The 15 Least Stressed Cities In America

Levels of stress are at an all-time high for many Americans. From health and safety concerns due to a lingering pandemic to financial woes associated with skyrocketing inflation in the last year, people aren’t short of reasons to feel anxious.

While triggers can be unavoidable, there are ways to manage and even alleviate stress. Meditation, exercise, therapy and time in nature have been proven to help provide relief. And living in an area where these things are accessible can have an even greater positive impact.

Rocket Homes^SM teamed up with BestPlaces.net to find the least-stressed places in America based on many of these factors. Many of the U.S. cities listed below were found to have abundance of wellness amenities, mental health resources, natural escapes and sunny skies. Others had lower cost burdens or residents motivated to take care of their physical, mental and financial well-being.

Finding The Least Stressed Cities

The research team at BestPlaces.net collected and analyzed the most recent data from a variety of sources that measure the factors regarding stress and well-being. The 30 metro areas with the highest crime rate were also filtered out of this study.

The metrics used to determine the rankings for the least-stressed cities include the following: 

• Number of mental health providers per 100,000 population
• Number of wellness establishments per 100,000 population
• Percent of daylight hours with sunny conditions
• Number of local parks and green spaces, per 100,000 population
• Average number of reported mentally healthy days per month
• Average number of reported physically healthy days per month
• Percent of adults without health insurance
• Percent of households that spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs
• Unemployment rate
• Crime rate

These metrics are as current and detailed as possible to provide the most relevant insight.

1. Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Population: 3,654,908

Minneapolis ranks in the top 5% of the country for the number of days per month residents reported feeling both physically and mentally healthy. And on the days they need a natural pick-me-up, a peaceful park or greenspace is always close by. According to Minneapolis.org, inhabitants are never more than six blocks away from one of the city’s natural landscapes.

2. Omaha, Nebraska

• Population: 949,442

Residents of Omaha reported more mentally healthy days per month than 99% of metro areas across the country. One reason for good mental health could be the many outdoor areas available to residents. With forests, orchards, gardens, parks and preserves, Omaha ranks in the top 5% of the country for available outdoor spaces, which also include one of the country’s longest ziplines and a riverfront that attracts boaters, birdwatchers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

3. Provo, Utah

• Population: 648,252 

Along with being named one of the most promising cities of 2022, Provo is also nicknamed “Silicon Slopes” for its rise as a tech epicenter and proximity to world class ski resorts. Not only does the city rank in the top 1% of metropolitan areas for its low unemployment rate, it also ranks in the top 1% for its low crime rate, meaning residents may have less to stress about when it comes to job and personal security.

4. Madison, Wisconsin

• Population: 664,865

Medical problems – and their associated healthcare expenses – can be a major stressor, but not for many of the residents in Madison. Not only does the city have more insured adults than 94% of metro areas in the U.S., it also ranks in the top 1% of the country for the average number of reported healthy days per month.

5. Ogden, Utah

• Population: 683,864

Ogden’s unemployment rate is just 2%, which is better than 99% of metro areas across the country. Along with better job security, residents also enjoy a housing cost burden that’s lower than 99% of the country, with just over 7% of households spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. 

6. Boise, Idaho

• Population: 749,202 

Studies have shown that exposure to sunlight can help release serotonin, boost mood and regulate sleep cycles. Boise skies rank in the top 20% of the country for the percent of daylight hours with sunny conditions, meaning locals are more likely to soak up those feel-good rays while enjoying Boise’s many outdoor activities, like traversing the Ridge to Rivers trail system. With over 190 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding, this popular trail connects people to various Boise neighborhoods and provides the space to relax, unwind and take in scenic views.

7. Washington, D.C.

• Population: 6,267,226

While politics can often be a source of stress for many, the country’s main political hub is proving to be resilient. In Washington, D.C., residents reported more mentally healthy days than 95% of metro areas in the country. This can be contributed, in part, to the number of local parks and greenspaces available to inhabitants – so much so that the city ranks in the top 5% of the country for its number of outdoor spaces.

