2021’s Most Relaxed Cities in America

Woman sitting in front of a fountain with her back to the camera

For some of us, relaxation means not having to worry about our finances, our health, or our safety — although a piña colada on the beach helps, too.

But not every city is built for peace of mind. So where can Americans catch a break?

LawnStarter ranked the Most Relaxed Cities by comparing over 190 of the biggest U.S. cities across 57 key indicators of a zen atmosphere.

We looked at everything — well, almost everything — from depression rates to the share of adults with high blood pressure to the average length of a workday.

Check out our ranking below, followed by some highlights, lowlights, and expert insights.

(To set the mood right, play some Enya in the background.)

City Rankings
Highlights and Lowlights
Ask the Experts
Methodology
Why This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Mental Health Rank	Physical Health Rank	Financial Health Rank	Work Environment Rank	Physical Environment Rank	Social Environment Rank	Entertainment Rank
1	Sunnyvale, CA	64.59	3	1	9	125	20	7	87
2	Arlington, VA	64.15	10	6	3	191	28	10	12
3	San Francisco, CA	63.95	16	21	32	173	1	101	3
4	Bellevue, WA	63.88	19	2	11	140	27	15	16
5	Seattle, WA	61.83	28	7	28	101	3	170	9
6	Naperville, IL	61.81	12	27	1	183	92	1	26
7	Garden Grove, CA	61.61	1	34	97	40	46	20	53
8	Fort Collins, CO	61.18	17	14	54	10	91	19	39
9	Fullerton, CA	60.82	9	15	59	72	55	17	54
10	Honolulu, HI	60.81	47	45	114	59	31	54	2
11	Huntington Beach, CA	60.7	8	9	35	131	36	49	55
12	Scottsdale, AZ	60.5	23	17	16	162	101	35	15
13	Madison, WI	60.44	59	43	25	11	104	29	8
14	San Jose, CA	60.38	6	8	23	114	82	34	97
15	Torrance, CA	60.37	14	5	39	110	57	13	84
16	Portland, OR	60.35	77	33	50	52	2	133	4
17	Pasadena, CA	59.57	4	12	104	117	48	47	71
18	Orange, CA	59.33	7	18	46	68	41	11	153
19	Frisco, TX	58.78	55	19	2	189	156	4	56
20	Fremont, CA	58.66	24	3	7	178	51	2	186
21	Alexandria, VA	58.42	34	16	26	190	108	40	24
22	Minneapolis, MN	58.39	44	50	37	24	9	139	46
23	Hayward, CA	58.2	2	24	38	134	21	51	171
24	Cary, NC	57.96	100	13	4	151	151	5	44
25	Irvine, CA	57.94	11	4	45	88	50	3	191
26	Tempe, AZ	57.67	53	49	101	12	35	71	32
27	Boston, MA	57.3	41	84	109	80	6	97	38
28	Washington, DC	57.1	21	100	48	163	12	174	13
29	Sioux Falls, SD	57.02	33	72	14	75	159	98	22
30	Santa Clarita, CA	57.01	31	11	24	175	165	6	105
31	St. Paul, MN	56.28	57	77	51	20	15	88	79
32	Elk Grove, CA	56.23	67	51	17	105	64	12	112
33	Yonkers, NY	56.2	43	54	85	116	59	25	78
34	Oakland, CA	56.18	35	35	99	123	18	167	31
35	Colorado Springs, CO	55.95	60	38	43	98	123	117	17
36	McKinney, TX	55.94	51	37	10	177	148	9	92
37	Anaheim, CA	55.93	15	29	121	79	66	48	120
38	Denver, CO	55.82	18	59	58	146	77	144	49
39	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	55.72	65	42	27	136	39	28	115
40	Escondido, CA	55.47	52	61	130	71	40	41	58
41	Chandler, AZ	55.39	49	28	18	150	84	59	95
42	Jersey City, NJ	55.35	36	91	120	182	22	46	63
43	Los Angeles, CA	55.34	26	36	166	95	75	78	75
44	Olathe, KS	55.25	72	22	5	129	115	50	94
45	Aurora, IL	55.2	29	93	21	149	81	22	140
46	Santa Ana, CA	55.19	20	66	144	43	30	27	181
47	Plano, TX	55.16	64	20	13	176	118	23	101
48	Joliet, IL	55.1	13	136	12	158	126	45	123
49	Chula Vista, CA	55.07	56	41	49	104	58	21	135
50	Salt Lake City, UT	55.07	111	26	68	41	102	151	6
51	Overland Park, KS	55.05	101	10	6	111	78	37	72
