Austin Ranks High for Low Stress
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy...
-Bobby McFerrin
Austin ranks fifth in a study by Portfolio.com on low-stress cities in the nation. Stress factors used in their study included quality of life, unemployment rates, pollution, weather, and crime rates. Austin's stress rating is -5.183 on their scale.
Of the 50 cities examined, Detroit came in as most stressed due to its 14+ percent unemployment rate, high crime (murders and robberies) and poverty rates, and low sunshine levels. Also making the high-stressed list were L.A. (#2) and New York (#6).
Salt Lake City took the low stress top spot for their low crime levels, easy commutes, high employment and good health. Coming ahead of Austin were Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; and Raleigh, N.C.
Portfolio.com's stress methodology can be found here.
