Seattle, WA
Seattle among Top 20 happiest cities in U.S., study finds
SEATTLE – Seattle has ranked among the Top 20 happiest cities in America, according to a new study.
A study from WalletHub ranked 182 of the largest cities in the U.S. based on how “happy” they are — weighing metrics like emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment. Seattle is the top-ranked city in Washington at #18, followed by Tacoma at #89, Vancouver at #100 and Spokane at #124.
Fremont, California earned the #1 spot owing to 80% of households making an income above $75,000.
“Money can buy happiness to a certain degree because a stable income is essential for a person’s physical and mental well-being,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “However, plenty of other factors affect happiness as well, and the happiest cities combine economic security with kind communities and conditions that are conducive to low depression rates and high life satisfaction.”
Seattle’s high ranking comes from emotional and physical well-being (ranked 8th) and income and employment (ranked 14th). Surprisingly, the Emerald City ranks 128th for community and environment, beaten out by Tacoma (103rd). Looking at individual metrics, Seattle ranks among the highest for adequate sleep rate, while Spokane ranks at one of the highest depression rates in the U.S.
The study’s methodology takes each category — emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, community and environment — and measures it based on several subcategories, each weighed to varying levels:
- Emotional and physical well-being
Life-satisfaction index
Depression rate
Suicide rate
Adequate sleep rate
Physical health index
Sports participation rate
Share of people who used marijuana in the past month
Opioid prescriptions per 100 people
Share of adults with mental health determined “not good”
Life expectancy
Food insecurity rate
- Life-satisfaction index
- Depression rate
- Suicide rate
- Adequate sleep rate
- Physical health index
- Sports participation rate
- Share of people who used marijuana in the past month
- Opioid prescriptions per 100 people
- Share of adults with mental health determined “not good”
- Life expectancy
- Food insecurity rate
- Income and employment
Income growth rate
Households earning annual incomes over $75,000
Poverty rate
Job satisfaction
4+ star job opportunities
Job security
Unemployment rate
Underemployment rate
Bankruptcy rate
Weekly work hours
Commute time
- Income growth rate
- Households earning annual incomes over $75,000
- Poverty rate
- Job satisfaction
- 4+ star job opportunities
- Job security
- Unemployment rate
- Underemployment rate
- Bankruptcy rate
- Weekly work hours
- Commute time
- Community and environment
Separation and divorce rate
Hate crime incidents per capita
Ideal weather
Acres of park land per 1,000 residents
Average leisure time spent per day
Well-being community index score
- Separation and divorce rate
- Hate crime incidents per capita
- Ideal weather
- Acres of park land per 1,000 residents
- Average leisure time spent per day
- Well-being community index score
For the full list, visit the WalletHub study here.
Seattle, WA
Our highlight list for your West Seattle Monday!
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
Here’s the Monday list of highlights, most (but not all) from our West Seattle Event Calendar:
PUBLIC HEARING ON UPZONING PROPOSAL: As previewed here, the City Council is holding an all-day public hearing, both in-person and online/phone, under way right now – the agenda explains how to participate.
FREE TAX HELP: The deadline’s nearing … If you need assistance, today from 11 am-4 pm, find drop-in help at Alki Masonic Center. (4736 40th SW)
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Free.
NO CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: Regular 2 pm meeting is canceled today because of the aforementioned all-day hearing.
LONG-DISTANCE ADVOCACY: Write postcards to far-away voters with West Seattle Indivisible, 3:30-5:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: In baseball, West Seattle HS vs. Seattle Academy, 3:30 pm at Delridge Playfield (4501 Delridge Way SW); at 4 pm, the Chief Sealth IHS boys’ tennis team plays Rainier Beach at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); also at 4 pm at NCSWAC vs. Rainier Beach, West Seattle HS plays softball.
FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
‘BEFORE THE BADGE’: 5:30 pm, community conversation with SPD recruits, online; our calendar listing explains how to participate.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee. Before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
ALKI MEDITATION: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues for trivia/quiz tonight! Music Quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … and 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
POOL TOURNAMENT: If you play pool, you’re invited to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Big thanks to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Seattle, WA
WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 8 views of our feathered neighbors
Thanks for continuing to send West Seattle bird photos! We’ve gathered a few for this gallery. Above, Dan Ciske‘s view of Brant in the sunset; below, Robin Sinner photographed them earlier in the day:
Robin also shared this photo of a Barrow’s Goldeneye:
Leucistic (“caramel”) Crows turn up in West Seattle from time to time – Mark Rhea photographed this one:

Here’s a more conventionally colored one, courtesy of K. Smith:
K. also sent this unidentified bird (do you recognize it?):
And we have more recent views of the baby Anna’s Hummingbirds that recently fledged at West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor) – from Suzanne Krom:
And from Jerry Simmons:

Again, huge thanks to everyone who shares photos, from birds to breaking news and beyond – westseattleblog@gmail.com or (when urgent) text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Seattle, WA
Where to watch Seattle Mariners vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Apr. 5
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
Baseball is back and finding what channel your favorite team is playing on has become a little bit more confusing since MLB announced plans to produce and distribute broadcasts for nearly a third of the league.
We’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know Sunday as the Seattle Mariners visit the Los Angeles Angels.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Seattle Mariners vs Los Angeles Angels?
First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners is scheduled for 4:07 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Apr. 5.
How to watch Seattle Mariners vs Los Angeles Angels on Sunday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Sunday, April 5, 2026, at 10:03 a.m.
- Matchup: SEA at LAA
- Date: Sunday, Apr. 5
- Time: 4:07 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- Location: Anaheim, California
- TV: FanDuel Sports West and Mariners.TV
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for Apr. 5 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
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