Best & Worst Cities for Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions

Adam McCann, Financial WriterJan 6, 2020

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Jan 6, 2020

It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions. The hard part is keeping them. But before you blame yourself entirely for your previous lack of success, consider this: Your location may be setting you up for failure.

If you live in a neighborhood with no sidewalks or fitness centers nearby, for example, you may not feel as encouraged to exercise. The same goes if most of your restaurant options are limited to fast food - you may be less likely to eat healthy on days you dine out. These might sound like excuses to the boldest resolvers, but they genuinely can get in the way of self-improvement. That’s especially true if your motivation is low to begin with.

Estimates of the resolution failure rate are as high as 80 percent and 92 percent, depending on the survey. Regardless of the actual figure, a high number of people will fail at some point in the process and break the usual resolutions, such as “lose weight,” “save more” and “reduce stress.”

To determine where Americans are most likely to stick to their goals for 2020, WalletHub considered some of the most popular (and most commonly broken) resolutions to rank more than 180 U.S. cities based on their conduciveness to self-improvement. In each city, we looked at a total of 57 key metrics, ranging from gyms per capita to income growth to employment outlook. Read on for our findings, expert advice and a full description of our methodology.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask The Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Best Cities for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Health Resolutions’ Rank	‘Financial Resolutions’ Rank	‘School & Work Resolutions’ Rank	‘Bad-Habit Resolutions’ Rank	‘Relationship Resolutions’ Rank
1	San Diego, CA	68.00	1	81	27	33	2
2	Scottsdale, AZ	67.93	5	7	1	31	29
3	San Francisco, CA	67.35	2	42	83	67	1
4	Seattle, WA	67.22	4	10	110	17	3
5	San Jose, CA	66.20	6	9	65	2	37
6	Irvine, CA	65.84	3	46	4	8	51
7	Austin, TX	64.95	18	38	13	40	14
8	Plano, TX	64.02	26	4	16	12	59
9	Salt Lake City, UT	63.98	15	24	41	21	25
10	Fremont, CA	63.44	9	2	50	16	83
11	Atlanta, GA	63.40	28	77	42	23	10
12	Huntington Beach, CA	63.33	8	80	10	9	72
13	Overland Park, KS	63.14	52	1	12	5	96
14	Portland, OR	62.96	11	34	134	96	4
15	Raleigh, NC	62.58	36	22	53	22	26
16	Orlando, FL	62.16	29	112	19	61	13
17	Honolulu, HI	60.95	24	157	76	32	9
18	Tampa, FL	60.86	20	94	38	80	18
19	Chandler, AZ	60.66	34	18	9	48	71
20	Los Angeles, CA	60.43	7	164	109	41	16
21	Virginia Beach, VA	60.37	43	51	26	63	36
22	Charlotte, NC	60.35	62	32	58	56	27
23	Las Vegas, NV	60.34	16	88	66	157	5
24	Boise, ID	60.24	44	37	37	28	48
25	Tempe, AZ	59.99	30	93	31	62	34
26	Denver, CO	59.91	10	56	143	156	11
27	Minneapolis, MN	59.79	58	16	136	64	19
28	Miami, FL	59.65	14	181	14	10	21
29	Gilbert, AZ	59.44	35	17	3	42	100
30	New York, NY	59.10	12	160	168	47	7
31	Houston, TX	59.09	75	49	59	51	31
32	Charleston, SC	59.00	91	72	8	117	15