52	Gilbert, AZ	54.93	54	23	8	157	90	8	188
53	Mesa, AZ	54.81	66	68	78	87	7	62	138
54	Austin, TX	54.8	82	39	70	144	131	77	23
55	Pomona, CA	54.69	5	58	145	61	128	67	152
56	San Diego, CA	54.67	48	30	76	83	42	39	165
57	Fontana, CA	54.62	38	87	55	135	76	14	134
58	Boise City, ID	54.6	134	31	34	39	65	70	37
59	Long Beach, CA	54.38	32	32	128	96	47	72	161
60	Las Vegas, NV	54.23	95	110	110	94	45	134	5
61	Lincoln, NE	54.22	90	67	33	25	103	56	90
62	Thornton, CO	53.87	39	53	22	159	169	69	190
63	Corona, CA	53.83	80	40	47	181	38	16	116
65	Chicago, IL	53.74	27	114	87	148	14	89	146
66	Eugene, OR	53.71	143	52	141	3	8	145	51
67	Providence, RI	53.7	133	149	153	13	11	75	11
68	Virginia Beach, VA	53.61	84	57	19	166	136	32	86
69	Vancouver, WA	53.54	81	46	66	82	13	126	126
70	Oceanside, CA	53.42	46	44	94	115	79	68	145
71	Peoria, AZ	53.35	76	47	20	168	106	55	106
72	Henderson, NV	53.25	123	70	29	122	49	76	60
73	Grand Rapids, MI	53.24	107	97	80	14	69	87	47
74	Aurora, CO	53.01	22	48	56	160	125	107	162
75	Glendale, AZ	52.99	68	81	98	119	80	104	57
76	Raleigh, NC	52.97	109	56	42	112	152	64	43
77	Spokane, WA	52.96	71	71	64	22	60	175	73
78	Bridgeport, CT	52.92	86	98	174	26	34	90	118
79	Phoenix, AZ	52.82	70	78	106	118	100	137	36
80	Santa Rosa, CA	52.79	58	25	77	46	117	82	173
81	Ontario, CA	52.48	74	89	115	113	44	36	143
82	Fort Lauderdale, FL	52.39	63	94	146	155	139	171	7
83	Salinas, CA	52.23	30	79	135	109	144	18	163
84	Tucson, AZ	52.18	125	95	150	18	73	135	20
85	Worcester, MA	51.81	79	132	103	31	121	83	85
86	Lexington, KY	51.78	156	145	53	54	5	84	62
87	Anchorage, AK	51.71	37	62	30	145	191	152	70
88	Pittsburgh, PA	51.63	124	139	74	34	56	43	40
89	Palmdale, CA	51.61	42	60	91	186	171	30	164
90	Sacramento, CA	51.58	69	88	89	62	37	111	166
91	Oxnard, CA	51.54	78	75	123	78	93	24	176
92	Miramar, FL	51.48	114	83	84	161	173	26	35
93	Salem, OR	51.47	129	63	71	44	26	106	111
94	Tallahassee, FL	51.21	119	96	161	4	140	115	30
95	Pembroke Pines, FL	51.01	105	65	72	179	155	52	50
96	Charlotte, NC	50.99	108	76	73	156	147	112	34
97	Tacoma, WA	50.92	85	73	62	100	62	162	99
98	Des Moines, IA	50.91	87	125	31	47	109	160	66
99	Chesapeake, VA	50.71	106	101	15	164	162	57	109
100	Hollywood, FL	50.6	103	90	149	139	111	142	19
101	Lancaster, CA	50.46	40	69	113	143	166	73	184
102	Albuquerque, NM	50.44	136	55	61	45	107	177	42
103	Atlanta, GA	50.4	73	104	116	153	63	113	82
104	Reno, NV	50.34	120	86	67	51	187	108	29
105	Paterson, NJ	50.33	25	167	187	21	67	81	142
106	Omaha, NE	50.24	115	119	41	57	19	94	179
107	Miami, FL	50.19	61	109	188	132	25	150	67
108	Moreno Valley, CA	50.12	92	80	100	142	98	44	167
109	Durham, NC	49.91	131	74	75	97	172	109	48
110	Orlando, FL	49.83	94	103	154	127	114	169	27
111	Milwaukee, WI	49.53	99	164	126	23	74	131	83
112	Tampa, FL	49.15	135	126	125	126	23	93	102
113	San Bernardino, CA	49.09	45	144	167	50	24	172	177
114	Syracuse, NY	48.91	141	154	136	2	68	114	93
115	Fort Wayne, IN	48.63	127	146	52	63	130	79	128
116	North Las Vegas, NV	48.3	140	129	105	103	52	116	100
117	Cape Coral, FL	48.21	155	92	93	121	164	38	96
118	Modesto, CA	48.14	104	85	69	89	153	129	156
119	Irving, TX	48.12	110	106	129	164	119	61	119
120	Columbus, OH	47.86	144	135	81	56	88	125	103
121	Garland, TX	47.74	91	107	151	167	145	58	175
122	Rochester, NY	47.73	137	163	157	7	53	146	88
123	Bakersfield, CA	47.64	121	122	88	84	170	99	130
124	Springfield, MO	47.64	138	140	163	5	87	186	41
