Here Are 13 Of The Happiest Cities In Virginia

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that on a national scale, Virginia ranks pretty high when it comes to overall happiness. In fact, WalletHub, an online financial resource, ranked Virginia as the 19^th happiest state in the nation in 2015.

And why shouldn’t we be happy in Virginia? We have a strong economy, beautiful seasons, breathtaking beaches, exquisite mountains, excellent schools and some of the oldest and most significant historical sites in the nation.

But, when it comes to gauging individual happiness, the measures can be fairly arbitrary. What makes a person, much less an entire city, happy?

To answer that question, we started looking for the happiest places in Virginia to see what, exactly, they had to offer. Here’s what we found…

In 2014, the Harvard Gazette released a study on the happiest and unhappiest metropolitan areas and cities in the nation.

The study relied heavily on a report created by the US National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) with data obtained from the General Social Survey (GSS), the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – all of whom conduct surveys that ask respondents to report on their overall satisfaction with life.

Much to our delight, the Richmond-Petersburg metropolitan area came in as the number one happiest metropolitan area in the nation. 

Bill Dickinson / flickr 

According to the findings, Richmond-Petersburg metro area residents reported the highest levels of contentment of any metropolitan area over one million people. For further proof of Richmonders’ apparent happiness, the capital city also made number 15 on Forbes’ list of Happiest Cities for Young Professionals.

But, wait. It just gets better…

Norfolk-Virginia Beach took silver, coming in as the second happiest metropolitan area, not just in Virginia, but in the nation,

Jason Pratt [CC BY 2.0] / Wikimedia Commons

Like Richmond, residents of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area are, overall, quite content with their location, amenities and quality of life. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that in 2014, the Top 40 hit “Happy,” by Virginia Beach native, Pharrell Williams, become only the fourth single in 20 years to be declared triple platinum.

And the happiest city in the nation? By which we mean the happiest city out of ALL cities in the ENTIRE United States?

Charlottesville, Virginia, took top honors, quickly earning it the nickname “Joytown, U.S.A.” on media outlets around the world.

abi.bhattachan / flickr 

With a population topping 44,000, Charlottesville offers history, architecture, culture and education in abundance. Already named a top college town, one of the best places to live and one of the most beautiful cities in the nation, it’s no surprise that Charlottesville-ians report high levels of satisfaction with their lives.

But what about the rest of the state? To learn a little bit more about how Virginia cities rank on a state level, we turned to Home Snacks, an online resource for city data.

Home Snacks relies on information gathered from local communities to gauge factors like safety, desirability, culture and, of course, happiness.

Using FBI crime data, government census data, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sperling’s Best Places and Twitter (following geo-locations on #happy), Home Snacks looked at the following factors:

• Percentage of residents with a college degree
• Average commute times
• Employment rates
• Cost of living
• Crime
• Sunny days
• % of married couples
• % of home owners

The following 10 cities came in at the top once the numbers were crunched.

Central Intelligence Agency/Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA Website) [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons

As one of the wealthiest areas in the nation, McLean makes you think that, maybe, money CAN buy happiness. In 2014, CNBC’s Inside Wealth listed the Swinks-Mill neighborhood in McLean, near Tyson's Corner, as the seventh wealthiest neighborhood in the nation with a median income of $562,596. 

However, McLean also claims the fifth highest education levels nationally, boasts some of the top schools in the state and is home to diplomats, Congress members and government officials, as well as agencies like the CIA headquarters at Langley and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. With an abundance of jobs, amenities and wealth, the residents of McLean certainly have plenty to be happy about.

Sharon Flowers / flickr 

This small, independent city on the Virginia Peninsula serves as part of the larger Hampton Roads area and despite only having 12,000 residents, has a great to deal to offer. According to County Health Rankings, Poquoson offers high levels of health care, as well as the third highest ranking for social and economic factors in the state. Likewise, Poquoson earns top marks for safety, as well as being named the "Best Affordable Suburb" in Virginia by Business Week and one of the "10 Perfect Suburbs in America" by CNBC.

