Happiest Cities: Detroit Has The Biggest Reason To Frown

DETROIT, MI – Need a reason to frown on this Monday morning? In Detroit, we have one: We are the least happiest of cities in the nation, according to a ranking released today.

Of 182 cities across the nation that were examined based on their emotional and physical well-being, their income and employment levels, and their communities and environment, the Motor City came in dead last – No. 182, according to the report by WalletHub, an online credit and financial advice service.

Under emotional and physical well-being category, Detroit scored particularly low. WalletHub factored in a number of variables, including depression and suicide rates, use of marijuana and opioid prescriptions, life expectancy and, even, adequate sleep rate, for which Detroit scored low.

In the category of income and employment, Detroit also scored low. WalletHub weighed factors such as poverty and unemployment rates, bankruptcy rate, and income growth rate. In the WalletHub ranking, Detroit scored badly for income growth – only Glendale, Arizona and North Las Vegas were worst in this category.

Detroit was slightly better in the category of community and environment, which weighed cities' weather, social ties, availability of parks, and leisure time. It also weighed people's separation and divorce rate, for which Detroit landed at No. 182 of the 182 cities ranked.

So, you're wondering, if Detroit is such an unhappy place, where are all the happy people. According to WalletHub, here are the Top 10 happiest of cities:

1. Fremont, California
2. Bismarck, North Dakota
3. San Jose, California
4. Pearl City, Hawaii
5. Plano, Texas
6. Fargo, North Dakota
7. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
8. Irvine, California
9. Huntington Beach, California
10. Grand Prairie, Texas

And, the bottom five of the rankings:

• 178. Little Rock, Arkansas
• 179. Gulfport, Mississippi
• 180. Huntington, West Virginia
• 181. Birmingham, Alabama
• 182. Detroit, Michigan

Detroit was not the only Michigan city to make WalletHub's ranking. Grand Rapids was ranked No. 59, and received decent marks for its community and environment ranking.

File photo by Andrew Burton / Getty Images Staff