A+

2. El Paso, TX: A+

3. Jersey City, NJ: A+

4. Corpus Christi, TX: A+

5. Baton Rouge, LA: A

6. Honolulu, HI: A-

7. Fresno, CA: A-

8. San Jose, CA: A-

9. Lincoln, NE: B+

10. Bakersfield, CA: B+

11. Buffalo, NY: B+

12. Anchorage, AK: B+

13. Stockton, CA: B+

14. Shreveport, LA: B+

15. (3-way tie) Madison, WI: B, Montgomery, AL: B, and Des Moines, IA: B

18. Wichita, KS: B

19. (tie) Sacramento, CA: B and Omaha, NE: B

The 20 Most Depressed Cities

1. Philadelphia, PA: F

2. Detroit, MI: F

3. St. Petersburg, FL: F

4. St. Louis, MO: F

5. Tampa, FL: F

6. Indianapolis, IN: F

7. (3-way tie) Mesa, AZ: F, Phoenix, AZ: F, and Scottsdale, AZ: F

10. Cleveland, OH: F

11. New York, NY: D-

12. Salt Lake City, UT: D-

13. Atlanta, GA: D

14. (3-way tie) Yonkers, NY: D, Pittsburgh, PA: D, and Kansas City, MO: D

17. (3-way tie) Long Beach, CA: D, Los Angeles, CA: D, Nashville, TN" D

20. Portland, OR: D
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Bakersfield is a happy city??? I guess ignorance is bliss...

[DaFunkyUnit]

Stockton???

highest rape & murder rate in California...

[Jeffbx]

What the.... Detroit missed #1?

They're not trying hard enough.

[hapoo]

how the hell did fresno, bakersfield and san jose come out on top??? those are some ****ty places to live. I can't stand the weather there!

[ShawnLee]

How is San Jose bad? Fresno and Bakersfield, yeah, but San Jose's great. I'm just glad my city wasn't on the bad list. It doens't have to be on the happy list so long as it's not on the downer list. But LA and Long Beach? Duh.

[zenbooty]

How is San Jose bad? Fresno and Bakersfield, yeah, but San Jose's great. I'm just glad my city wasn't on the bad list. It doens't have to be on the happy list so long as it's not on the downer list. But LA and Long Beach? Duh.
Ugh, I remember San Jose. Blech, it was like L.A. but without the beach.

[DaFunkyUnit]

Ugh, I remember San Jose. Blech, it was like L.A. but without the beach.

not even.

its more like San Diego, without the charm AND without the beach.

[Cantacuzene]

Thank God Atlanta made the depressing list. The traffic alone would earn it a spot. Combine it with the rednecks, nouveau riches, gangstas and bible thumpers and it should be worse even than the D it got.

[Jihforce]

Thank God Atlanta made the depressing list. The traffic alone would earn it a spot. Combine it with the rednecks, nouveau riches, gangstas and bible thumpers and it should be worse even than the D it got.

Are you sure that's Atlanta and not LA?

[Cantacuzene]

You don't have rednecks and bible thumpers like Atlanta, but your traffic is worse I'll give you that.

[hapoo]

You don't have rednecks and bible thumpers like Atlanta, but your traffic is worse I'll give you that.


you could easily replace the rednecks with [insert ethnic group], and bible thumpers with gay rights activists :P

[Airencracken]

You don't have rednecks and bible thumpers like Atlanta, but your traffic is worse I'll give you that.

You're :nuts: if you think we don't have bible thumpers...

[Cantacuzene]

You have them for sure. You dont have them like the deep south does. When you turn on basic cable and 8 of the 30 channels are Benny Hinn faith healers, get back to me.

[Showtime]

:hmm: How the hell do they measure it? **** that list. L.A. is not depressing and LB is just fine. :mad: I'd be super sad if I had to live El Paso... wtf. Ok, now I need a :hug:

*"I'm so lonely playing" in the background*

Ha ha, I hope that list lowers property a little so that houses become more affordable here.

-j

[Cantacuzene]

I imagine if you had an hour+ commute each way you would find LA quite depressing in a short amount of time.

[Freelance Superhero]

yeah, i'm also wondering what this is based upon, because i'd like to know how fresno, bakersfield, and stockton got on the "happiest" list. truly mind-boggling...

[Cantacuzene]

People in landlocked areas don't know any better I guess.

[bachviet]

My town is not on the list (posted above). :D

[Showtime]

You moved from Long Beach and it still made the sad list, V? :wavey:

Ha ha.

-j

[bachviet]

You moved from Long Beach and it still made the sad list, V? :wavey:

Ha ha.

-j
Long what??? :P

[Kevster]

yeah, i'm also wondering what this is based upon, because i'd like to know how fresno, bakersfield, and stockton got on the "happiest" list. truly mind-boggling...

Coming from No. California, I can attest that Stockton is truly the armpit of California (it's also in about the right place for it too). I don't know anyone in Fresno, I only people that were originally from Fresno, so that might tell you something right there.

With Bakershell though, if you have ever had the unfortunate experience of being there for more than a pitstop on your way north or south then you'd understand this. If you have ever been stuck in Bakershell in the middle of summer, I'm very sorry.

[faither]

I'm having a hard time understanding the downside to Tampa! So far, so good.

[Mommypooh]

my city didn't make it either, but cleveland did.

[bricheese]

Im from San Diego. i think its the #3 place to live I love this city.....maybe people are not so happy cuz the freakin HIGH rent and HOUSES to buy, but theres so much fun stuff to do, if you want to pay 2.57 for gas prices

[TofuNinja]

WOOT my hometown of Fresno got an A- hahahahha yeah that is because nothing happens in Fresno, and most of the Fresnans that stay are content with the little things. If the Bulldogs win a game, hot damn happiness for a week. House prices are good for what you get and Fresno is a test market soooo they get interesting fast food picks..... Fresno was a good place to grow up...... that said I am glad I am in the OC now hahaha

[usedillusion]

i'm still trying to figure out how Jersey City is so much happier than NYC which is only 10 minutes away. it's far from a beautiful suburb, too. i'd have to agree Philly is pretty depressing. looking through the library window i see a beautiful grayness... the sky and the musty looking buildings :( although that dell deal did brighten my day.

[welfareloser]

they gave baton rouge an a... and then i pretty much gave up on giving them any credit for knowing what the f*** they're talking about...

[Hypnotist]

That list makes only partial sense. I lived in El Paso, Phoenix, LA (Pacific Palisades), Dallas and they have EP and Phoenix reversed IMHO. So who knows. Make the best of where you are... and if not, GET THE HELL OUT! :gle:

[molecularfire]

:hmm: How the hell do they measure it?
-j


Men's Health compiled this list based on antidepressant sales, courtesy of NDC Health; suicide rates, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the number of days inhabitants reported being depressed, based on the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, accessed through bestplaces.net.

Yeah, not exactly the best parameters.