33	Chicago, IL	58.99	61	30	160	95	6
34	Washington, DC	58.76	39	39	164	134	8
35	Sioux Falls, SD	58.64	111	31	36	3	92
36	Madison, WI	58.44	72	11	122	38	40
37	Portland, ME	58.40	38	64	63	94	38
38	Columbia, MD	58.30	59	3	165	1	131
39	Sacramento, CA	58.22	37	91	95	87	28
40	Pittsburgh, PA	58.16	57	26	88	172	12
41	Fargo, ND	58.05	108	67	57	6	58
42	Peoria, AZ	58.01	63	27	5	57	115
43	Lincoln, NE	57.93	83	20	75	26	61
44	Phoenix, AZ	57.90	49	71	60	74	42
45	Boston, MA	57.62	17	115	132	140	17
46	Dallas, TX	57.45	77	104	64	55	32
47	Durham, NC	57.35	69	59	40	30	66
48	Fort Lauderdale, FL	57.19	22	166	72	52	41
49	Omaha, NE	56.89	85	12	103	79	49
50	San Antonio, TX	56.86	106	116	17	89	30
51	Pembroke Pines, FL	56.69	45	117	11	35	107
52	Colorado Springs, CO	56.49	42	82	87	116	43
53	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	56.45	54	85	7	50	118
54	Oakland, CA	56.36	23	123	130	27	63
55	Cedar Rapids, IA	56.35	124	6	97	4	121
56	Jacksonville, FL	56.32	76	92	43	154	23
57	Chesapeake, VA	56.30	84	68	79	45	55
58	St. Petersburg, FL	56.25	47	84	34	125	54
59	Fort Worth, TX	56.15	105	50	32	68	56
60	Grand Rapids, MI	55.92	112	48	67	53	60
61	Santa Clarita, CA	55.89	21	125	61	19	122
62	Bismarck, ND	55.49	123	15	45	20	132
63	Mesa, AZ	55.42	50	74	24	70	106
64	Nashville, TN	55.31	103	65	49	170	20
65	Columbus, OH	55.31	115	28	120	113	33
66	Garden Grove, CA	55.15	31	153	47	24	114
67	West Valley City, UT	55.03	55	35	69	39	147
68	Henderson, NV	54.98	48	63	18	141	87
69	Rapid City, SD	54.94	96	101	56	14	110
70	Glendale, AZ	54.76	66	113	73	75	69
71	Nashua, NH	54.43	81	14	46	130	95
72	Anaheim, CA	54.41	27	165	86	18	102
73	St. Paul, MN	54.34	82	41	156	59	64
74	El Paso, TX	54.31	118	110	33	100	45
75	Oceanside, CA	54.30	13	161	114	43	108
76	Oklahoma City, OK	54.27	137	13	80	93	68
77	Pearl City, HI	54.09	90	99	2	7	170
78	Arlington, TX	54.05	109	75	54	69	81
79	Des Moines, IA	54.05	117	29	100	29	93
80	Chula Vista, CA	54.03	19	145	62	44	119
81	Tucson, AZ	54.02	68	132	125	83	47
82	Cape Coral, FL	53.80	114	90	20	37	135
83	Louisville, KY	53.77	89	21	150	153	39
84	Burlington, VT	53.59	41	133	123	88	84
85	Irving, TX	53.56	99	55	39	58	116
86	Modesto, CA	53.53	74	53	52	112	117
87	Santa Rosa, CA	53.47	40	118	101	46	142
88	Albuquerque, NM	53.41	64	87	154	102	53
89	Warwick, RI	53.40	53	5	119	120	152
90	Amarillo, TX	53.14	125	52	6	111	139
91	Vancouver, WA	53.00	46	60	162	73	113
92	Long Beach, CA	52.83	25	173	118	36	90
93	Reno, NV	52.82	65	120	55	159	65
94	Tallahassee, FL	52.82	110	162	111	49	46
95	Kansas City, MO	52.79	133	25	108	145	52
96	Grand Prairie, TX	52.58	145	47	29	65	126
97	Glendale, CA	52.43	33	168	92	25	145
98	Billings, MT	52.28	131	23	94	124	105
99	Cheyenne, WY	51.95	149	19	44	84	150
100	Lexington-Fayette, KY	51.91	104	54	128	133	75
101	Greensboro, NC	51.78	126	107	48	121	82
102	Aurora, CO	51.72	31	108	131	98	127
103	South Burlington, VT	51.66	73	33	23	115	157
104	Tulsa, OK	51.31	144	62	71	103	89
105	Anchorage, AK	51.25	107	44	147	122	86
106	Huntsville, AL	51.25	156	40	84	99	98
107	Cincinnati, OH	51.24	119	119	163	163	22
108	Yonkers, NY	51.19	56	121	172	11	159
109	Port St. Lucie, FL	51.01	136	89	21	85	155
