Who are the happiest Americans? Ask this question anywhere from Montauk to Maui and you’re bound to pique interest (you may even pick a fight). While fans of the film Moana might sing the lyrics “Happiness is where you are,” for scientists studying the roots and fruits of happiness, location-specific qualities of place, community, and opportunity powerfully inform the way we feel about our lives.

National Geographic bestselling author Dan Buettner and Gallup’s social scientists teamed up to develop an index that assesses measurable expressions of happiness and identifies where Americans are living their best lives. Designed by Gallup senior scientist Dan Witters, the study established 15 metrics—from eating healthy and learning something new every day to civic engagement, financial security, vacation time, and even dental checkups—that signal happiness. The National Geographic Gallup Special/Blue Zones Index draws on nearly 250,000 interviews conducted with adults from 2014 to 2015 in 190 metropolitan areas across the U.S as part of the Gallup-Sharecare Well Being Index.

The winner: Boulder, Colorado. Bolstered by a sense of community, access to nature, sustainable urban development and preservation policies, and perhaps even that clean mountain air, Boulderites overwhelmingly feel “active and productive every day,” according to Buettner’s research. Per capita, more people walk to work in Boulder than in any other city in the U.S. Low rates of smoking and obesity, and high rates of exercise, contribute to the satisfaction locals feel. Life is not always rosy in the Rockies—stress is on the rise; on average, 49 percent of locals surveyed reported feeling stress—but the qualities that keep Boulder on top make this city America’s happiest.

9 Easy Ways to Find Happiness Every Day How does one find happiness? Following these nine steps can go a long way in increasing your happiness over time.

National Geographic’s list of the 25 Happiest Places in the United States includes cities from Ann Arbor to Austin, San Diego to Charlottesville. At the bottom of the index (not included in our list) are America’s least-happy places, according to the study: Charleston, West Virginia; Fort Smith, Arkansas; and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina. Research indicates that the variabilities of place play an important role in whether locals feel happy. In happier places, according to Buettner, locals smile and laugh more often, socialize several hours a day, have access to green spaces, and feel that they are making purposeful progress toward achieving life goals. For our index, it tracked factors that are statistically associated with doing well and feeling well; these include feeling secure, taking vacations, and having enough money to cover basic needs.

Buettner reports on the qualities that make Boulder a happy place in November’s National Geographic cover story. His article focuses on three strands of happiness—pleasure, pride, and purpose—that lead to a resilient sense of well-being in cities around the world, from Europe, to Asia, to Central America. His new book, The Blue Zones of Happiness advances his premise that improved environments lead to increased happiness.

A “happiness planner” by trade, Buettner is also a passionate traveler. His work unites his zeal for exploring new places and asking questions with his skill in statistical research and adroitness at weaving compelling stories. The same qualities of place that inform our list of the 25 Happiest Places in the United States also influence travelers’ experiences. Happy places for locals tend to be hospitable places for visitors.

2. Santa Cruz- Watsonville 4. Fort Collins 3. Charlottesville 1. Boulder 5. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande The United States’ 25 Happiest Places Author Dan Buettner and Dan Witters of Gallup put together a list of 16 questions relating to physical, social, community, financial, and purpose well-being, drawing on nearly 250,000 interviews conducted with adults from 2014 to 2015 as a part of the comprehensive Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. After averaging the responses to those questions in 190 metro areas across the United States, they produced the National Geographic Happiest Places list. The United States’ 25 Happiest Places 24. Portland-South Portland Author Dan Buettner and Dan Witters of Gallup put together a list of 16 questions relating to physical, social, community, financial, and purpose well-being, drawing on nearly 250,000 interviews conducted with adults from 2014 to 2015 as a part of the comprehensive Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. After averaging the responses to those questions in 190 metro areas across the United States, they produced the National Geographic Happiest Places list. 22. Minneapolis-St. Paul- Bloomington 19. Manchester- Nashua 16. Ann Arbor 8. Bridgeport- Stamford- Norwalk 9. Barnstable Town 17. San Francisco- 7. Provo- 4. Fort Collins Oakland-Hayward Orem 21. Washington- 2. Santa Cruz- 6. San Jose-Sunnyvale- 1. Boulder Arlington-Alexandria Watsonville Santa Clara 3. Charlottesville 18. Colorado 13. Salinas Springs 5. San Luis Obispo-Paso 12. Santa Maria- Santa Barbara Robles-Arroyo Grande 20. Oxnard- Thousand Oaks- Ventura 23. San Diego- Carlsbad 25. Austin- Round Rock 14. North Port- Sarasota- Bradenton 10. Anchorage 15. Urban Honolulu 11. Naples-Immokalee- Marco Island Jon Bowen, NG Staff

“There’s a high correlation between bikeability and happiness in a city. In Boulder you’re more likely to hear the whoosh of a cyclist than the shrill of a siren compared to places like Dallas, Tallahassee, or Los Angeles. Cities like Boulder question the unquestioned virtues of development,” says Buettner. “This benefits visitors, who can experience an emphasis on greenery, a high-quality culinary community, limited marketing onslaught and no billboards.”

Among the surprises Buettner turned up while drilling down into his place-based research: “There’s a strong correlation between quality of water and happiness. And places where people frequent their dentists report being more satisfied with their lives,” he says.

The greater message, for locals and travelers alike, is that happiness doesn’t just happen. “There’s a genesis to it. Enlightened leaders make conscious decisions to favor quality of life over economic development or political expediency,” Buettner notes.

For visitors eager to take their own measure of America’s happiest places, Buettner’s advice is simple: linger longer, stay in a B&B, and walk a lot (though perhaps not to the dentist’s office). “My findings indicate that if you want to get happy, don’t try to change your belief system. Change your environment,” Buettner says. A call to action for travelers everywhere.

