It turns out money can buy happiness.
According to a Purdue University and University of Virginia study, earning $95,000 per year is the sweet spot for feeling satisfied with your life. A sense of emotional well-being is found between $60,000 and $70,000. Researchers added that incomes for families skew a bit higher.
Interestingly, more money leads to more problems. Researchers said once your needs are comfortably met, anything more fosters a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality and the tendency to make social comparisons, which lower well-being.
No need to feel defeated if you aren’t hitting that optimum income just yet. Researchers said money is only a part of what really makes us happy. Maybe you just need a change of location.
Money Magazinehas released its annual 2018 Best Places to Live in America list. They ranked everything from home prices and job opportunities, to overall quality of life.
Here are the top 10.
Frisco, TX
Population: 179,067
Median family income: $129,118
Median home price: $349,000
Ashburn, VA
Population: 53,190
Median family income: $134,057
Median home price: $456,000
Carmel, IN
Population: 94,854
Median family income: $130,044
Median home price: $322,630
Ellicott City, MD
Population: 73,236
Median family income: $136,339
Median home price: $390,000
Cary, NC
Population: 162,025
Median family income: $113,831
Median home price: $360,000
Franklin, TN
Population: 78,376
Median family income: $109,231
Median home price: $477,145
Dublin, CA
Population: 67,839
Median family income: $141,471
Median home price: $794,000
Highlands Ranch, CO
Population: 106,802
Median family income: $126,404
Median home price: $480,000
Sammamish, WA
Population: 52,304
Median family income: $165,064
Median home price: $932,250
Woodbury, MN
Population: 70,072
Median family income: $120,976
Median home price: $275,000