8. Denver, Colorado

• Population: 2,967,239

With more outdoor spaces, wellness establishments and mental health providers than 80% of metro areas across the country, it’s no surprise that Denver ranks in the top 5% of the U.S. for the number of mentally healthy days reported by its residents. In addition to having an abundance of resources that help alleviate stress, locals who worry about their environmental impact can also rest a bit easier knowing they’re living in one the country’s most sustainable cities.

9. Des Moines, Iowa

• Population: 662,107 

With median home prices around $184,500 and average utility expenses well below the national average, the majority of homeowners in Des Moines spend less than 30% of their income on housing, putting the city in the top 5% of the country for its low housing cost burden. Additionally, the city has a cost of living that’s almost 20% lower than the national average.

10. Boston, Massachusetts

• Population: 4,873,019 

Just over 95% of adults in Boston are insured, meaning there may be less stress about medical care and expenses and more people may be able to afford mental health services. That’s a good thing, since Boston ranks in the top 5% of the country for the number of mental health providers available per 100,000 residents.

11. Portland, Maine

• Population: 538,500

Portland has several amenities that can help residents de-stress – ranking in the top 10% of all metro areas in the U.S. for its wealth of mental health providers and wellness establishments available per 100,000 people. Portland also appeals to four-legged residents. The city was recently named the top dog-friendly city in the U.S for its many amenities for canines and their owners.  

12. Fort Collins, Colorado

• Population: 356,899

Studies have shown that hiking can help reduce stress, provide a whole-body workout and lower one’s risk of heart disease. It’s no surprise, then, that Fort Collins ranks in the top 1% of the country for the most physically healthy days reported by residents. The Choice City has more walking and hiking trails available per 100,000 residents than 99% of metro areas across the country.

13. Seattle, Washington

• Population: 3,979,845

Seattle ranks in the top 5% of the country for the magnitude of wellness establishments and outdoor areas available to locals. That means people who live in the metro area can find stress-relief both outside and indoors – especially when the notorious Seattle rain pays a visit.

14. Raleigh, North Carolina

• Population: 1,390,785

There are many reasons Raleigh may rank in the top 10% for most mentally healthy days reported by residents. Not only does the city have a low housing cost burden that relieves them from some financial stress, it also has a low crime rate, which offers reprieve from safety stress. Low crime rate is also the reason it was named one of the best places to raise a family. And as a great place to raise children, Raleigh is also a place parents may feel less family stress.

15. Oxnard, California

• Population: 846,006

There are plenty of relaxing outdoor places to unwind in Oxnard, from white sand beaches and seaside parks to a chain of islands containing unique plants and animals unseen anywhere else in the world. And with more sunny skies per month than 95% of the country, Oxnard locals can get a boost of vitamin D while enjoying the outdoor splendor of their city.

Methodology: Finding The Least Stressed Cities In America

In this study, we reveal the leas- stressed cities in the United States – places where you can expect to find good mental health and a reduced level of anxiety. 

The places analyzed in our study are the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. These 150 metro areas are home to nearly three-fourths (74%) of all U.S. residents. Metropolitan areas are particularly useful for our rankings because they include not only each area's major cities but also the surrounding counties which include the suburbs.

The metrics for stress fall into two major categories. One set of data measures the conditions which should help people be more relaxed and less tense. These metrics include the concentration of mental health providers and wellness establishments such as yoga, Pilates, alternative medicine and gyms/fitness locations. The conditions which correlate with stress, such as outdoor recreation opportunities, housing affordability, crime rates and the state of the local economy were also analyzed. Other data measures the condition of the people which live in these places, such as the percent of the population reporting good mental or physical health.

Each data category is normalized and transformed to a common range of 0-100 points for scoring and comparison. Weights are applied to each metric which reflects its importance in the study. The weighted scores for each metric are summed to create the overall stress score for each place. The final scores are sorted (with the 30 metro areas with the highest crime rate removed) to produce the final rankings.

Additional resources were used in our research and include: 

• Median home sold price: Rocket Homes Des Moines Housing Market Report, as of June 7, 2022.
• Housing and utilities: Best Places Des Moines Cost of Living, as of June 7, 2022
• Number of hiking trails per 100,000 residents, Fort Collins: Open Street Map 2021- Best Places analysis, as reported in “15 Most Dog-Friendly Cities” on Rocket Homes