Detroit tops most-stressful list; Seattle 19th least stressful

CHICAGO — Detroit is the most stressful U.S. city in which to live, according to Portfolio.com's list of places where residents are most frazzled.

No wonder Detroit took the top spot: With an unemployment rate of 14.3 percent, the percentage of families in poverty at 9.9 percent, high numbers of murders and robberies, and even a lack of sunshine, residents have much to be stressed about, according to Portfolio.com, which published the study Tuesday.

Los Angeles took second place due to its expensive housing rates, significant levels of air pollution and high unemployment rate. Cleveland ranked third, with the most robberies per 100,000 residents of the 50 metropolitan areas studied and an increased number of deaths caused by heart failure, hypertension and stroke.

To come up with the ranking, the site considered local unemployment rates, personal financial data, environmental factors, health risks, crime rates and living standards, with data collected from government agencies and private firms.

The study also looked at big cities where residents are likelier to have lower stress levels.

"It's no secret that living in a big city can add some serious stress to your life. But that doesn't mean you have to be truly stressed out just by being in one of the nation's population hubs," said J. Jennings Moss, editor of Portfolio.com.

Salt Lake City ranked as Portfolio.com's least stressful city, thanks to low levels of crime, easy commutes, high employment and good health standing, according to the release.

Just missing the Top 10 mellow list, Portland was ranked 11th least stressful city.

Seattle was ranked 19th least stressful city.

The study can be seen at: http://www.portfolio.com/guides/us-uncovered/