Top 10 Saddest Cities in the U.S.

Birmingham is in the top spot

Updated September 20, 2024

Reviewed By Ross Martin

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Cities 1 - 3
Cities 4 - 6
Cities 7 - 10
Methodology

Americans are facing increasing mental health challenges, with 1 in 5 experiencing a mental health illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.^[1]The most common conditions include anxiety disorders and major depressive episodes. Major contributing factors are suspected to impact the population at large, including the COVID-19 pandemic, social media use and lack of access to mental health resources.

We looked at a variety of location-specific factors to find the saddest cities in the U.S. We considered some of the factors that lead to saddness including divorce^[2], lower income^[3] and rainy weather conditions^[4]. We also considered measures of overall well being.

Here are five data points we used to rank the 50 most populous MSAs in the U.S.

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: Depression can encompass a number of emotional and physical symptoms, including sadness, anger, tiredness, headaches and more.^[5]
Divorce rate: One study showed that individuals who get divorced in a non-conflict marriage are no happier than married individuals. In fact, 66% of unhappy marriages that stuck it out became happy within five years.^[6]These statistics, of course, do not apply to spouses in violent relationships. [The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 800-799-7233].
Wellbeing Index rating: The Gallup Wellbeing Index ranks MSAs based on career, social, financial, community and physical satisfaction.
Annual inches of precipitation: Ongoing rain limits the amount of sunlight, which impacts a number of physiological responses in the body. It can disrupt your sleep quality and lower your production of serotonin and dopamine — known as the body's "feel-good" chemicals.
Average household income: Money may not buy happiness directly, but people do seem to think it can make life easier. The results of a 2023 study found that Americans are unhappier as income decreases — at least up to $100,000 in annual earnings. After that, there was no correlation between higher levels of happiness and incomes.^[7]

Did your city make the list as one of the saddest in America? Scroll down to find out.

#1: Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham has the second heaviest annual rainfall out of all the cities on the list, likely due to its close proximity to both the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Alabama also has the third highest divorce rate at 3.2% and ranks in the top 10 for adults experiencing a major depressive episode. The good news is that Birmingham does earn a 61 rating on the Wellbeing Index, which is in the middle of the pack.

Birmingham by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 8.18%
Divorce rate (by state): 3.20%
Wellbeing Index rating: 61
Annual inches of precipitation: 64.93
Average household income: $62,262

#2: Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville's Wellbeing Index rating is a little lower at 60.20. Additionally, 7.76% of adults in the city have had a major depressive episode, and the average household income is $61,490 which is significantly below the national average income. For reference, the average U.S. household income is $74,580.^[8]

Louisville by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 7.76%
Divorce rate (by state): 3.0%
Wellbeing Index rating: 60.20
Annual inches of precipitation: 46.21
Average household income: $61,490

#3: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma had one of the highest rates of adult depression in the nation, coming in at 8.63%. Additionally, the state's 3.7% divorce rate is the second highest on our list and OKC has just 59.9 rating on the Wellbeing Index. However, less than 31 inches of precipitation fall each year, making it one of the driest cities in the U.S. Good news for those whose mood is heavily affected by the weather!

Oklahoma City by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 8.63%
Divorce rate (by state): 3.7%
Wellbeing Index rating: 59.90
Annual inches of precipitation: 30.90
Average household income: $60,687

#4: Tampa, Florida

Tampa gets a significant amount of rain each year, totally over 57 inches. The city also has one of the lower household incomes on our list, which is just over $60,000 per year. Additionally, Florida has a higher divorce rate of 3.1%. It has a middle-of-the-pack rating on the Well Being Index, however.

Tampa by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 6.8%
Divorce rate (by state): 3.1%
Wellbeing Index rating: 60.70
Annual inches of precipitation: 57.08
Average household income: $60,091

#5: Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis has the lowest Wellbeing Index rating out of all the cities we analyzed, at just 58.50. The city also gets substantial rain totaling 58.38 inches per year. Depressive episodes are low in Memphis, but the state's 3% divorce rate is on the higher end.

Memphis by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 5.64%
Divorce rate (by state): 3%
Wellbeing Index rating: 58.50
Annual inches of precipitation: 58.38
Average household income: $56,440

#6: Providence, Rhode Island

Providence has one of the lowest Wellbeing Index ratings at just 59.60. The city also gets over 50 inches of rain each year. However, divorce rates in Rhode Island are low compared to other states and depressive episodes amongst adults in Rhode Island are a little lower at 7.69%.

Providence by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 7.69%
Divorce rate (by state): 2.4%
Wellbeing Index rating: 59.60
Annual inches of precipitation: 51.34
Average household income: $63,746

#7: Orlando, Florida

Orlando has one of the lowest average incomes out of all the cities we analyzed. Precipitation levels are also quite high in this hurricane-prone area. Florida's divorce rate hovers just over 3%, but the good news is that depressive episodes are less common among adults.

Orlando by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 6.51%
Divorce rate (by state): 3.10%
Wellbeing Index rating: 61.30
Annual inches of precipitation: 58.34
Average household income: $53,959

#8: New Orleans, Louisiana (tied)

New Orleans makes the list of saddest U.S. cities for two primary reasons: the average rainfall hits just under 62 inches each year, and it has the second-lowest Wellbeing Index rating on our list. New Orleans also ranks quite low for income, which is just under $62,000. On the plus side, Louisiana's divorce rate of just 0.70% is one of the lowest in the country.

New Orleans by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 7.35%
Divorce rate (by state): 0.70%
Wellbeing Index rating: 58.90
Annual inches of precipitation: 61.55
Average household income: $61,801

#8: Columbus, Ohio (tied)

Columbus ties with New Orleans on our list, largely due to a lower average household income and high rate of major depressive episodes, which have been experienced by 8.05% of the adult population. Both its Wellbeing Index rating and precipitation are fairly average compared to many cities on our list.

Columbus by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 8.05%
Divorce rate (by state): 2.40%
Wellbeing Index rating: 61
Annual inches of precipitation: 44.80
Average household income: $61,228

#10: Buffalo, New York

Buffalo has one of the lowest average household incomes on our list, which is $56,414. At 60.10, the city's Wellbeing Index rating also ranks on the lower end. Buffalo gets just a moderate amount of precipitation, and New York's divorce rate is average at 2.30%.

Buffalo by the numbers

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode: 6.66%
Divorce rate (by state): 2.30%
Wellbeing Index rating: 60.10
Annual inches of precipitation: 45.26
Average household income: $56,414

Methodology

The Zebra pulled five data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs (by population) in the U.S. related to mental health and quality of life factors.

Percent of adults having a major depressive episode^[9]
Divorce rate (by state)^[10]
Wellbeing Index Rating^[11]
Annual inches of precipitation^[12]
Average household income^[13]

MSA data was used where applicable, and we sometimes substituted county data as necessary.

Sources

Mental health by the numbers. [National Alliance on Mental Health]
Depression after divorce. [Medical News Today]
Poverty and mental health. [National Library of Medicine]
Relationship between depressive symptoms and weather conditions. [National Library of Medicine]
Depression. [Mayo Clinic]
Divorce probably won't make you happier. [Attitude]
Money and happiness: A consideration of history and psychological mechanisms. [National Library of Medicine]
Average U.S. household income. [Census.gov]
Percent of adults having a major depressive episode. [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]
Divorce rate by state. [National Center for Health Statistics]
Well Being Index. [Gallup]
U.S. precipitation normals. [National Centers for Environmental Information]
Average household income. [U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis]