Missoula, Mont., is the 13th-least stressed city in America, according to a new WalletHub study that compared more than 180 cities across 39 key metrics, ranging from average weekly work hours to unemployment, divorce and suicide rates.
Recent years have proven particularly stressful for Americans across the country, with the greatest stressors being work concerns, personal finances, inflation, health issues, and the nation's political climate. Stress isn't just harmful to individuals, either. Financial stress alone costs U.S. employers roughly $1.1 trillion in lost productivity each year.
“Where you live can play a big role in how stressed you are,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents. When moving, it's important to consider how a certain city may impact your mental health – not just your financial opportunities.”
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In-Depth Look at Missoula
Missoula handles top stressors better than many other cities, but physical and mental health are where residents feel the most strain. For example, the city has the second-highest rate of binge drinking in the country, as well as the 20th-highest share of adults diagnosed with depression.
Missoula does very well in other categories, though. It has the third-lowest share of adults getting inadequate sleep and the fourth-shortest average commute in the country.
How Missoula Ranks in Key Categories
- 1171st for Work Stress
- 139th for Financial Stress
- 174th for Family Stress
- 102nd for Health & Safety Stress
Overall, Missoula ranks as the 13th-least stressed city out of the 182 included in WalletHub's study.
Most & Least Stressed Cities in America
Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Work Stress Rank | Financial Stress Rank | Family Stress Rank | Health & Safety Stress Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Detroit, MI | 62.783 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
2 | Baltimore, MD | 59.732 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 31 |
3 | Cleveland, OH | 59.353 | 111 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
4 | Memphis, TN | 59.236 | 63 | 7 | 5 | 1 |
5 | Shreveport, LA | 57.745 | 99 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
6 | Gulfport, MS | 56.899 | 156 | 17 | 1 | 7 |
7 | Philadelphia, PA | 56.609 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 26 |
8 | Jackson, MS | 56.028 | 39 | 6 | 37 | 10 |
9 | Akron, OH | 55.143 | 35 | 18 | 9 | 22 |
10 | St. Louis, MO | 54.598 | 24 | 8 | 67 | 13 |
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.
