West Michigan Real Estate

C’mon get happy! Gallup ranks Holland second happiest in nation

By PETER DAINING

Posted Feb 17, 2010 @ 02:45 PM

Last update Feb 17, 2010 @ 03:18 PM

Holland, MI —

Holland has the happiest population this side of the Mississippi, and the second happiest in the entire nation.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index released Monday ranks Holland second in health and well-being in the nation — beating out cities in Hawaii, California and Utah.

“It’s just such a wonderful honor for the community,” Holland tourism bureau director Sally Laukitis said. “It’s like Christmas in February — it couldn’t have come at a better time.”

The only city with a higher ranking than Holland is Boulder, Colo. Honolulu rounded out the top three. The only other Eastern city to crack the top 10 was Washington, D.C.

How Holland measures up

Well-being – Overall rank        2
Life Evaluation   9
    (Evaluation of current life quality and anticipated quality in five years)
Emotional Health    3
    (Composite of daily emotions)
Physical Health    1
    (Overall health, sick days, pain, energy, disease)
Healthy Behavior    63
    (Healthy lifestyles, diet, exercise)
Work Environment    39
    (Job satisfaction, relationships, environment)
Basic Access        1
     (Access to food, shelter, healthcare and satisfying place to live)

“It really does speak well to the people and the environment in Holland that we are competing on a national scale with some of the most beautiful places in the country,” Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra said.

Each city was scored on emotional health, physical health, healthy behavior, work environment, access to necessities and life evaluation.

The national average for the study was 65.9 points, 5.1 points below Holland’s mark of 71.

According to the study, the Holland area encompasses all of Ottawa County.

The results are based on more than 350,000 telephone surveys made during 2009. In 2008, Holland was third on the list.

“Next year we’re just going to have to knock Boulder right out of there so we’re No. 1,” Laukitis said.

Top 10 Cities
1. Boulder, Colo.
2. Holland
3. Honolulu, Hawaii
4. Provo, Utah
5. Santa Rosa, Calif.
6. Santa Barbara, Calif.
7. San Jose, Calif.
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Ogden, Utah
10. Oxnard, Calif.
From Gallup-Healthyways Well-being Index

CALL: (616) 836-1199

Jim Ryan

West Michigan Real Estate