A brand new nationwide examine analyzing the happiest cities in America has decided San Antonio is barely happier than it was final yr, nevertheless it nonetheless seems to be one of many unhappiest U.S. cities in 2026.
San Antonio at the moment ranks because the 154th happiest U.S. metropolis. Final yr, it was 164th.
WalletHub decided the happiest cities in America primarily based on 29 related metrics primarily based on “positive-psychology analysis” throughout three principal classes: emotional and bodily wellbeing, revenue and employment, and group and setting. As with most WalletHub research, it in contrast the 182 most populous U.S. cities.
Fremont, California, claimed the highest spot because the happiest metropolis nationwide for an additional yr. Bismarck, North Dakota, and Scottsdale, Arizona, respectfully, rounded out the highest three.
This is how WalletHub ranked San Antonio throughout the three key dimensions:
No. 93 – Earnings and employmentNo. 149 – Emotional and bodily well-beingNo. 158 – Neighborhood and setting
Along with being named one of many unhappiest U.S. cities, WalletHub additionally ranked San Antonio one of many least hardworking cities in Texas. Ouch.
Regardless of its low rating, San Antonians have improved their metropolis’s high quality of life yr after yr, whether or not it is by means of opening new bakeries and eating places, internet hosting main occasions like Fiesta, or sustaining historic websites just like the Major Plaza and the Alamo for locals and guests.
And it is value noting that dunking on the Alamo Metropolis brings its personal type of pleasure to locals, whether or not that is making enjoyable of the lodge views close to Loop 1604 or sketchy drivers. We even have an anthem for the self-directed schadenfreude — rapper Phyllis Ochoa’s viral hit “San Antonio, The place We Roll.”
Nonetheless, San Antonio have to be happier than different locations, contemplating that individuals preserve shifting right here. San Antonio now boasts a inhabitants of greater than 1.57 million residents, and the town lastly surpassed Philadelphia because the sixth-biggest U.S metro.
Having a great job and a enjoyable social life can qualify as elements that measure happiness, however WalletHub individually emphasised that making extra money does not essentially imply “extra” happiness.
“For many years, researchers have explored the science of happiness and recognized a number of core elements, together with psychological well-being, bodily well being, robust social ties, job satisfaction, and monetary stability,” the report stated. “Nonetheless, revenue has its limits — research present that incomes greater than $75,000 a yr doesn’t result in higher happiness.”
Elsewhere in TexasThe Dallas suburb Plano and its residents’ happiness far outshines the remainder of Texas, in keeping with WalletHub. Plano ranked because the sixteenth happiest U.S. metropolis, and the No. 1 happiest statewide. Austin was the one different Texas metropolis to rank among the many prime 50, touchdown in thirty ninth place.
That is how different Texas cities ranked within the report:
No. 70 – IrvingNo. 92 – GarlandNo. 106 – Grand PrairieNo. 111 – DallasNo. 113 – Fort WorthNo. 119 – ArlingtonNo. 128 – HoustonNo. 135 – LubbockNo. 137 – El PasoNo. 140 – LaredoNo. 143 – AmarilloNo. 150 – BrownsvilleNo. 155 – Corpus Christi
