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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018
| Contributor Information
Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
This year's Best & Worst Places to Practice report focuses on two categories ranked by state: factors that affect physicians' work life and those that have an impact on life outside of the job. Criteria for the former include physician compensation, burnout, malpractice and adverse events targeting doctors, healthcare quality, access to health, and rate of uninsured patients. To assess physicians' lives outside of work, we compared average population lifespan, cost of living, higher-education levels, median earnings, unemployment, tax burden, public health rates, and personal well-being. (For details on the sources we used, see "Criteria and Sources" below.)
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
1. North Dakota
Work Life: Although its winters are long, dark, and cold, North Dakota came out as a top state in which to practice on the basis of other factors. Physicians there are highly paid, and their burnout and malpractice rates rank among the lowest. The state is in seventh place for healthcare quality, and its uninsured rate is only 8%.
Home Life: An analysis of personal well-being puts North Dakotans in the top five in the nation. Although the state is 31st in public health (eg, obesity, smoking, and mental health), it is eighth in longevity with a life expectancy of 79.5 years. It's one of the top 20 states for advanced-degree education, median earnings, and low tax rates, and its unemployment rate is only 2.6%.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
2. Hawaii
Work Life: Despite its comparatively low physician compensation, Hawaii ranked high for other key criteria. The state had the lowest rates of uninsured patients and malpractice reports, along with the highest ratings for healthcare quality.
Home Life: Hawaiians have the highest rating for well-being. They have the lowest obesity and suicide rates and are in second place for quality public health. At 81.3 years, Hawaii can also claim the longest average lifespan of all other state populations. However, one downside is the cost of living—it's the highest in the country. But unemployment rates are among the lowest (2.1%) and median earnings are within the top 20.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
3. Nebraska
Work Life: With the second lowest burnout rate and ranking high in compensation, Nebraska is third in line as the best place for physicians to practice. Its malpractice rates are among the 10 lowest of all states. Nebraska is 12th in healthcare quality but ranks below the middle in access to health. Seven percent of its population is uninsured.
Home Life: Nebraska tends to have low unemployment (ranking fifth at 2.9%) and is within the top 17 states for well-being, longevity, cost of living, and for being highly educated. On the downside, the state has a high tax burden and is in 17th place for public health (includes obesity, suicide rates, and mental health).
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
4. Vermont
Work Life: Vermont's physician burnout rate is high, but other indicators suggest a positive work life. When asked whether they were happy at work, a higher percentage of doctors in Vermont answered positively than nearly all of those from other states. Vermont doctors are generally well paid, and malpractice claims against them are among the lowest. Access to health as well as healthcare quality ratings, in addition to the numbers of insured, are all within the top five.
Home Life: Vermonters are long-lived (seventh among the states at an average lifespan of 80.5) and are second in well-being. Vermont has among the highest employment rates, and its median earnings are within the top 20. The downside is its high tax burden and cost of living.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
5. Iowa
Work Life: Burnout and malpractice rates are about average in Iowa compared with other states. Physician earnings are comparable to those in other states. At 5%, Iowans have the second lowest uninsured rate, rank in fifth place for access to health, and their healthcare system ranks ninth for quality.
Home Life: At 2.9%, Iowans have the fourth lowest unemployment rate, 12th lowest cost-of-living rates, and are 16th in average lifespan (79.7). However, they weigh in at 13th place for obesity and are in 11th place for public health in general. They rank in the 21st spot for well-being, higher-education levels, and median earnings.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
6. New Hampshire
Work Life: As in Vermont, burnout rates are among the highest of all physicians, but the state offers several advantages. It does well in compensation and is in the bottom 20 for malpractice rates. New Hampshire has an uninsured rate of 7% and comes in eighth among states for access to healthcare.
Home Life: Like their Vermont neighbors, people in New Hampshire are long-lived (average of 80.3 years). An analysis of well-being by state put them in seventh place. The state's residents are among the most highly educated (sixth place) and have the eighth highest median income. Although it's among the states with a high cost of living and tax burden, New Hampshire has the second lowest unemployment rate (2.6%).
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
7. Colorado
Work Life: Although Colorado's combined scores put it in sixth place among best states to practice in, it scored less well in many work-related criteria. Among physician surveys by state, it had high burnout and malpractice rates and relatively low compensation. Ten percent of its population remains uninsured, and the state ranks about in the middle for access to healthcare. On the upside, Colorado placed in the top fifth for healthcare quality.
