A new national report ranking the happiest cities in America places one Maryland city among the top 15 in the country.
With the International Day of Happiness approaching on March 20, personal finance website WalletHub released its 2026 report on the Happiest Cities in America. The rankings analyzed more than 180 of the nation’s largest cities to determine where residents enjoy the best overall quality of life.
Columbia, Maryland ranked 13th overall, making it the only Maryland city to land in the top 15. Washington DC ranked 33rd overall in the study. Baltimore ranked near the bottom of the list, coming in 172nd out of the 182 cities evaluated.
WalletHub evaluated 182 cities using 29 indicators tied to happiness and well-being. The data set included metrics such as depression rates, income growth, physical health, and the average amount of leisure time residents enjoy each day. The analysis also incorporates insights from positive psychology research to measure factors tied to long-term well-being.
Fremont, California topped the list as the happiest city in America, followed by Bismarck, North Dakota and Scottsdale, Arizona. According to WalletHub, the rankings aim to highlight cities where residents benefit from a strong combination of economic stability, healthy lifestyles, and opportunities to enjoy life outside of work.
Top 20 Happiest Cities in America (2026):
- Fremont, CA
- Bismarck, ND
- Scottsdale, AZ
- South Burlington, VT
- Fargo, ND
- Overland Park, KS
- Charleston, SC
- Irvine, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Burlington, VT
- Madison, WI
- Columbia, MD
- Chandler, AZ
- Seattle, WA
- Plano, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Lincoln, NE
- Portland, ME
- Tempe, AZ
To view the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-places-to-live/32619