125	Springfield, MA	47.6	98	172	147	6	99	123	159
126	New Orleans, LA	47.47	150	173	182	69	32	179	10
127	McAllen, TX	47.46	132	82	184	81	86	63	136
128	New York, NY	53.78	62	64	164	170	16	42	91
128	Buffalo, NY	47.35	149	165	127	8	10	120	168
129	Metairie, LA	47.32	148	133	60	74	110	140	33
130	San Antonio, TX	47.16	113	118	140	106	113	136	133
131	Port St. Lucie, FL	47.13	175	99	118	133	135	31	81
132	Richmond, VA	47.11	88	158	172	19	142	180	64
133	El Paso, TX	47.09	152	105	159	93	89	60	158
134	Fort Worth, TX	47.06	112	124	102	180	167	85	124
135	Louisville, KY	47.05	172	181	44	76	4	153	77
135	Newark, NJ	47.05	75	182	190	58	29	74	178
137	St. Petersburg, FL	47.02	151	123	92	99	43	154	89
138	Houston, TX	46.98	83	108	179	169	133	148	132
139	Rockford, IL	46.95	93	168	83	16	96	178	131
140	Grand Prairie, TX	46.79	118	113	90	154	160	53	160
141	Cincinnati, OH	46.74	142	175	132	30	157	163	21
142	Newport News, VA	46.65	117	147	119	120	161	110	121
143	Nashville, TN	46.56	177	155	82	141	17	147	45
144	Arlington, TX	46.49	116	102	117	184	158	91	150
145	Kansas City, MO	46.49	154	128	86	107	154	176	28
146	Fresno, CA	46.34	122	115	143	36	122	96	170
147	Huntsville, AL	46.25	182	138	57	55	149	92	18
148	Dallas, TX	46.22	97	127	180	172	143	121	129
149	Norfolk, VA	46.17	126	160	142	152	120	102	114
150	Pasadena, TX	46.03	50	121	169	185	137	86	183
151	Greensboro, NC	45.97	161	120	111	28	178	127	69
152	Hialeah, FL	45.69	96	116	189	90	70	105	180
153	Stockton, CA	45.6	102	111	107	124	134	157	189
154	Lubbock, TX	45.6	157	131	137	37	127	143	137
155	Amarillo, TX	44.79	153	141	95	77	141	122	174
156	Indianapolis, IN	44.44	139	166	124	102	116	100	122
157	Laredo, TX	44.34	158	153	185	48	97	33	185
158	Corpus Christi, TX	44.3	145	148	133	137	112	128	172
159	Midland, TX	44.13	146	112	36	188	124	141	147
160	Akron, OH	44.07	167	169	134	33	129	168	65
161	Murfreesboro, TN	44	186	134	40	91	183	65	74
162	Jacksonville, FL	43.99	159	157	108	147	163	119	110
163	Savannah, GA	43.95	128	156	181	17	175	161	76
164	Birmingham, AL	43.9	181	184	176	70	181	166	1
165	Baton Rouge, LA	43.82	163	180	156	9	185	164	25
166	Mesquite, TX	43.71	89	190	155	171	132	103	169
167	Wichita, KS	43.56	169	117	63	66	138	173	154
168	Oklahoma City, OK	43.15	170	143	79	138	168	130	139
169	Tulsa, OK	43.09	171	137	138	86	85	165	157
170	Brownsville, TX	42.53	160	150	191	29	71	66	187
171	Winston-Salem, NC	42.26	165	130	131	53	182	118	108
172	Killeen, TX	42	166	142	122	174	174	95	151
173	Philadelphia, PA	41.7	179	174	170	108	33	80	141
174	Baltimore, MD	41.56	147	186	152	130	54	182	155
175	Columbus, GA	41.47	173	162	162	64	146	124	127
176	Dayton, OH	41.21	180	189	178	1	61	181	104
177	Jackson, MS	41.08	130	179	177	60	189	185	59
178	Toledo, OH	41.06	184	183	148	15	83	156	148
179	Fayetteville, NC	40.86	178	152	158	128	176	149	113
180	Mobile, AL	40.56	187	170	165	49	190	138	14
181	Knoxville, TN	40.5	191	171	139	27	150	155	61
182	Augusta, GA	40.1	164	177	175	67	94	159	149
183	St. Louis, MO	39.89	162	188	160	73	95	191	52
184	Little Rock, AR	39.68	168	151	96	92	188	190	98
185	Cleveland, OH	39.16	176	187	183	32	72	188	125
186	Chattanooga, TN	39.09	189	161	112	65	177	183	68
187	Clarksville, TN	38.53	190	159	65	187	184	132	107
188	Shreveport, LA	38.52	183	178	168	35	186	184	80
189	Detroit, MI	37.69	174	191	186	38	105	187	117
190	Memphis, TN	35.31	188	185	171	42	179	189	144
191	Kansas City, KS	35.11	185	176	173	85	180	158	182