Home Life: The state's overall high standing is due to its many positive features that affect life outside of the workplace. Colorado is near or better than tenth place for well-being, unemployment, lifespan, higher education, median earnings, and public health. Its tax burden is also near the low end. On the downside, cost of living is higher than in most states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
8. Minnesota
Work Life: Burnout rates are high in Minnesota, but other criteria affecting physicians' work life score it toward the top of the list. Minnesota physicians do well in compensation and are in second place for having the lowest malpractice rates. Only 6% of the population is uninsured, and it ranks 10th in access to healthcare and 17th in quality of healthcare.
Home Life: With an average lifespan of 81.1, Minnesota is second only to Hawaii in longevity. It ranks fourth in well-being, sixth in public health, ninth in median earnings, and 11th in higher-education levels. On the downside, Minnesota's cost of living is on the high end (ranked in 30th place) and its tax burden is relatively high.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
9. Utah
Work Life: Physicians in Utah have the fourth lowest burnout rate and relatively high compensation rates compared with doctors in other states. On the other hand, its malpractice rate is higher than most other states'. Although Utah's healthcare quality is ranked in second place, at 12% it has the second highest uninsured rate among all states and ranks below the middle in access to healthcare.
Home Life: People who live in Utah are within the top 10 among other state populations for well-being, longevity, employment, low tax burden, and public health. They fall in the middle for cost of living, higher-education levels, and median earnings.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
10. Connecticut
Work Life: Physician burnout rates are high and compensation is low compared with other states. One the other hand, more patients in Connecticut tend to be insured and have good access to care compared with most other states. For healthcare quality, the state ranks only slightly above the middle.
Home Life: Connecticut residents have the fourth highest average lifespan, are fourth in higher-education levels, third in median income, and seventh in public health. Connecticut ranks toward the bottom, however, in its high cost of living and tax burden (43rd and 49th, respectively).
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
11. Massachusetts
Work Life: Physician burnout rates are higher compared with other states and compensation levels are only slightly above the middle. Patients' access to health, however, is in the top spot and the state ranks tenth for rate of insured. Massachusetts ranks fourth in public health but, of concern, placed toward the bottom for healthcare quality (measured by hospital readmissions, Medicare plan ratings, and nursing home quality).
Home Life: Massachusetts's residents have the fifth longest average lifespan. The state is number one in higher-education levels and median income. Still, it has the third highest cost of living and fifth highest tax burden compared with other states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
12. Wisconsin
Work Life: Wisconsin physicians are well paid and their malpractice rates are very low compared with other states. Burnout rates are about in the middle. Seven percent of the population is uninsured, and Wisconsin falls within the top 20 for access to healthcare and healthcare quality.
Home Life: People in Wisconsin have the 12th highest average lifespan and are within the top 20 for higher education and median earnings. They rank about midway for well-being, public health, and cost of living. On the down side, the state's tax burden is higher than that of the majority of other states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
13. South Dakota
Work Life: Physicians in South Dakota have relatively high compensation—but also a high burnout rate. South Dakota's uninsured rate of 8% is higher than most other states', and patients' access to health pushed the state below the middle. Healthcare quality, on the other hand, is high compared with all states.
Home Life: South Dakota was ranked number one in personal well-being. Residents have a relatively low tax burden and a low unemployment rate (3.4%). The state ranks below the middle, however, in median earnings and public health, and above the middle in cost of living.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
14. Washington
Work Life: Physicians in Washington have a relatively lower rate of burnout, and compensation is slightly higher compared with peers in other states. Washington's malpractice rate is about average. Patients have very good healthcare quality and access (ranking third and ninth, respectively).
Home Life: Despite high median earnings (ranking seventh among the states), Washington's population has one of the highest rates of both unemployment and high cost of living and has a relatively high tax burden. It ranks about average in well-being and is in the top 15 for longevity and higher-education level.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
15. Virginia
Work Life: Physician compensation in Virginia is relatively low. While the state has a slightly higher rate of physician burnout versus most other states, its malpractice rate is lower. Healthcare quality is toward the bottom and the population has a high uninsured rate (10%) compared with other states.
