Are Montanans Happy? New Ranking Reveals Where Montana Cities Stand

How happy are you living here in Montana? That is a big question, and apparently it is one researchers like to measure.

A recent study from WalletHub ranked cities across the country based on overall happiness. Personally, I would say I am pretty happy living here. The scenery, the outdoor lifestyle, and the community are tough to beat. On the flip side, the cost of living can definitely take some of the shine off things. Trying to buy groceries, afford a house, and chase that classic American dream sometimes feels harder than it used to.

According to the study, the happiest city in the country is Fremont, California. The researchers found a large portion of households there earn more than $75,000 per year, which tends to be a point where income contributes strongly to life satisfaction.

Second place went to Bismarck, North Dakota. What? Residents there reported strong overall health, good sleep habits, and a strong sense of pride in their community. The city also ranked high for daily leisure time. Looks like Montana needs to look to our neighbor to the east for some guidance

Other cities rounding out the top five include Scottsdale, South Burlington, and Fargo. Apparently, people in North Dakota are doing something right. At the other end of the list were cities like Huntington, Cleveland, Shreveport, Memphis, and Detroit.

Source: WalletHub

Missoula came in at #37 on the list. Billings ranked #77. One surprise was that Bozeman did not appear in the rankings at all.

What do you think about this study? Are you shocked that we didn’t make the list more or agree with the cities that did show up? Let us know HERE.