Not that we needed a study to tell us that Northern Virginia is a great place to live but it doesn't hurt to get confirmation of what we already know! According to analysis conducted by
SmartAsset, a personal wealth and risk management website, Northern Virginia is a very happy place to live. SmartAsset analyzed data on metrics ranging from marriage rates to bankruptcies to life expectancy to find the U.S. counties with the highest quality of life – the happiest places in America, and Loudon and Fairfax Counties ranked one and three respectively.
To quantify the quality of life in U.S. counties, data was collected on every U.S. county with a population of at least 50,000 – 978 counties in total. Family stability, physical health, personal financial health, and economic stability were then analyzed to determine the happiest counties in America.
Loudon County ranked number one with a poverty rate is just 3.6%, the lowest of any major U.S. county. Meanwhile, the life expectancy of 82.6 ranks sixth and the marriage rate of 62.3% ranks 11th out of all U.S. counties with a population over 50,000. Loudon County has grown rapidly in recent years. The population in Loudon County has exploded from less than 90,000 in 1990 to over 310,000 today. One reason for that growth? Loudon County offers residents the highest quality of life of any major county in the U.S. Loudon County is often seen at the top of various rankings.
Coming in at number three with a population of more than 1.1 million,
Fairfax County is the most populous county in Virginia. Fairfax County boasts a median household income over $100,000, but money isn't everything. The average life expectancy is 83.1 years, third highest of any major U.S. county. Part of the reason for that longevity is likely that nearly 63% of the population exercises regularly. The U.S. average is 54.5%.
Other key findings:
- The Midwest is possibly the happiest region in the U.S. with 9 Midwestern counties ranking in the top 25.
- 18 of the 25 lowest ranking counties are located in one of five southern states: Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.
For a complete list of the happiest places to live
click here.
Need help finding your dream home in Northern Virginia?
The real estate professionals at
Key Home Sales and Management can help! Our agents know the Northern Virginia market inside-out and we’re ready to take as much time as needed, and give you all the personal attention you deserve, to ensure you are able to make the very best decision when it comes to buying a home.