Home Life: Virginia's population enjoys median earnings and education levels that rank toward the top of the lists in these categories. The unemployment rate is only 3.6%
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
16. Montana
Work Life: Despite their relatively low compensation, Montana physicians have the lowest burnout rate compared with those in other states. The percentage of malpractice lawsuits is also lower. Healthcare quality and access to health rank about in the middle. Seven percent of the state's residents are uninsured.
Home Life: Montana residents rank in the top 10 for well-being, although the average lifespan of 78.5 is somewhat lower than most other states'. Montana is also below the middle in higher-education levels and public health quality. Its median earnings are among the lowest in the nation, although its tax burden is also very low (ranked fourth lowest).
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
17. Alaska
Work Life: Alaska physicians have the third lowest burnout rate and comparatively high compensation versus those in other states. The state's healthcare quality is ranked fourth. Unfortunately, Alaska ranked at the very bottom in access to healthcare (most likely because of its vast wilderness environment), and a very high percentage of its population is uninsured (14%).
Home Life: Alaskans have the fifth highest median earnings and have a very low tax burden. On the other hand, their unemployment rate of 7.2% puts them in last place for this category. Cost of living is among the highest in the nation.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
18. Maine
Work Life: Burnout rates among Maine doctors are among the lowest compared with those in other states. Compensation is considered relatively good, although the percentage of malpractice lawsuits against doctors is higher than in most states. Seven percent of Maine's residents are uninsured, and they place slightly below the middle in access to care. Healthcare quality, however, is in the top 10.
Home Life: Maine's population ranks in the middle in regard to well-being. While the state falls within the top 25 for best places to practice, its cost of living and tax burden are relatively high and median earnings are low compared with other states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
19. California
Work Life: The burnout rate is high among California physicians and compensation is about average. The percentage of malpractice lawsuits falls about in the middle. Eight percent of California's population is uninsured, which is relatively high. The state ranks toward the top in healthcare quality and in the middle for access to healthcare.
Home Life: At 80.8 years, Californians have the third longest lifespan and they also rank toward the top in well-being. The state is number one in public health. However, the cost of living is second highest in the nation, and the state ranks toward the top in median earnings. The unemployment rate is relatively low (4.5%).
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
20. Idaho
Work Life: Despite their very low malpractice rates and relatively high compensation levels compared with all states, Idaho physicians have the highest burnout rate. Nine percent of the population is uninsured.
Home Life: Idaho residents score within the top 10 in well-being. Their higher-education levels and median earnings, however, are among the lowest in the nation. Still, Idaho's tax burden and cost of living are lower than in most other states, and it can claim a low unemployment rate of 3%.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
21. Indiana
Work Life: Among physicians nationally, those in Indiana are among the top five for compensation and are slightly above the middle in the percentage of malpractice cases targeting doctors. Indiana scores toward the lower half in healthcare quality and access to healthcare. About 7% of the population is uninsured.
Home Life: Indiana's cost of living is low and its unemployment rate is only 3.4%. On the other hand, its median earnings are lower and its tax burden slightly higher than those of most states. With an average lifespan of 77.6, Indiana is ranked 39th in longevity, and its well-being score is also toward the bottom compared with other states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
22. Rhode Island
Work Life: Rhode Island burnout and compensation rates are among the lowest in the nation, and its malpractice rates are among the highest. However, there are positive aspects to work life in Rhode Island. Only 5% of its population is uninsured and it ranks sixth in access to health, toward the top in quality, and above the middle in public health.
Home Life: Rhode Island's median earnings and education levels are higher than those of the great majority of the states. Its residents can also expect a longer life, with an average lifespan of nearly 80 years. On the other hand, Rhode Island has a cost of living and tax burden that are among the highest in the nation.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
23. Maryland
Work Life: Maryland physicians have higher burnout and malpractice rates and lower earnings than physicians in most other states. The state's healthcare quality also ranks below the middle. On the positive side, Maryland is seventh in access to health, its public health is toward the top among all states, and the uninsured rate is low (6%).
Home Life: Maryland ranks second in median earnings and seventh in higher-education levels among all states. On the other hand, its cost of living and tax burden are among the highest. The population's average lifespan of 78.8 and its well-being rating are below the middle of all states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
24. Oregon
Work Life: Oregon physicians have one of the highest burnout rates in the nation. The percentage of malpractice cases as well as compensation also put them below the middle among physicians across the country. Access to healthcare is lower than in most states, but healthcare quality is among the strongest, and only 5% of the population is uninsured.