Town of Christiansburg / Facebook

With around 21,000 residents, Christiansburg offers small town charm with no shortage of amenities when it comes to shopping, entertainment and parks. Surrounded by Southwest Virginia's mountains and full of rich history, the town provides both outdoor activities and indoor culture to spare. Thanks to low housing costs and an overall enviable cost of living, Christiansburg keeps everyone happy by providing an affordable option for professionals, families and retirees alike.

Town of Vienna / Facebook 

As one of the safest towns in Virginia, Vienna proves that it knows how to keep its residents happy. Known for its top schools, Vienna is a vibrant community of just under 16,000, full of music, culture, commerce and easy access to hiking, biking and all things outdoors. In fact, in 2013, CNN Money named Vienna number three on their list of "Best Places to Live in the U.S." 

City of Salem - City Hall / Facebook

Ranked as one of the most inexpensive places to live in Virginia, Salem is located just outside of Roanoke. With its own small town charm, plus all the amenities of Roanoke close by, Salem offers affordable housing, low crime and good education, making it one of the best places in Virginia to get the most bang for your buck. In fact, Salem earns an A+ from Area Vibes for overall cost of living, which, no doubt, make Salem residents very happy, indeed. 

Town of Smithfield / Facebook

Home Snacks isn’t the first publication to recognize Smithfield’s happiness. In 2015, Coastal Living Magazine named Smithfield one of "America’s Happiest Seaside Towns," just before naming it one of their "Atlantic Coast Dream Towns." And it’s no wonder. This lovely little town, known for its world-famous ham, is all about community spirit. With concerts in the park, community BBQs, and countless other town events, Smithfield makes the most of its stunning historical downtown and clearly lends a sense of joy and well-being to its residents.

Maggie Deegan / flickr 

Located 45 miles from Washington, D.C., Leesburg boasts a long history dating back before the Revolutionary War. And thanks to Loudoun County’s ranking as the number two wealthiest county in the state, as well as the second healthiest county, the residents of Leesburg enjoy a high quality of life. With all the amenities of a larger city, but plenty of "small town pockets" that lend to its sense of community, Leesburg is the best of both worlds. With great schools, plenty of parks and ample entertainment options, Leesburg residents have more than their fair share to be happy about.

Jeff Self / flickr

In addition to being named one of the nation's happiest metropolitan areas, Virginia Beach is recognized for its abundant activities. From the beachfront and beyond, Virginia Beach attracts attention – and creates happiness –for a number of reasons.

While the cost of living is slightly higher than average (median home cost is $228,900), the city boasts shopping, cultural actives, historical sites and plenty of outdoor fun in the sun. 

Named the number one tourist destination in Virginia by TripAdvisor, Virginia Beach is also one of the most educated large cities in the state and Forbes has included Virginia Beach in their "Top 50" list of best places for business and careers. As a final accolade, Virginia Beach was recognized by USA Today as the eighth best place in the nation for the college-aged millennial crowd.

Visit Chesapeake, VA / Facebook

Chesapeake shouldn’t be too much of a surprise on this list considering its previous recognitions. Using stress factors like income, affordability, health benefits, local economy and work-life balance, Nerdwallet, an online financial resource, determines the cities with the highest quality of life. Chesapeake earned Virginia’s top spot and made the "Top 20 Best Cities for Quality of Life" nationwide. With its perfect blend of urban amenities and acres of protected coastline, forests and wetlands, Chesapeake provides an ideal balance for work and play.

Town of Herndon / Facebook

Another Northern Virginia haven, Herndon is a bustling area with a reputation for high-tech business, but with a close-knit community centered on its historic downtown. Praised for its safety, great schools and convenient location near Dulles International Airport and Washington, D.C., this town seems to have it all and, it would appear, Herndon residents agree. 

Like we said in the beginning, happiness is an arbitrary measure. And sure, while the metro areas, cities and towns listed above met certain criteria, they, by no means, promise happiness for everyone. And, of course, we are more than certain that Virginia is filled with cities, town and even villages that are well-deserving of a place on this list.

With that being said, we would like to hear from you on the topic. Of the two studies, one at a national level based on self-reported happiness and the other, a statewide report based on statistical data, which do you feel provides the most accurate measure of happiness? Do you live in an area that you feel should be added to the list? If so, we value your opinion. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!