A new report, published as part of the Gallup-Healthways State of American Well-Being series, found that residents of big cities like Boston and San Francisco are healthier and happier than their peers in smaller cities.

Polling group Gallup and consultant firm Healthways noted that the top five cities, viz. Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Washington D.C., scored high on key health measures. The researchers also noted that people living in these top five communities have lower rates of smoking and conditions like obesity.

The newly published report states, “Residents in these top five communities have, on average, significantly lower rates of smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression compared with those in the five lowest-ranked active living communities.”

Tulsa; Durham, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and Fort Wayne were ranked as the bottom five cities in terms of health and happiness.

Walkability, easy biking, parks and public transit were identified by the researchers as the four key components that help inhabitants incorporate healthy behaviors into their daily living.

Federal dietary guidelines recommend consumption of more vegetables, less fat and salt along with more physical exercise. The U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests that people should get at least sixty minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking, daily. But that is difficult in areas that don’t have sidewalks, parks or other recreational facilities.