Home Life: On the home front, the cost of living in Oregon is among the nation's highest and its median earnings are lower than in most states. On the positive side, the unemployment rate is low (4.1%), although it's still higher than in most states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
25. Illinois
Work Life: Illinois physicians face more malpractice cases and their burnout rate is higher than in other states. Their compensation falls about in the middle. Illinois patients face a healthcare system with quality that ranks third from the bottom, and 7% of them remain uninsured. Their access to healthcare ranks in the middle.
Home Life: The education level of Illinois residents is very high (ranking fifth among the states) and their median income puts them in a comfortable 13th place. However, the tax burden is high and the unemployment rate of 4.9% places Illinois toward the bottom among all states. The cost of living and an average lifespan of 79 ranks Illinois about in the middle.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
Worst States to Practice In
Although the following states ranked the lowest for many factors, there are still positive aspects of each one. In the following slides we've highlighted communities that might appeal to you.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
1. West Virginia
Work Life: Burnout rates are lower among physicians in West Virginia than in most other states. Nevertheless, compensation is far lower and malpractice rates are far higher. Healthcare quality ranks third from the bottom, although access to healthcare is relatively good. At 7%, the state falls below the middle for the rate of uninsured.
Home Life: Among all of the criteria for home life, only cost of living and tax burden ranked above the middle compared with other states. West Virginia's score for well-being was the lowest; and unemployment rates, longevity (75.4 years), education levels, median earnings, and public health all scored worse than other states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
2. Louisiana
Work Life: Louisiana had the highest rate of malpractice cases against physicians and nearly the lowest compensation levels. On the plus side, the physician burnout rate was lower than in most other states. Access to healthcare and the quality of that healthcare were among the poorest in the nation, and the state's uninsured rate was higher than most.
Home Life: People in Louisiana have the third lowest average lifespan (75.7) years. The state ranks among the lowest for public health, median earnings, and higher-education levels. The cost of living and the tax burden, however, are both lower than in most other states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
3. Mississippi
Work Life: Burnout rates and malpractice cases are low and physician compensation is relatively high in Mississippi compared with other states. What pushes Mississippi into the worst states category, however, are its poor public health and healthcare access and quality, as well as its uninsured rate, which is higher than in nearly all other states.
Home Life: Mississippi has the lowest average lifespan (75 years) and nearly the lowest scores for median income and higher education. Although Mississippi has the lowest cost of living, its tax burden is ranked only slightly better than the middle among the other states.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
4. Kentucky
Work Life: The burnout rate among Kentucky physicians is the second highest among physicians in all states, and the malpractice rate is higher than in most other states. On the positive side, Kentucky does relatively well in compensation. Its patients also have low uninsured rates (6%) and they are above the middle in having good access to healthcare. Unfortunately, the quality of their healthcare and public health, as defined in this report, places the state within the bottom five for these criteria.
Home Life: Kentucky's overall low well-being rating and average life span of 76 years puts the state in 45th place in these categories. The state's cost of living is relatively low, but so is its median earnings, and its tax burden is slightly higher than most other states'. Kentucky also ranks poorly for higher-education levels.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
5. New Mexico
Work Life: Burnout rates among New Mexico physicians rank in the middle compared with other states. Despite New Mexico being a Medicaid expanded state, its uninsured rate is relatively high at 11%, and healthcare quality ranks toward the bottom. Its low compensation and high malpractice rate also help push the state into fifth place as one of the worst states to practice in.
Home Life: Like the other four states listed as worst places to practice, New Mexico is very poor. Although its tax burden is slightly lower than most other states', it has the lowest median earnings in the nation, and its unemployment rate (6%) is among the highest. Its higher-education levels rank toward the very bottom, and its average lifespan of 78.4 is below the middle among all states.
Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
Burnout, by State
Each year, Medscape conducts a survey on physician lifestyle. It includes questions about burnout, which was defined as "a feeling of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion, as well as frustration and cynicism related to work; and doubts about your competence and the value of your work." When looking at burnout by state in 2018, a third or less of physicians living in Montana, Nebraska, Alaska, Utah, and North Dakota reported burnout. However, at least half of physicians in Idaho, Delaware, Kentucky, and New Hampshire reported being burned out.
