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Happiest Cities In The Nation List Ranks This North Carolina Spot At Number 7

Author Debbie Nance

It’s absolutely true that where you live, work, and spend your free time can affect your state of mind and overall happiness.  A new study ranked the happiest cities in the nation.  And, the list ranks one North Carolina spot at number 7.

Which North Carolina City Ranks 7th In Happiest Cities In The Nation

CBS17 reported that personal finance website SmartAsset looked at factors across 90 of the country’s largest cities to find the happiest cities in the nation.  So, guess what?  North Carolina’s capital city of Raleigh landed at number 7.

Raleigh often lands on this list when it comes to measuring the quality of life.  And, the ranking of yo-yos depends on the study.

How The Study Arrived At The Happiest Cities In The Nation

And, a few of the points the study examined in determining the list included a number of residents in the $100,000 + earning range, marriage rates, and health and life expectancy.  But, Raleigh really scored nicely when it came to ‘mentally unhealthy’ days residents have per month.

According to SmartAsset, the average number of days considered ‘mentally unhealthy’ for Raleigh residents was just 3.9 per month.  The percentage of households earning $100,000 or more was just over 38%.  And, the life expectancy was 81.6.

Furthermore, the rate of health insurance coverage for one of the happiest cities in the nation hovers right at 90%.  And, the poverty rate for Raleigh is 11%.

Ok, so those are the nuts and bolts with nice pretty numbers and data.  But, happiness is a state of mind, right?  Theoretically, yes.  However, surroundings, earning potential and other factors do impact your state of mind.

Therefore, the way I see it, if you start with a good launch pad, i.e. a city with nice bones, you’re off to a good start.  Personally, I have never lived in Raleigh.  But, I know folks who have.  And, one absolutely cherishes her time there.  But, the other wishes to never return.

Plus, if you find yourself in a city with fond memories such as college experiences, that might solidify your happiness scale.  And, there’s plenty of that to go around with NC State and nearby UNC.

So, it’s an interesting read if you’d like to check out the full SmartAsset study.  By the way, Charlotte is on the list quite a bit further down!

 

Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.

North Carolina Town No. 2 Prettiest Coastal Town In The South

What beach isn’t pretty? There is something so beautiful about where the ocean meets the sand that keeps us flocking to the beach. But what are the prettiest Carolina beaches? That’s such a hard question as everyone has a favorite. But according to Southern Living Magazine 6 coastal Carolina towns are among the South’s prettiest.

But of course, if you’ve grown up here that should be nothing more than confirmation to you. Though I’ll go ahead and spoil it a little for you and let you know that none of the North Carolina towns are on the Outer Banks. I know you OBX people are passionate about your beaches. Sorry to admit I’ve never been!

Now is the perfect time to book that beach vacation. Whether you want to get a jump start on the summer plans or perhaps take your trip before it gets too crazy! The good news is that at least some of these 6 coastal towns are a little calmer than places like Myrtle Beach.

RELATED: Southern Living Named This Beloved Beach The Best Waterfront Town In North Carolina

The list was curated by Southern Living who let’s be honest are the experts when it comes to destinations in the South. These towns are described by the publication as having “charming downtowns, excellent waterfront dining, gracious places to stay, and scenic vistas”. All things I certainly look for in a relaxing beach vacation.

They named what they consider the 15 most beautiful coastal towns in the South. So out of 16 having 6 of the prettiest beaches in the Carolinas is something to be proud of. Keep reading to see if your favorite city or beach town made the list. You can read the full Southern Living article here.

The 6 Prettiest Carolina Beaches And Coastal Towns

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