New York – Chicago, NYC Most Stressful U.S. Cities

New York – Consider Chicago and New York as the two most stressful U.S. cities in which to live, Forbes magazine says in a survey.

The magazine says Chicago has a rising unemployment rate, expensive gasoline, high population density and relatively poor air quality creating what Forbes calls a perfect storm of stress.

New Yorkers are right behind at No. 2, with the country’s most densely packed population fiercely competing for subway seats, cabs, apartments, elite preschools and dinner reservations.
Then, there’s costly housing and allergy-inducing pollution, and, or course, Wall Street.

Next come Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Forbes says Los Angeles has the worst air quality in the nation as well as high unemployment, the second least affordable homes relative to income and high gas prices in a car-dependent city.

Forbes said to complie its list, the country’s 40 largest U.S. Census-defined metropolitan statistical areas were studied, emphasizing quality of life indicators such as housing affordability, unemployment rates and gas prices.