Residents in the Washington region are happier than those who live in other large U.S. cities, according to the latest well-being rankings from Gallup. The D.C. area ranks first among the nation’s 52 largest cities — those with 1 million or more residents — in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
| Don’t worry, be happy |
| The happiest of the largest metropolitan areas: |
| 1. Washington, D.C. |
| 2. Austin, Texas |
| 3. San Jose, Calif. |
| 4. Seattle |
| 5. San Francisco |
The score includes factors such as “emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors and access to basic necessities,” according to the index’s Web site.
The results show that 85 percent of those who live in the D.C. metro area don’t smoke and 72 percent visit a dentist annually, two factors that increases a person’s well-being in the rankings.
The area is full of culture, from the free Smithsonian museums to the Kennedy Center, as well as quick, natural getaways such as the C&O Canal, Great Falls and Rock Creek Park. Meanwhile, both skiing and the Atlantic beaches are just a couple hours’ drive away.
Sherman Parker, a Metrobus driver picking up commuters Monday afternoon along I Street in Northwest
D.C., said he thinks the area’s parks and scenery around monuments give the city a relaxing feel and make it less stressful than other cities.
“New York is too fast,” he said.
While D.C. denizens work notoriously long hours, they are comparatively safe in their jobs and able to withstand the recession without too much worry. The Washington area — where the federal government is the biggest employer — has the lowest unemployment rate of any large metropolitan area in the country at 6.1 percent.
Jason Walder, store manager at Conte’s Bikes and Coaching in Arlington, said the area’s many trails lure residents outdoors to exercise.
“People can easily do outdoor activities without the fear of traffic or apparent risk,” he said.
Residents in the Louisville, Ky., metropolitan area have the lowest well-being among large cities, according to the poll.
The results, based on telephone interviews, show that Boulder, Colo., residents have the highest well-being index score of all the country’s 188 metropolitan areas.
