October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and in celebration Lawnstarter has compiled its 2022 list of best cities for mental wellness . The study looked at more than 33 metrics based on a holistic wellness model, including mental, physical, social, financial and environmental factors.
These factors were grouped into five categories: mental wellness and access, physical wellness, mindfulness and social wellness, financial wellness and environment. Everything from access to therapists to cost of living, average sleep levels, meditation classes and urban gardening availability were considered.
So what is the top city for mental wellness? This year’s dark horse winner goes to Naperville, Illinois. The western Chicago suburb snagged the number one spot on account of its first-place financial wellness ranking, a third-place environmental wellness score and a top 10 mental wellness and access score. Researchers noted that a small share of adults with poor mental health and low divorce rates brought this city to the top.
The next best city is often the expected poster-child city for wellness—Pasadena. Sitting just north of Los Angeles, Pasadena has the best access to mental wellness and access score, with more than 556 therapists per 100,000 residents. The City of Roses also ranks number 1 in the mindfulness and social wellness category, with the most meditation classes across the US.
Overall, findings from the study point to the west coast as a beacon of wellness, with more than half of the top 10 cities located in this region. In general, meditation, running, hiking, and physical activity are popular in the west. Researchers note that movement and mindfulness can help balance hormones, reduce anxiety and improve cognitive function, leading to better overall mental well-being.
Another big key to mental and physical wellness? Working hours and sleep . Fort Collins (no. 9) is also the most well-rested city, followed by Bellevue, Washington (no. 6) and Minneapolis (no. 19).
Without further ado, here are the top 10 best cities to raise a family, based on their overall scores.
Top 10 Cities for Mental Wellness
- Naperville, IL
- Pasadena, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Bellevue, WA
- Alexandria, VA
- Irvine, CA
- Fort Collins, CO
- Santa Rosa, CA
For a detailed breakdown of how the cities were scored and to see all 192 cities and their rank, check out the full report .
