Midwestern Cities Score High‍ on the Happy City Index

⁢ Updated June 21,⁣ 2025
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The Institute for Quality of Life in London recently‍ released its happy City Index, evaluating cities worldwide on factors contributing to overall happiness and⁣ quality of life. Several Midwestern cities earned recognition in the rankings.

Minneapolis, MN, secured a spot in⁤ the “gold” category, ⁣ranking as the 30th happiest city in the world. New ⁣York City led the american⁣ cities, claiming the 17th position globally.‍ The index assessed a total of 200 cities, with 31 achieving ‍”gold” status.

Other⁤ Midwestern‍ cities⁣ making the‍ list include Indianapolis, IN, and Columbus, OH, ranking 63rd and 112th, respectively. The Happy City Index considers 82 elements across six key categories:⁤ citizens, governance, ‍environment, economy, health, and mobility. These ⁣factors determine each city’s happiness level and overall quality ⁢of life.

Copenhagen, ‍Denmark, topped the list as the happiest ‍city, followed by Zurich, Switzerland. The city rankings provide insights into urban ⁤well-being and highlight areas for improvement.

U.S. City Rankings

Here’s a breakdown of how U.S. ⁤cities fared in the‍ Happy City Index:

Gold

• No. 17: New york, NY
• No. 30: Minneapolis, MN

Silver

• No. 34: San Diego,⁤ CA
• No. 43: Washington, D.C.
• No. 56: Salt Lake City, UT
• No. 63: Columbus, OH
• No. 70: Los Angeles,CA
• No. 80: Seattle,WA
• No. 84: Baltimore,MD
• No. 89: San antonio, TX
• No. 96: Nashville, TN

Bronze

• No. 112: Indianapolis, IN
• No.119: San Jose, CA
• No. 131: Boston,⁤ MA
• No. 141:⁤ Portland,OR
• No. 176: Orlando, FL
• No. 181: Phoenix, ⁣AZ
• No. 198: Houston, TX

What’s‍ next

The Institute for Quality⁢ of Life is expected to continue refining its methodology and releasing updated rankings in the coming years, providing valuable ⁣data for cities striving to improve their residents’⁤ well-being.