The 10 happiest towns in the West
Salt Lake City made Sunset Magazine's CAPTION Sunset Magazine "Can where you live make you happy? And if so, who's to say what happiness is?"
We won't go down that existential path. And neither does Sunset Magazine in its February issue (out now). Instead, the article hedges its bets, declaring "…the happiest place is where we can find the things that matter most to us."
And that could mean anything from starting a business to living off the grid.
Coincidentally, Oprah on Wednesday featured a segment annointing San Luis Obispo, Calif., America's Happiest City. (It didn't make Sunset's list.) A giddy chamber of commerce, perhaps anticipating a tourism windfall from the so-called "Oprah effect," hosted a viewing party. The coastal college town was the only U.S. location to get a nod in the book Thrive, published last year, which pinpointed the world's happiest spots.
Here's the magazine's top 10 list with the outstanding quality that make these places so appealing to certain types.
Salt Spring Island, B.C. (population 10,000; median house price: $569,300) for wannabe farmers/gardeners. The 74-square-mile island's temperate climate makes year-round gardening possible.
Salt Lake City (population: 182,000; median house price $213,000) for aspiring entrepreneurs. Low corporate tax rates and an educated workforce, among other factors, make this an attractive spot to start a business.
Taos, N.M. (population 5,500; median house price $268,250) for those seeking a vacation home. Year-round recreation and limited housing makes this a good bet for second-home owners looking to rent out their dwelling.
Portland, Ore. (population 582,000; median house price $233,500) for people who prefer to go car-less. The city has a vibrant cycling culture with 300 miles of dedicated bike paths and lanes. And for longer jaunts, there's excellent public transportation.
Bellingham, Wash. (population 77,500; median house price $305,000) for outdoor recreationists. With 143 miles of Puget Sound shoreline in one direction and the Cascade Mountains in the other, there's outside action year round.
Eureka, Calif. (population 25,000; median house price $207,000) for aspiring artists. Art is taken seriously in a town that's home to more than 1,000 artists.
San Diego (population 1.37 million; median house price $330,000) for innovators. From pioneering computer technology to decoding the human genome, all kinds of cutting-edge endeavors are happening here.
Sonoma County, Calif. (population 472,000; median house price $484,000) for gourmands. With more than 300 wineries and a plethora of great restaurants, the area is a foodie's paradise.
Scottsdale, Ariz. (population 235,000; median house price $270,000) for parents of young kids. Low crime, good schools and lots of park land make it a good choice for raising a family.
Crestone, Colo. (population 146; median house price $250,000) for people who want to live off the grid. With 330 sunny days a year, this former mining town is a hotbed of solar power.
By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY
Salt Lake City made Sunset Magazine's CAPTION Sunset Magazine "Can where you live make you happy? And if so, who's to say what happiness is?"
We won't go down that existential path. And neither does Sunset Magazine in its February issue (out now). Instead, the article hedges its bets, declaring "…the happiest place is where we can find the things that matter most to us."
And that could mean anything from starting a business to living off the grid.
Coincidentally, Oprah on Wednesday featured a segment annointing San Luis Obispo, Calif., America's Happiest City. (It didn't make Sunset's list.) A giddy chamber of commerce, perhaps anticipating a tourism windfall from the so-called "Oprah effect," hosted a viewing party. The coastal college town was the only U.S. location to get a nod in the book Thrive, published last year, which pinpointed the world's happiest spots.
Here's the magazine's top 10 list with the outstanding quality that make these places so appealing to certain types.
Salt Spring Island, B.C. (population 10,000; median house price: $569,300) for wannabe farmers/gardeners. The 74-square-mile island's temperate climate makes year-round gardening possible.
Salt Lake City (population: 182,000; median house price $213,000) for aspiring entrepreneurs. Low corporate tax rates and an educated workforce, among other factors, make this an attractive spot to start a business.
Taos, N.M. (population 5,500; median house price $268,250) for those seeking a vacation home. Year-round recreation and limited housing makes this a good bet for second-home owners looking to rent out their dwelling.
Portland, Ore. (population 582,000; median house price $233,500) for people who prefer to go car-less. The city has a vibrant cycling culture with 300 miles of dedicated bike paths and lanes. And for longer jaunts, there's excellent public transportation.
Bellingham, Wash. (population 77,500; median house price $305,000) for outdoor recreationists. With 143 miles of Puget Sound shoreline in one direction and the Cascade Mountains in the other, there's outside action year round.
Eureka, Calif. (population 25,000; median house price $207,000) for aspiring artists. Art is taken seriously in a town that's home to more than 1,000 artists.
San Diego (population 1.37 million; median house price $330,000) for innovators. From pioneering computer technology to decoding the human genome, all kinds of cutting-edge endeavors are happening here.
Sonoma County, Calif. (population 472,000; median house price $484,000) for gourmands. With more than 300 wineries and a plethora of great restaurants, the area is a foodie's paradise.
Scottsdale, Ariz. (population 235,000; median house price $270,000) for parents of young kids. Low crime, good schools and lots of park land make it a good choice for raising a family.
Crestone, Colo. (population 146; median house price $250,000) for people who want to live off the grid. With 330 sunny days a year, this former mining town is a hotbed of solar power.
By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY
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