Los Angeles ranked as 4th most stressful U.S. city

As if there wasn't enough free-floating anxiety these days, along comes a Forbes.com study measuring the stress levels in the largest U.S. metro areas and putting Los Angeles in fourth place.

To come up with the list, they factored in housing affordability, unemployment rates, the price of gasoline, air quality, the number of sunny days annually and population density.

The top spot went to Chicago, followed by New York and Detroit. San Francisco and San Diego took the fifth and sixth place, respectively.

Unemployment, home prices and gas prices were among the reasons given for L.A.'s placement, as well as having what Forbes called "the worst air quality in the country." In fact, they went on to explain, "Angelenos often need to stay indoors when the smog gets really bad." Say what? A show of hands please.

-- Lauren Beale

Your thoughts? Comments?

Photo: Goats munch their way through dense brush on a lot at 4th and Hill Streets in downtown Los Angeles on recent morning, seemingly oblivious to the city's ranking as the fourth most stressful metropolis in the nation. Credit: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[annonyed]

Whoever wrote that piece obviously does not live in L.A. and wishes they did...

I have not once stayed in because of "poor air quality".

Forbes is out of touch for lack of a better phrase.
By the way that is a lazy way to write an article. The criteria that Forbes used are so mundane. You would think they could come up with some original criteria.

It's a city, of course it's going to be stressful.

[MyLessThanPrimeBeef]

They say the number one cause of car accidents is the speed differential.

When you live so close to so many Hollywood gods and goddesses, whose levels of aesthetic sensitivity and social righteousness are so high above those of the rest of us here in LA, it's understandable that we should be very stressed.

[Chris]

A big negative for me is the fact that about half of L.A. looks as much like TJ as it does your average large American city. A small bit of TJ would be OK, but not half the city.

[Jackie Romulo]

We need to stay indoors when the smog gets really bad? Um yea, it's not like school and work gets shut down for high-levels of toxins in the air.

[mike]

we haven't hade a stage 4 indoor smog alert in 15 years.

[Steve]

I am surprised the hell hole is #4, I thought for sure it would be #1. Just to get point A to point B is bad enough. You have the politicians to blame, both parties. The reality is the infrastructure and enviroment of LA cannot handle the population. They should of stopped all building 20 years ago no matter the economic impact and simply price out all the out of out of state want to bees and immigrants. What was paradise is now an over priced dump.

[Nelcisco]

In a city where image means everything to almost half the citizens, being working class when you see so much success around you or at least the image of success even though they may not be or they're striving to be can be very stressful

[gonzo]

hot damn! #4! and california accounts for 50% of the top 6. but the city of big shoulders is #1! c'mon, angelenos, we've got some work to do.

btw, steve, where do you live. if it's in the place you identify as a 'hellhole,' don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Uncle Billy Loves Naomi Klein]

Nice photo! Almost as calming as tree o' the week.

Naomi Klein will be giving a talk about her book "Shock Doctrine" at Scripps School in Claremont tomorrow, the 18th of Sept. at 7:30 P.M.

She knows a LOT about stress.

www.naomiklein.org

[h.w.]

I have no idea where they're coming from ... I love LA. Can't imagine living anywhere else.

[better things to do]

The report is a waste of time. Of course living in the big city is going to be stressful. The greater the density the greater the friction and the greater the stress. But with the stress also comes the excitement and bustle that you don't get in the suburbs or rural areas. So its always a trade-off but that doesn't make NYC a worse place to live than Santa Barbara.

And San Diego, stressful?! Come on now.

[356man]

Tell the Forbes folks to cruise down any freeway with "LA Woman" blasting and tell me once again why it is so streesful here. If you can't deal with it, leave. Please.

[david]

I agree about the exaggeration of smog. I can't remember ever experiencing a smog alert. You stay in because of the rain. you stay in because it's too hot or too humid outside. But I've never said, "Let's stay in because of the smog."

[SoCalJim]

At least the geniuses at Forbes got some of the top 3 right. LA #4? That is surprising. After living in "more stressful" cities where you actually have to have to use your wits on a daily basis and be a skilfful driver, LA is a walk in the park. If you think sitting in traffic sipping your Starbucks while you drive a straight line at 25mph is stressful, maybe you should move to Idaho. I'm sorry, but I can't stop laughing. LA is the easiest large city to live in, at least based on my opinion of living in many large cities. And yes, when the air is bad, I know many people, especially children, who have to stay inside b/c of respiratory problems. There is a reason LA is always #1 or #2 in the country for smog / air pollution. And San Diego as one of the most stressful? That is a joke.

[KateNonymous]

I don't know anyone who stays indoors due to smog. Maybe the writer was thinking of the 1970s? Now, I do know people who curtailed their outdoor activities when there was smoke in the air from fires. But not smog.

The stressors in L.A., as far as I'm concerned, are traffic and crowding. Not air quality.

[Politicus Finch]

What the hell is this LIE that is still going around about Angelenos having to stay inside due to air quality? I moved to LA a year ago after having visited it for over 20 years. I have not once -- not once -- seen a brown haze day outside of my windows with 180 degree panoramic views of Hollywood, the Sign, the mountains beyond Pasadena, and downtown. Air quality has improved drastically over the 20 years of visits. I am actually surprised that our air is considered the worst, but I always assume there is more work to do and that being in, basically, a desert where it never rains does raise the particulate in the air. And we do long for the rare days in summer when a sea breeze reaches Larchmont. But I think "bad air" and "being able to breathe" are two different things. Trust me, it is never harder to actually breathe than on a 95 degree, 100% humidity day in Atlanta or Houston. And, I suspect, everywhere in between.

[Eric M]

I think Forbes is really stretching for new lists to put out. Just think of all the publicity from other news, blogs and forwarded emails they get whenever they mention a city or region in one of their lists.

[lmch]

As someone raised in NY, the only thing stressful about living here is that strangers don't really talk to each other. It's... weird. But hey, I choose the great weather over sociable strangers - guilty as charged. It's is GORGEOUS out there today! Enjoy!

[Longing2leavela]

Boy oh boy...we have lots of people in denial, don't we??? What are you guys talking about??? L.A. has DISGUSTING, THICK, BROWN smog EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can't see the mountains...and you think it's not bad for your health and you should wallow in it everyday??? Please! Stop being in denial. I've been out here for about 7 yrs. from N.Y. and I have been totally turned off by the obnoxious people, overcrowding, the smog, and NO TRANSIT SYSTEM to speak of!! How is that so wonderful?? Please enlighten me! It's been a big disappointment, to say the least. Since when is sitting in traffic for hours on end relaxing??! Since when is it relaxing to be in a state where an earthquake could hit any momen, relaxing?? People, please grow up!! I am so thankful I've "seen the light" and will be leaving L.A. soon!