An Easy Way to Feel $10,000, Even $20,000 Richer

Next time you’re moving, you might want to take a minute to count the trees on your potential new block.

Sound like a strange thing to do? Not according to recent research, reports Fast Company.

Stately oaks, leafy maples and swaying aspens not only provide a scenic backdrop to your life, but also offer distinct advantages over living in a concrete jungle, including significant health gains and wellness benefits equal to earning thousands more per year, according to a study recentlypublished in Nature.

Researchers found living on a block with 10 more trees than the average number “improves health perception in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000.” Adding just one more tree — so 11 more than average — was comparable to being $20,000 richer!

How Did They Figure It Out?

To analyze the benefits from living near trees, researchers scoured high-resolution satellite images and tree data in Toronto, Canada.

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