Irvine is the least-stressed city in Southern California and the seventh least-stressed in the nation, according to a recent WalletHub study. Irvine is also the fittest city in Southern California and seventh in the U.S., according to the American Fitness Index.
WalletHub compared more than 180 cities on a range of stress factors, and Irvine placed second nationally in the health and safety category. Irvine posted the second-lowest divorce rate in the study and the lowest crime rate among U.S. cities with more than 300,000 residents.
Irvine’s rating for low stress was also due to top marks for low debt, high credit scores and small percentage of smokers (just 7% of adults).
The city’s focus on well-being was also highlighted in the 2026 American Fitness Index. The study praised Irvine because more than a quarter of its land is dedicated to parks, and it ranks among the best in the nation for its number of outdoor sports fields.