Infographic comparing the most relaxed cities

Highlights and Lowlights

California: the State of Calm

California dominates the top of our Most Relaxed Cities ranking. Our No. 1 overall is Sunnyvale, claiming the top spot in the physical health category and No. 3 in mental health. But beyond Sunnyvale, California has four cities in the top 10 and a whopping 12 cities in the top 25.

Why is life so calm in the Golden State? It may have to do with their plentiful pot. Fullerton is No. 1 for marijuana dispensaries per 100,000 residents, with many other California cities not far behind.

R&R Cities: Rest & … Riches?

Tranquility follows the money: Half of the cities in our top 10 are also among the 10 cities with the highest median household income in the U.S. They include Sunnyvale, California; Naperville, Illinois; Bellevue, Washington; and Arlington, Virginia — some of the wealthiest suburbs in America — plus San Francisco.

It’s safe to say that the rich rest easiest among us.

Less Traffic, More Relaxed in Texas

Traffic fuels anxiety, so for a more relaxed lifestyle, move to where the traffic is lighter. The best city for a smooth daily drive might not be where you expect: Lubbock, Texas, is the No. 1 city when it comes to average commute time.

Lubbock isn’t all wonderful, though. Overall, the city struggled on a number of other metrics, especially in the mental health and social environment categories. But if easy, breezy roadways are your idea of paradise, then Lubbock is the place for you.

Health and Money Stress in Detroit

Detroit performed especially poorly on physical health metrics, coming in last place with the highest share of adults with high blood pressure, adult smokers, and stroke victims.

The financial health category also demonstrates some of Detroit’s struggles, with the city showing the lowest median household income and the highest poverty rate of any other major city.

Stress from health and financial issues likely are what drove the Motor City to near the bottom of our Most Relaxed Cities ranking.

Ask The Experts

With anxiety levels through the roof during the pandemic, we reached out to a panel of experts for advice on the best ways to chill. See what they had to say below.

