Sorry Oprah, You Lose
According to Forbes.com Chicago has been rated the ‘Most Stressful City In America’. Sort of a surprise to me, but after reading a little about it I can see it. I’ve heard so many great things about how ‘Chicago is the perfect city’ when it comes to development, and urban living and all that. Turns out, not so much. What’s really interesting to me, and much less of a surprise is that six of the top sixteen most stressful cities are in California. That’s a big number. Interesting to see Vegas so far down on the list, simply because I’m always a stress case anytime I am there. But then again Wal Mart stresses me out a little too, so I guess that makes sense.
From what I can tell the information was based on five things in bold below. Seems like a pretty good list of things to base this on.
METHODOLOGY
To find the most stressful cities we examined quality of life factors in the country’s 40 largest metropolitan statistical areas, or metros — geographic entities defined by the (OMB) for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics. We looked at June 2009 unemployment figures provided by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics and cost of living figures from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). We examined median home price drops from Q1 2008 to Q1 2009 that were provided by the National Association of Realtors. Population density based on 2008 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and ESRI also factored. Last, we examined the number of sunny and partly sunny days per year, based on 2007 data from the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, as well as air quality figures, based on 2007 data from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
So what do we think? Pretty accurate list? Where’s your city rank? Glad to see Nashville way down at the bottom there.
Looks pretty accurate to me! Recently moved from Philly to Houston and our stress level plummeted, mostly because of the weather and cost of living difference. Unemployment is vastly different too. I’ve traveled a lot and I agree with those that top the list for sure…NYC and LA are super stressful. I’m not a huge fan of Chicago either, especially because of the weather…brrr! I do love cities though, probably because I’m a naturally chill person and I can deal with the elevated energy levels there.
Also, Vegas stresses me out a bit too…I really don’t like it there. Hate the dry air, cig smoke, and people pissing their money away.
#2…..that why we want to leave! Nashville was so much calmer and yet you guys still got the same amount of work done…interesting!
Where I work: #15.
Luckily, where I live is not even on the list!
My thoughts are, I REALLY enjoy visiting all of those places each for their individual differences (usually the food) but when it comes to making a home I’ll be on an island in fairytale land.
I think if you are stressed out all the time from all those contributing factors evenutally there will be a price to pay for the increase in income (my guess as to WHY anyone would live in those places) why deal with the stress on a DAILY basis. A Big House, Nice Car, Clothes, (THINGS) Etc. Etc. Are not WHAT are important to me, relationships with my family and friends ARE VERY important so I choose to live in a small town by the beach and travel pretty often.
Not to say that there isn’t ANY stress here but it is a different KIND (seasonal I guess) and not a constant Everyday thing, we do hussle but it is a choice.
Nowadays with the internet and airplanes a person could live just about anywhere and get things done via all the ways and means that are available to them. So besides income and fast pace WHY would anyone choose to live in a stressed out Cold place?
Thank You for doing the research and askin’!!
I can’t believe Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater beat out Miami-FT. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach. I was in the Miami area for a month last year. Tampa is DEFINITELY less stressful…the fact that they were both higher on the list than Atlanta (lived there for 18 months) leaves my jaw kind of hanging…
Interesting post, as usual, Brody!
Have a great week!
I’m bi-coastal (live in CA and FL) and my main stomping ground escaped the list on both sides.
I’m surprised to see Carlsbad, CA on there, I always thought it such a relaxed town.
I’m not, however, surprised to see Los Angeles, CA or Tampa-St. Pete, FL.
Why would I want to move! This is one list Wendover is not likely to eve make–it is also not likely to ever make the tope 10000 population centers either =) Not surprised at all that Salt Lake missed that list. Somehow the “stress” in Salt Lake gets masked by the abundance because it is a stress of a different kind, a stress the world doesn’t want to recognize because then they would have to admit the truth.
Yep, that sounds about right. I live about 30 min. southeast of Chicago in Indiana (right over the state line.) People always talk about how much fun it is to go into the “city” but I can’t stand it! I try to avoid going anywhere near Chicago if at all possible. As for the weather. It’s pretty crappy here most of the time. I would LOVE to move, but my husband has 20 years in at the steel mill, and another 15 to go.
Sweet. I grew up in number 3 and live in number 4.
Moving on up!
#14 but it ranks #1 in America’s unhappiest cities, I don’t believe it though…We’re pretty happy in Oregon=]
My city didn’t make the list!
I did grow up in the LA/Long Beach/Santa Ana area and yes, it was pretty stressful. Especially when I heard the police helicopters around my neighborhood!
I’m in at #3 in NYC. Other than the smoke, loud noises, dog poop, germs, and people shoving, cursing, and stepping on you, it’s quite a nice town.
12th….I believe it.