Yep, I think it's hard to generalize, because everyone is different. You just need to get out and try on jeans to see what works best. If you have a favorite pair already, measure the rise (both front *and* back) and that is your ideal. If you don't yet have a favorite, bring a tape measure with you when you go shopping. Once you figure it out, then that is the best rise for you.
For me - 5'0" with narrow hips and flat butt and a squishy midsection - my ideal is 8.5-9 inch rise. This lands just a pinch below my belly button - right at the thickest part and locks & loads my trouble zone. Anything lower I get major muffin top. Just as importantly, I need a back rise that is less than 13 inches. 13+ inch rise in the back makes my butt look saggy and flatter.
For my DD15, who is a pretty pear and 5'4" - she actually looks best in lower rises in front, but a higher rise in back. I don't know the exact rise of the jeans we just bought her, but the front rise falls a few inches below her belly button. Apparently this works to make hippier people look less hippy.
And ignore the mfr's description of "mid-rise" "low-rise" "high-rise" - every brand defines this differently!!!!
Once you know your ideal rises, if you are ordering online, I've always found it helps to email customer service and ask them to give you the specific rise measurements for the size you need. Because the rise they list is usually for a single size - and it scales up or down from there. For example if it lists 8 inch rise for size 30, the size 26 may be more like 7 inchces.