What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?
What are the three best ways to relax while working from home, where boundaries between personal and professional life often can blur?
What are your top three relaxation strategies for people with the most stressful jobs — ER doctors, firefighters, and therapists, for example — to help them reset?
“During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder,” according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. How can relaxation help ease those symptoms?
What makes for a “Most Relaxed City” in your book? Less traffic or work stress? More parks? A wellness/fitness culture? Lots of dogs, cats, and other pets?
As an expert on relaxation, how do you personally decompress, destress, and ease your mind?

Dr. David B. Hanbury

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Christopher Redker

Associate Professor

Jack Bauer, PhD

Professor of Psychology, Co-Editor, Journal of Happiness Studies

Jiuqing Cheng

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Dr. David B. Hanbury

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Averett University

Dr. David B. Hanbury

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Averett University

What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?

Despite the pandemic, there are many things that one can do to relax and unwind.

Getting adequate sunlight exposure, especially early in the day, is important to maintain the sleep-wake cycle. Take a walk around the block, ride your bike, or sit and enjoy the weather.

Most importantly, remain present in the moment and take everything in. The effects of meditation, yoga, tai chi, and other activities that promote mindfulness and being present, on the brain and body, simply cannot be understated.

What are the three best ways to relax while working from home, where boundaries between personal and professional life often can blur?

Even when busy with work, and perhaps children at home, a window of time each day to sit and reflect is critical.

1. It boils down to mindfulness and being present in the moment. Research shows chronic stress and depressed mood are associated with reduced volume of hippocampus in the brain — a structure associated with mood, learning, and memory.

2. Exercise (even if only brief) increases blood flow to the brain and releases endorphins in the body (like runner’s high). This may be something you do in your house or even working in the yard.

3. Maintain a work-life balance. Working from home tends to encourage on-demand access to the employee, but it doesn’t have to. Set firm limits, spend time with your family, and take time for yourself when you can reflect and process the day, even if briefly.

What are your top three relaxation strategies for people with the most stressful jobs — ER doctors, firefighters, and therapists, for example — to help them reset?

Mindfulness techniques such as those mentioned above are critical, but it also needs to be something that fits the individual’s lifestyle.

Being able to process a hectic workday is important.

Make time for yourself, even if for 15 minutes, where it is only you.

Clear your mind and process the happenings of the day.

Finally, connect with others whom you enjoy. Hear about their day and give them the opportunity to process, just as they can do for you.

Chronic daily stress activates the body’s immune system at a high rate, which leads to over-release of negative stress hormones and puts the individual at risk for illness when the body’s defenses become exhausted.

Unfortunately, over time, it also puts the individual at significant cardiovascular health risks and increases risk for the development of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

“During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder,” according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. How can relaxation help ease those symptoms?

In my opinion, it was a mistake for the term “social distancing” to ever be used.

Certainly, physical distancing was necessary, but find ways to connect with others to prevent social isolation. Zoom calls, family TV watch parties, and appropriately distanced outdoor activities are all possible and should be encouraged.

Moreover, the CDC acknowledges that individuals who have been vaccinated can safely congregate indoors in small groups.

What makes for a “Most Relaxed City” in your book? Less traffic or work stress? More parks? A wellness/fitness culture? Lots of dogs, cats, and other pets?

In my book, open spaces with lots of sunlight, minimal stressors, relatively clean air, and little noise allow the individual to reflect, exercise, and enjoy being with themselves and others without the insults of the 9-to-5 world. The ability to enjoy a meal or drink outside, perhaps with one’s children or pet, or even alone, is important.

As an expert on relaxation, how do you personally decompress, destress, and ease your mind?

Exercise and responsible socialization are my go-to ways of relaxing and, if it can be done outside, that’s my preference. Even if I’m working at home, I enjoy taking my work on the porch or my deck to enjoy the sun and the warmth, weather permitting.

Christopher Redker

Associate Professor

Ferris State University

Christopher Redker

Associate Professor

Ferris State University

What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?

I would chime in to say that the “relaxation response” is the antithesis of the body’s fight or flight/stress response. For example, meditation seems to be a relatively successful way of managing stress (for those experienced with it), specifically its effects on our physiology.

Research is indicating that meditation’s effects are related to lowered activity of the sympathetic nervous system, the system that readies us for fight or flight. The SNS leads to the common physical symptoms of stress that we often experience, such as increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

In addition, meditative techniques also seem to promote feelings of well-being by allowing people to be distracted from stressful thoughts. It is believed that the relaxation response is the core of meditation.

