But residents said they can feel the dividend: a society with low inequality, high opportunity and a strong sense of solidarity.

“For me, happiness is about being contented with your life and the possibilities you have in life,” said Finn Berg, a former head of the town council. “And if you put it that way, then this is a happy place, because we have a lot of possibilities here.”

Wealth helps, too.

Though the proportion of low-earners in Kauniainen is about the same as in the rest of Finland, the percentage of high-earners is roughly double the national average, said Mr. Masar, the mayor.

Since the town’s municipal tax rates are fractionally lower than elsewhere in the country, Kauniainen has become an attractive destination for those with the means to move here.

But this has advantages for all residents.

Individually, the rich pay less tax. But collectively they create a larger tax yield, enabling the town council to spend about four times as much on cultural activities, per capita, than the average Finnish district, three times as much on sports, and 50 percent more on child care.

All this breeds some basic satisfaction, said an understated Mr. Berg, the former council chairman.

“I’ve been thinking about what happiness is, and happiness is about being contented with your life, and about not being miserable,” Mr. Berg said.

“And I’m not miserable.”