Where are the happiest cities in the U.S.? Hint: Not in Mississippi — and here is why

If you are looking for the happiest cities in America, head west or north — because Mississippi’s urban centers sit near the very bottom of the map. Meanwhile, Mississippi’s two largest cities evaluated in the report — Jackson (No. Top 5 Happiest U.S. CitiesFremont, CA — Score: 74.09Bismarck, ND — Score: 73.11Scottsdale, AZ — Score: 71.36South Burlington, VT — Score: 70.15Fargo, ND — Score: 69.36Why Mississippi Cities Ranked Near the BottomTo determine the rankings, researchers evaluated 182 major U.S. cities across 29 key metrics spanning physical and mental health, financial stability, and community environment. Mississippi’s low standings stem from pronounced regional headwinds across all three categories:Stagnant Income Growth: Gulfport ranked 178th out of 182 cities for income growth. While top-performing cities combine high median incomes with low divorce rates, ample daily leisure time, and robust public infrastructure, Mississippi cities continue to face systemic underinvestment that directly weighs on daily quality of life.