Jack Bauer, PhD

Professor of Psychology, Co-Editor, Journal of Happiness Studies

University of Dayton

Jack Bauer, PhD

Professor of Psychology, Co-Editor, Journal of Happiness Studies

University of Dayton

What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?

Lawns are great for relaxation and meaningful experiences.

Research on two kinds of purchases might be of interest to you: experiential purchases (like going for a hike or to a ballgame or movie) versus material purchases (like shoes or cars).

Study after study shows that experiential purchases yield greater and more enduring happiness than do material purchases.

When it comes to lawn care, one can think of one’s investment in a lawn as having elements of both kinds of purchases.

As a material purchase, people put money into their yards to impress their neighbors with how beautiful their yard is. That kind of happiness is more fragile and needs perpetual little injections of self-affirming comments (like thinking “other people like my yard,” “I’ve got the nicest yard on the street,” etc.).

But as an experiential purchase, people can put money into their yards for the purpose of simply enjoying the yard as a respite for themselves or as pleasant space to share with family or friends. That’s the more meaningful kind of thing that yields lasting memories of happiness — and a deeper happiness in the moment.

Having a little space to clear one’s head, relax the body, and generally rejuvenate is a great way to deal with COVID or any other kind of stress. It’s outdoors and green, which our bodies and minds need.

Jiuqing Cheng

Assistant Professor of Psychology

University of Northern Iowa

Jiuqing Cheng

Assistant Professor of Psychology

University of Northern Iowa

What does relaxation mean in COVID times — and especially now that pandemic restrictions are easing and millions are getting their vaccines every day?

I think the answer may depend on job type.

For those who still work regularly and need to interact with others (e.g., first responders), relaxation means finish the work, go home, and feel healthy.

On the other hand, for those who can work from home and may stay at home for a long period, relaxation means interacting with relatives and friends and going outside for a while (e.g., shopping).

With vaccination in progress and summer is coming, vacation is another attractive way for relaxation, particularly for those who have not had any travel for more than a year.

One big point I want to make is that for parents, relaxation means school can safely open and they can send their kids to school. With kids staying at home all day long, it is really difficult for parents to focus on work and personal issues.

What are the three best ways to relax while working from home, where boundaries between personal and professional life often can blur?

My experience is to stick to the regular work schedule, like 9-5, with one hour in the middle for lunch.

Play the music you like, and you don’t need to worry about interrupting your colleagues.

If possible, like the weather is good, go outside for a while after work.

What are your top three relaxation strategies for people with the most stressful jobs — ER doctors, firefighters, and therapists, for example — to help them reset?

The employer should provide active counseling services and let the employees know the support is readily available.

Take a break during the shift. Ideally, the employer provides enough time for the break.

Spend time outdoors.

Social interaction is a basic human need. With social isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic, it is not surprising that some people feel anxiety and depression.

While people are supposed to learn the situation of the pandemic, my suggestion is don’t read too much about the negative news as some pieces of the news are really scary.

Taking preventative measures and spending time outside, ideally with family members and friends.

What makes for a “Most Relaxed City” in your book? Less traffic or work stress? More parks? A wellness/fitness culture? Lots of dogs, cats, and other pets?

All the elements you mentioned in the question are relevant. From my perspective, the most important component is reasonable workload and people do not suffer from work stress.

Without much work stress, people can have adequate energy and time to enjoy beautiful sceneries, outdoor activities, pets, working out, etc.

As an expert on relaxation, how do you personally decompress, destress, and ease your mind?

First, set up a reasonable expectation for work and career. When I am doing difficult work, I like listening to classical music. After work, enjoy a good meal. During the weekend, if the weather allows (I live in Iowa), go outside with family members and friends

Methodology

We ranked over 190 of the most populated U.S. cities in descending order — from most to least relaxed — based on their overall scores, averaged across all the metrics listed below.

The city that earned the highest overall score — out of a possible 100 points — ranked No. 1, or “most relaxed.”

