Hilton Head named 7th ‘Happiest Seaside Town’ in America

Hilton Head Island was named the No. 7 “Happiest Seaside Town” in America for 2017 by Coastal Living magazine Friday.

The publication, owned by Time, announced the top 10 winners of its annual online voting contest with a live countdown on its Facebook page.

The announcement took place in Stuart, Fla., the 2016 winner.

Beaufort took top honors in 2013 and Kiawah Island was 2012’s winner. The winner for 2017 was Grand Haven, Mich.

In the announcement, Coastal Living editors praised Hilton Head for “unbelievable golf, beautiful outdoor sports, natural preserves” and its laid-back coastal lifestyle.

The finalists in order were:

10. Camden, Maine

9. Dana Point, Calif.

8. Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.

7. Hilton Head Island

6. Cape May, N.J.

5. Langley, Wash.

4. Fernandina Beach, Fla.

3. Sarasota, Fla.

2. Orleans, Mass.

1. Grand Haven, Mich.

The finalists were chosen by editor reviews of destinations covered by the magazine and nominated on social media. Entrants were sorted by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index and a raft of statistics, including annual number of sunny days, air quality, healthiness of beaches, commute times, crime ratings, walkability, standard of living and financial well-being of the locals and geographic diversity. Finally, a subjective score was included in the formula for the editors’ perception of each location’s “coastal vibe.”

The final order was determined by online voting.

This story was originally published January 27, 2017 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Hilton Head named 7th ‘Happiest Seaside Town’ in America."