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Best & Worst Places to Practice 2018: Happiness in Work and Home Life
Carol Peckham | May 2, 2018 | Contributor Information
Sources
Overall rank was based on combining the following state-based criteria, ranked from 1 (best) to 50 (worst), using various sources. Eight criteria were used for determining state ranking for physicians' work life and seven for their life outside of work.
For criteria and sources used for ranking physician work life and home life, see "Criteria and Sources" below.
Best & Worst Places to Practice 2019: Where Physicians Can Thrive
Medscape rated states and cities on the basis of a variety of livability factors, as well as financial factors that could affect physicians.Medscape Features Slideshows, May 2019
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Carol Peckham
Editorial Director
Art Science Code LLC
New York, New York
Disclosure: Carol Peckham has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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Criteria and Sources
Criteria and Sources Used for Ranking Physician Work Life
Access to health. Percentage of adults and children who go without medical care by state. Source was the US News and World Report on Best States, with data powered by McKinsey and Company. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Burnout. Physician burnout percentages by state. Source was the Medscape survey of 15,000 physicians that was used for compiling the Medscape 2018 National Physician Burnout and Depression Report. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Compensation. Physician average compensation by state. Source was the Medscape survey of 19,200 physicians that was used for compiling the Medscape 2017 Compensation Report. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Healthcare quality. Hospital readmission rates, Medicare plan rating, and nursing home quality by state. Source was the US News and World Report on Best States, with data powered by McKinsey and Company. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Malpractice. Percentages by state of malpractice payment and adverse action reports targeting physicians. Source was the US government National Practitioner Data Bank. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Physician happiness at work. Physicians who chose options 6 and 7 on a survey question on happiness at work, using scores from 1 to 7, with 1 being extremely unhappy and 7 being extremely happy. Source was the Medscape survey of 15,000 physicians that was used for compiling the Medscape 2018 Lifestyle and Happiness Report. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Public health. Measures on obesity, smoking, suicide, mental health, and mortality rates by state. Source was the US News and World Report on Best States, with data powered by McKinsey and Company. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Uninsured rates. Percentages of uninsured in 2016 by state. Data published by the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, compiled from the Census Bureau's March Current Population Survey (CPS: Annual Social and Economic Supplements), 2014-2017. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Criteria and Sources for Ranking Life Outside of Work
Educational levels. Population estimates of adults 25-34 with a bachelor's degree or above. Source was the US Census Bureau 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Lifespan. 2009 data on average lifespan by state, published by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Source used mortality counts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Center for Health Statistics. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Physician happiness outside of the workplace. Physicians who chose options 6 and 7 on a survey question on happiness outside of work, using scores from 1 to 7, with 1 being extremely unhappy and 7 being extremely happy. Source was the Medscape survey of 15,000 physicians that was used for compiling the Medscape 2018 Lifestyle and Happiness Report. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Median earnings. State population median income. Source was the US Census Bureau 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Tax burden. Percentages of property tax, income tax, and sales and excise tax by personal income in each state. The data was published by the website Wallethub and was based on statistics from the Tax Policy Center. Report 1, Report 2 Accessed March 21, 2018.
Unemployment rates. Percentages derived from the January 2018 state rates compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Well-being. Criteria were obtained from a survey with questions that asked about purpose in life, supportive relationships, managing an economic life to reduce stress and increase security, liking where one lives, feeling safe, having pride in community, and having good physical health. Source was Gallup and Sharecare 2017 survey. Report Accessed March 21, 2018.
Templeton H. The 20 Fittest Colleges in America. Rodale Wellness. August 22, 2012. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
State of American Well-Being. 2017 Community Well-Being Ranking. Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
Best Places to Live in America 2017. Money. 2017. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
Renzulli KA, Klebnikov S. The Best Place to Live in Every State. Time. January 26, 2018. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
Van Riper T. Best Cities for Raising a Family. Forbes. April 4, 2012. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
National Geographic Travel Names the Best Small Cities in the U.S. National Geographic. January 16, 2018. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
Top 10 Tax-Friendly Cities. Kiplinger. April 24, 2007. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
100 Best Places to Live in the USA. US News and World Report. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
Minkin T. 10 Prettiest Coast Towns in Maine. New England Today Travel. January 18, 2018. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
Which metro areas offer the highest physician salaries? Myhealthtalent.com. June 23, 2017. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
Anderson K. These Cities Could be the Next Silicon Valley. Zip Recruiter. July 13, 2015. Report Accessed March 19, 2018.
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