Soul Sustenance - America's Most Relaxed Cities

 

Some cities help residents slow down with green space, low congestion, and supportive community amenities, which is so important, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  To help you find a little more calm this season, LawnStarter ranked America’s Most Relaxed Cities. We compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities across 7 categories, including mental health, sleep, commute times, finances, and access to outdoor and wellness amenities, among 42 metrics. Why is LawnStarter ranking the Most Relaxed Cities? Our front yards welcome us home from stressful commutes and our backyards often are an oasis of calm amid everyday life.

Top 10 Most Relaxed Large Cities (250,000+ population)  San Jose, CA San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Irvine, CA San Diego, CA Plano, TX Honolulu, HI Lincoln, NE Madison, WI Minneapolis, MN   Note: Cities were ranked within three population groups for fair comparison: Large (250,000+), Midsize (100,000 to 249,000), and Small (under 100,000). See the full ranking to explore all 500 cities by size.    Key Insights: Higher income helps keep stress in check. Out of the top 10 from each ranking (large, midsize, small), 26 of 30 earn a median income of $106,000 or more, well above the national median of $84,000. Only 4 large cities landed at or below that income mark: Honolulu (No. 7 Large), Lincoln, Nebraska (No. 8 Large), Madison, Wisconsin (No. 9 Large), and Minneapolis (No. 10 Large). For residents who find joy in the outdoors, several cities stand out. Santa Barbara, California (No. 43 Small) leads with the most public gardens per capita, while Anchorage, Alaska (No. 31 Large), West Palm Beach, Florida (No. 91 Midsize), and Fremont, California (No. 6 Midsize) dedicate more land to parks and recreation than most other cities. Stressed to the Limit: Flint, Michigan (No. 173 Small), Dayton, Ohio (No.236 Midsize), and Detroit (No. 91 Large) struggle to find their calm, landing in last place for their corresponding rankings, with some of the highest rates of smokers, blood pressure levels, and inadequate sleep amongst adults.

Read the full story here: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/most-relaxed-cities/  Other helpful links: Key Insights Methodology Ask the Experts   More from LawnStarter:  Leading Cities for Quality of Life Best Cities for Dog Lovers Best Cities for Hiking Dirtiest Cities in America How Snow and Ice Affect Your Lawn How to Put Holiday Decorations in Your Yard and Not Destroy Your Grass