Rochester, Kodak Headquarters
This Aug. 28, 2013 photo shows Kodak Headquarters in Rochester, N.Y.
(Heather Ainsworth | The Associated Press)
"Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof..."
No one's singing and clapping along to Pharrell Williams' "Happy" more than two cities in upstate New York, according to a new study.
CreditDonkey has named Rochester and Buffalo the two happiest cities in America.
Rochester topped the top 10 list, citing average wages of $27,310, job opportunities, short commutes and "hots," a popular version of hot dogs. Buffalo ranked No. 2 with a low "frustration index" -- how many computer and office equipment repair workers there are per 10,000 residents -- and high praise for chicken wings.
The study's findings are based on five measures of happiness: 1) unemployment rate; 2) length of commute; 3) decent wages; 4) quality of office equipment; and 5) satisfaction with bosses and managers. In other words, they argue that if it's easy enough to find a job, get to it in a short amount of time, earn a reasonable salary, and get along with the people and equipment at work, then you'll be happy -- especially if it means you can afford some tasty food, apparently.
Syracuse, which was the No. 8 happiest city to work in by a different study in 2012, didn't make the new list. CreditDonkey limited their results to metropolitan areas with at least one million residents.
The unhappiest cities weren't named, but Niagara Falls might be a candidate. The American side of the waterfalls has been named one of the 10 most disappointing travel destinations in the world by USA Today.
What do you think? How do you measure happiness in your life and city?
CreditDonkey's top 10 happiest cities in America
1. Rochester, New York
2. Buffalo, New York
3. Hartford, Connecticut
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
5. Salt Lake City, Utah
6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
7. Kansas City, Missouri
8. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
9. San Jose, California
10. Boston, Massachusetts