110	Riverside, CA	50.92	92	127	35	90	124
111	Garland, TX	50.81	113	58	91	54	151
112	Spokane, WA	50.80	70	98	145	128	103
113	Aurora, IL	50.74	127	36	148	66	128
114	Corpus Christi, TX	50.74	163	83	15	114	90
115	Tacoma, WA	50.36	94	70	170	123	85
116	Milwaukee, WI	49.93	122	79	166	137	62
117	Missoula, MT	49.91	78	167	96	148	74
118	Manchester, NH	49.81	101	105	105	138	109
119	Rochester, NY	49.72	100	126	177	78	70
120	St. Louis, MO	49.61	71	102	153	182	35
121	Indianapolis, IN	49.53	135	66	169	151	50
122	Fort Wayne, IN	49.36	160	57	89	85	146
123	Knoxville, TN	49.02	130	151	51	173	57
124	Fontana, CA	48.87	121	139	68	77	160
125	Lubbock, TX	48.86	164	114	25	126	111
126	Bakersfield, CA	48.79	86	76	98	161	134
127	Richmond, VA	48.78	102	149	135	155	79
128	Jersey City, NJ	48.66	93	97	167	101	112
129	Philadelphia, PA	48.47	51	86	178	181	44
130	Buffalo, NY	48.28	128	73	174	149	77
131	Newport News, VA	48.28	134	131	106	91	138
132	Chattanooga, TN	48.23	158	106	85	151	94
133	Santa Ana, CA	48.07	67	178	104	33	165
134	Worcester, MA	47.99	87	136	161	110	133
135	Casper, WY	47.67	174	43	129	108	163
136	Bridgeport, CT	47.54	80	134	181	15	178
137	Salem, OR	47.50	132	103	121	135	148
138	Las Cruces, NM	47.49	150	158	115	76	144
139	Ontario, CA	47.48	116	169	78	81	166
140	Oxnard, CA	47.38	60	172	152	72	173
141	Columbia, SC	47.30	157	154	144	129	80
142	Wichita, KS	47.23	152	45	141	142	140
143	Dover, DE	47.07	169	124	30	92	176
144	Juneau, AK	47.06	173	8	77	177	162
145	Providence, RI	46.99	79	140	171	165	99
146	New Orleans, LA	46.89	151	179	146	175	24
147	Springfield, MO	46.87	148	122	93	168	104
148	Fresno, CA	46.78	95	141	127	132	156
149	Norfolk, VA	46.56	153	163	137	150	78
150	Stockton, CA	46.55	88	142	139	107	168
151	New Haven, CT	46.33	139	155	175	60	137
152	Little Rock, AR	46.19	162	100	90	139	164
153	Columbus, GA	46.15	166	144	70	109	158
154	Birmingham, AL	46.14	168	170	81	167	67
155	Baltimore, MD	46.06	97	69	179	179	73
156	Moreno Valley, CA	46.06	141	148	82	104	171
157	Baton Rouge, LA	46.04	159	156	157	119	88
158	Lewiston, ME	46.02	120	61	99	166	181
159	Cleveland, OH	46.00	147	111	176	160	76
160	Nampa, ID	45.92	155	146	116	82	172
161	Wilmington, DE	45.84	129	143	158	136	136
162	Akron, OH	45.71	143	96	155	162	120
163	Hialeah, FL	45.15	98	182	74	13	175
164	Mobile, AL	45.02	165	128	113	158	129
165	Winston-Salem, NC	44.77	172	109	112	131	149
166	North Las Vegas, NV	44.69	146	147	102	164	141
167	San Bernardino, CA	44.08	142	174	126	97	167
168	Toledo, OH	44.01	140	78	173	176	125
169	Montgomery, AL	44.01	178	138	138	106	130
170	Memphis, TN	43.16	175	150	159	146	97
171	Fayetteville, NC	42.83	161	175	149	147	123
172	Fort Smith, AR	42.78	154	130	107	169	177
173	Charleston, WV	42.61	167	95	133	174	169
174	Brownsville, TX	42.56	182	135	28	71	182
175	Augusta, GA	41.93	176	152	117	143	154
176	Laredo, TX	41.85	181	159	22	105	180
177	Huntington, WV	41.38	170	129	140	180	143
178	Jackson, MS	40.95	179	171	142	118	153
179	Detroit, MI	40.26	171	137	180	178	101
180	Shreveport, LA	39.30	177	176	151	127	174
181	Newark, NJ	38.82	138	180	182	144	161
182	Gulfport, MS	36.16	180	177	124	171	179