Metrics	Weighting	Min. Value	Max. Value
Frequent Mental Distress	3	0.1	0.18
Average Number of Poor Mental Health Days per Month	3	2.92	5.61
Depression Rate	3	12.5	31.9
Suicide Rate	3	5.36	29.47
Adequate-Sleep Rate	3	48.6	72.8
Mental Health Providers per 100,000 Residents	3	21.34	298.1
Spas and Wellness Centers per 100,000 Residents	3	0.32	54.16
Legality of Marijuana Use	3	0	2
Marijuana Dispensaries per 100,000 Residents	1	0	73.78
"Mental Health" Category Total	25
Life Expectancy	2	72.85	85.92
Leisure Physical Activity Rate	3	49.7	87.8
Drug Overdose Deaths per Capita	1	3.81	106.38
Share of Adults with High Blood Pressure	2	22	46.7
Stroke Among Adults	1	2	6.1
Share of Adult Binge Drinkers	1	11.7	24.9
Share of Adult Smokers	1	8.1	29.3
"Physical Health" Category Total	11
Median Household Income	3	30894	140631
Cost of Living	2	74	206
Housing Affordability	2	30.13	89.13
Health Insurance Coverage	2	68.9	98.1
Poverty Rate	1	3.6	35
Food Insecurity	1	0.06	0.18
"Financial Health" Category Total	11
Length of Average Workday	3	35.1	42.6
Average Commute Time	2	16.6	43.7
Transit Score	1	0.3	84.3
"Work Environment" Category Total	6
Natural Hazard Index Score	3	9	20
Number of Very Cold Days	2	0	192
Number of Very Hot Days	2	2	169
Average Amount of Sunshine	1	0	85
Air Quality	2	19	77
Share of Roads in Poor Condition	1	4%	71%
Traffic Fatalities per Capita	1	0.5	23.47
Walk Score	2	13	98
Bike Score	2	24	97
"Physical Environment" Category Total	16
Violent Crime Rate	2	64.24	1965.33
Property Crime Rate	2	850.41	7792.71
Sex Offenders per 100,000 Residents	2	7.03	2866.89
Hate Crimes per Capita	2	0.2	39.81
Gun Violence	2	0	18.5
Separation and Divorce Rate	2	6.61%	19.33%
"Social Environment" Category Total	12
Average Leisure Time Spent per Day	3	311	418
Number of Country Clubs	1	0	9
Number of Golf Courses per 100,000 Residents	1	1.1	67.8
Number of Trails	3	1	235
Yard Size	1	2744	23951
Lounges per 100,000 Residents	1	0	19.67
Cocktail Bars per 100,000 Residents	1	0	28.14
Dance Clubs per 100,000 Residents	1	0	14.86
Music Venues per 100,000 Residents	1	0	14.58
Public Gardens per 100,000 Residents	1	0	2.69
Share of Adults Who Dine Out	1	33	64.3
Share of Population Who Visited an Art Gallery Last Year	1	2.3	14.8
Share of Population Who Attended Live Theater Last Year	1	5.4	19.4
Share of Population Who Went to a Zoo Last Year	1	7	16.7
Share of Population Who Attended a Sporting Event Last Year	1	8.6	24.6
"Entertainment" Category Total	19
Overall Total	100

Sources: AllTrails, America’s Health Rankings, American Public Gardens Association, AreaVibes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, City-Data.com, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, DISA Global Solutions, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Feeding America, GolfLink, Gun Violence Archive, IPUMS Time Use, Livability, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, TRIP, TripAdvisor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Walk Score, and Yelp

Why This Study Matters

Living through a pandemic has redefined what it means to relax.

Before COVID, our ideas of relaxation might have included pampering ourselves with a spa treatment, traveling to a new place, or even just dining out without a mask.

Now we might find serenity in just being able to video-chat with friends and family, keep our jobs or businesses intact, or find our own little corner of privacy in our shared spaces.

Spring opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

While travel still is discouraged, outdoor spaces — our yards, gardens, parks, trails, and golf courses — offer alternative and healthy ways to get some R&R while being socially distanced from others. (If you need a hand turning your yard into a private oasis, LawnStarter can help.)

Spending time in nature is one of the best stress relievers. (Bonus points if you live in one of the country’s Best Cities for Hiking or Best Cities for Spring.)

Main Photo Credit: Water Alternatives Photos / Flickr / Public Domain