metmagic
04-29-2004, 02:04 PM
Tacoma, Wash., is the most stressful big city in America, according to a website that ranks the best places to live.
BestPlaces.net looked at nine measures. The most heavily weighted were unemployment, crime, commute times and suicide. Less importance was given to divorce and mental health factors. The least important factors were cloudy days and alcohol consumption.
While Tacoma was the most-taxing large city, Galveston, Texas, topped the list for mid-size cities, and Yuba City, Calif., was most stressful among smaller metro areas.
Albany, N.Y., is the least stressful large metro area, while Provo, Utah, anchors the top spot among the mid-size cities. Among the smallest metro areas, Bismarck, N.D. is No. 1 for providing a low-stress environment.
New York City, which many people associate with a high level of stress, was listed as the fifth most-stressful place to live.
High unemployment is a problem in most of the Top 10 cities, BestPlaces president Bert Sperling said.
"It affects the entire community, whether you presonally have a job or not. Rising unemployment has been tied to increased crime, and declining tax revenues force reductions in social services that affect young and old alike," he said.
Among the low-stress cities, there appears a common theme of state capitals and institutions of higher learning.
"Government and universities provide a solid economic base to smaller cities, lessening the stress caused by economic cycles," Sperling said.
The site also said there's something special about Honolulu, which placed 92nd in the large-cities category. Residents appear to be less affected by the stresses of today's busy lifestyle. People there report the highest scores for restful and relaxing sleep. In this study, Honolulu also reported the lowest number of days that they felt anxious, tense, stressed or depressed.
The study discovered a strong correlation between the rates of suicide and divorce. In the great majority of the cities investigated, areas with a high percentage of divorced residents was matched with a high suicide rate.
The five least-stressful big metro areas were: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.; Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, Pa.; Orange County, Calif.; Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
* * *
STRESSFUL CITIES
Most stressful large urban areas:
1. Tacoma, Wash.
2. Miami
3. New Orleans
4. Las Vegas
5. New York
6. Portland, Ore.
7. Mobile, Ala.
8. Stockton-Lodi, Calif.
9. Detroit
10. Dallas
from kirotv.com
http://www.kirotv.com/health/2757522/detail.html
BestPlaces.net looked at nine measures. The most heavily weighted were unemployment, crime, commute times and suicide. Less importance was given to divorce and mental health factors. The least important factors were cloudy days and alcohol consumption.
While Tacoma was the most-taxing large city, Galveston, Texas, topped the list for mid-size cities, and Yuba City, Calif., was most stressful among smaller metro areas.
Albany, N.Y., is the least stressful large metro area, while Provo, Utah, anchors the top spot among the mid-size cities. Among the smallest metro areas, Bismarck, N.D. is No. 1 for providing a low-stress environment.
New York City, which many people associate with a high level of stress, was listed as the fifth most-stressful place to live.
High unemployment is a problem in most of the Top 10 cities, BestPlaces president Bert Sperling said.
"It affects the entire community, whether you presonally have a job or not. Rising unemployment has been tied to increased crime, and declining tax revenues force reductions in social services that affect young and old alike," he said.
Among the low-stress cities, there appears a common theme of state capitals and institutions of higher learning.
"Government and universities provide a solid economic base to smaller cities, lessening the stress caused by economic cycles," Sperling said.
The site also said there's something special about Honolulu, which placed 92nd in the large-cities category. Residents appear to be less affected by the stresses of today's busy lifestyle. People there report the highest scores for restful and relaxing sleep. In this study, Honolulu also reported the lowest number of days that they felt anxious, tense, stressed or depressed.
The study discovered a strong correlation between the rates of suicide and divorce. In the great majority of the cities investigated, areas with a high percentage of divorced residents was matched with a high suicide rate.
The five least-stressful big metro areas were: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.; Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, Pa.; Orange County, Calif.; Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
* * *
STRESSFUL CITIES
Most stressful large urban areas:
1. Tacoma, Wash.
2. Miami
3. New Orleans
4. Las Vegas
5. New York
6. Portland, Ore.
7. Mobile, Ala.
8. Stockton-Lodi, Calif.
9. Detroit
10. Dallas
from kirotv.com
http://www.kirotv.com/health/2757522/detail.html