Austin #4: Least Stressed Cities in the US

Good health and relatively-low unemployment has placed Austin the fourth least stressed city in the U.S., a Portfolio.com study reported Tuesday.

The national news site for small- and mid-sized business executives analyzed the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas and found Detroit residents the most tense. The publication used various indicators to calculate the ranking, including local unemployment, personal financial data, environmental factors, health risks, crime rates and living standards. Detroit topped the list largely due to steep unemployment, about 14.3 percent of its population, combined with a high 9.9 percent living in poverty. The Michigan metro also reported a high murder and robbery rate and low levels of sunshine.

Stars' town Los Angeles came in second most stressed; a combination of expensive housing and high pollution and unemployment. Cleveland, Ohio came in third followed by Riverside, Calif. (No. 4); St. Louis (No. 5); New York City (No. 6); New Orleans (No. 7); Chicago (No. 8); Birmingham, Ala. (No. 9); and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (No. 10).

Among the most relaxed, Salt Lake City topped the list followed by Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Raleigh, N.C.; Austin; Oklahoma City; Denver; San Antonio; Kansas City, Mo.; and Phoenix. Portfolio attributed Salt Lake City's high standing to low crime levels, easy commutes, high employment and good health.

Portfolio.com is an American City Business Journals Inc. unit, the same company that owns the Austin Business Journal.