Ask The Experts

For insight on the challenges in keeping resolutions and tips on overcoming them, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What tips do you have for people to improve their financial habits in the new year?
Why do so many people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions? What can they do to increase their odds of success?
What age-appropriate resolutions can help kids build skills and habits that will serve them well into adulthood?
Does using the word “resolutions” deter people from making them? How else can we refer to them?

Ask the Experts

: Donelson R. Forsyth
Professor, Colonel Leo K. & Gaylee Thorsness Endowed Chair in Ethical Leadership, University of Richmond
Read More

: Zlatan Krizan
Ph.D. – Professor of Psychology, Associate Editor - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Associate Editor - Journal of Research in Personality, Center for Study of Violence, Iowa State University
Read More

: Verlin B. Hinsz
Ph.D. – Professor of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Department of Psychology
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for keeping your New Year’s resolutions, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across five key dimensions: 1) Health Resolutions, 2) Financial Resolutions, 3) School & Work Resolutions, 4) Bad-Habit Resolutions and 5) Relationship Resolutions.

We evaluated those dimensions using 57 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for achieving one’s New Year’s goals. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

Health Resolutions – Total Points: 20

Share of Obese Adults: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
Share of Adults Not Exercising: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Access to Exercise Opportunities: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Access to Healthy-Food Stores: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Inadequate Fruit & Vegetable Consumption: Full* Weight (~2.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of adults who eat fewer than one serving of fruit or vegetables per day.
Share of Residents Who Say They Eat Healthy: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Gallup and Sharecare's 2016 Community Rankings for Healthy Eating report which examines healthy eating across the nation.
Fitness Centers per Capita: Full** Weight (~2.00 Points)
Weight-Loss Centers per Capita: Full** Weight (~2.00 Points)
Average Monthly Fitness-Club Fee: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Financial Resolutions – Total Points: 20

Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
Income Growth (2014–2018): Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Median Credit-Card Debt: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: “Debt” was calculated per person as share of median earnings.
Share of Delinquent Debtors: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Mortgage Debt: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: “Debt” was calculated per person as share of median earnings.
Non-Mortgage Debt: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: “Debt” was calculated per person as share of median earnings.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Share of Households with Emergency Savings: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of households that saved for unexpected expenses or emergencies in the past 12 months.
Homeownership Rate: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Rental Affordability: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Annual Price for Two-Bedroom Apartment Rental / Median Annual Household Income.
Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median House Price / Median Annual Household Income.
Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Financial-Products Comparison: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to compare “credit cards”, “mortgage rates”, “car insurance” and “car loans”. “Real intent” is measured using the average monthly search volumes for those specific terms.

School & Work Resolutions – Total Points: 20

Share of Public Schools Rated by GreatSchools.org with Above Average Score: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Average Quality of Universities: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric measures the average WalletHub College & University Score.
High School Dropout Rate: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Job Opportunities: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Number of Job Openings per Number of Population in Labor Force – Unemployment Rate.
Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
Income Growth (2014–2018): Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Job Security: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Number of Employees in 2018 – Number of Employees in 2017) / Number of Employees in 2017.
Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Gallup-Sharecare State of American Well-Being “Purpose” Rank: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: The “Purpose” Rank is defined as “Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals”.
Employment Outlook: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
Business Startup-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Large Cities to Start a Business” ranking.

Bad-Habit Resolutions – Total Points: 20

Binge- & Heavy Drinking: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric measures the age-adjusted prevalence of binge- and heavy drinking among adults aged 18 and older.
Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Share of Marijuana Users: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population aged 12 years and older who used marijuana in the past month.
Access to Opioids: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of opioid pain-reliever prescriptions per 100 residents.
Drug Overdose-Related Deaths: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Share of Adults with Gambling Disorders: Full* Weight (~2.22 Points)
Share of Adults with Inadequate Sleep: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours per night.
Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Share of Adults Who Visited a Doctor and/or Dentist in the Past Year: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)

Relationships Resolutions – Total Points: 20

Nightlife Establishments per Capita: Full** Weight (~1.67 Points)
Restaurants per Capita: Full** Weight (~1.67 Points)
Attractions: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, zoos, museums and theaters.
Park Playgrounds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Parkland Acres per Capita: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Average Wedding Cost: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: “Cost” was calculated as share of median earnings.
Family-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family” ranking.
Fun Opportunities: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
Singles-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Singles” ranking.
Sports Fan-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Sports Cities” ranking.
Gallup-Sharecare State of American Well-Being “Social” Rank: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: The “Social” Rank is defined as "Having supportive relationships and love in your life".
Share of Residents Who Regularly Talk or Spend Time with Friends and Family: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)

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Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Wedding Report, County Health Rankings, Yelp, Numbeo, TransUnion, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, GreatSchools, Corporation for National and Community Service, National Council on Problem Gambling, Indeed, Chmura Economics & Analytics, ManpowerGroup, Google Ads, TripAdvisor, The Trust for Public Land, Gallup – Sharecare and WalletHub research.

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