Kassel continues to be Germany's joyful epicenter
Title: Kassel Takes Joyous Title as Germany's Most Satisfying City Again!
Kassel, the bustling metropolis of North Hesse, has yet again seized the crown as the "happiest city in Germany" with a population over 200,000. This winning title was bestowed upon the city in the "SKL Happiness Atlas" recently published on a Thursday.
The North Hessian city scores high with 7.44 out of 10 possible points, according to the survey conducted by the institute. Factors such as infrastructure and education contribute to this joyful balance. Close competitors are Krefeld and Düsseldorf.
A Wide Gap in Frankfurt
What sets Kassel apart is the positive sentiment among its residents. In stark contrast, Frankfurt faces a noticeable divide between the very satisfied and the very discontented, landing it at a lowly 34th position, while Wiesbaden trails closely behind at 39th place.
Assessing Satisfaction Levels
For the ranking, the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy questioned a total of 23,468 residents between January 2022 and April 2025 about their general satisfaction with life.
According to survey head Bernd Raffelhuschen from the University of Freiburg, a high level of satisfaction in a large city heavily depends on its even distribution. If many residents are highly satisfied, but just as many are extremely dissatisfied, the overall happiness level of the city tends to decrease.
Smaller Cities Reign Supreme
In large cities, researchers often notice a lower life satisfaction. This trend is clearly present in the current data. Among the top 10 happiest cities, only Düsseldorf and Hamburg represent the largest German cities, while smaller cities such as Augsburg, Aachen, and Münster are also included.
Family-Friendly Cities Prevail
Last year's findings showed that the highest life satisfaction can be found where life remains family-oriented, manageable, secure, and green. Kassel certainly fits this portrait.
Rising Happiness Levels in Kassel
Kassel has even improved its life satisfaction score from last year's 7.38 to an impressive 7.44.
"Kassel's Attractive Lifestyle"
Kassel's Mayor Sven Schoeller (Greens) expressed his delight with the survey results, stating, "Kassel offers attractive living conditions, which result in people being happier than in other places."
Kassel's Diversity Shines
According to the mayor, it's Kassel's diversity that captivates. The city harmoniously blends nature and culture, tradition and modernity, people and prospects.
A Nationwide Increase in Happiness
Overall, there is a trend of increasing happiness levels compared to last year, which the SKL attributes to the fact that the 2024 survey result still included data from the challenging Corona year 2021.
The city ranking centered on comparing subjective perceived life satisfaction with objectively measured quality of life. Factors like housing situations, demographics, prosperity, and environmental quality were considered as part of the quality of life assessment.
- Kassel's appeal extends beyond its status as a happy city, as it also offers a sustainable lifestyle, making it an attractive choice for individuals interested in home-and-garden practices that promote eco-friendliness and sustainable living.
- The winning title of Germany's happiest city for Kassel not only showcases its lively infrastructure and family-oriented environment but also highlights its potential as a model for other cities aiming to balance a fulfilling lifestyle with a sustainable home-and-garden approach, promoting overall well-being for its residents.
