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

Adam McCann, Financial WriterJan 3, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Jan 3, 2022

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. 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. Plus, with the COVID-19 pandemic throwing life out of sync and closing down or limiting the capacity of many public spaces, meeting New Year’s resolutions will likely be even harder than usual. To stick with the example of getting fit, the pandemic might cut off access to local gyms and lead to too much financial hardship for a person to buy home fitness equipment.

More than 7 in 10 people admit they have failed to uphold their New Year’s resolutions in the past, according to a recent WalletHub survey, but there’s no reason not to try again. As we set our goals for 2022, some of the biggest financial resolutions you might want to consider include paying off some of your credit card debt, adding to your emergency fund and paying bills immediately after getting a paycheck.

To determine where Americans are most likely to stick to their goals for 2022, 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 exercise opportunities to income growth to employment outlook.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Cities for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Health Resolutions	Financial Resolutions	School & Work Resolutions	Bad-Habit Resolutions	Relationship Resolutions
1	Scottsdale, AZ	65.73	6	6	1	25	28
2	Seattle, WA	65.64	14	5	71	14	3
3	San Francisco, CA	65.54	7	25	94	62	1
4	Irvine, CA	64.94	1	40	3	5	56
5	San Diego, CA	63.98	4	90	63	17	6
6	Salt Lake City, UT	63.58	24	44	13	16	14
7	Overland Park, KS	63.35	50	1	2	7	79
8	Plano, TX	63.31	21	4	5	6	60
9	Fremont, CA	63.19	5	2	62	4	83
10	Austin, TX	62.43	51	46	17	24	10
11	Atlanta, GA	61.93	61	54	8	28	11
12	San Jose, CA	61.88	20	11	107	2	41
13	Columbia, MD	61.88	31	3	69	1	107
14	Raleigh, NC	61.38	27	20	65	12	29
15	Huntington Beach, CA	60.95	2	88	11	15	85
16	Madison, WI	60.73	70	7	68	8	32
17	Orlando, FL	60.69	45	97	6	80	13
18	Portland, OR	60.44	17	22	122	136	4
19	Virginia Beach, VA	60.30	35	39	18	44	31
20	Chandler, AZ	60.19	11	14	29	37	69
21	Tampa, FL	59.69	30	92	24	75	21
22	Tempe, AZ	59.61	9	79	57	49	33
23	Minneapolis, MN	59.33	64	10	146	40	16
24	Charlotte, NC	59.11	53	37	47	55	27
25	Honolulu, HI	59.07	28	155	87	42	7
26	Boise, ID	58.95	44	58	12	57	43
27	Las Vegas, NV	58.70	10	123	105	164	2
28	Gilbert, AZ	58.43	13	15	10	36	113
29	Portland, ME	57.61	40	13	113	91	49
30	St. Petersburg, FL	57.45	16	68	23	130	51
31	Omaha, NE	57.32	79	8	82	84	39
32	Lincoln, NE	57.20	89	17	58	38	50
33	Denver, CO	57.18	26	61	158	146	8
34	Charleston, SC	57.10	80	86	27	82	25
35	Pittsburgh, PA	56.76	62	21	97	161	15
36	Fargo, ND	56.59	87	66	89	13	54
37	Chicago, IL	56.54	88	23	166	119	5
38	Washington, DC	56.53	49	64	168	111	9
39	South Burlington, VT	56.37	25	36	9	29	159
40	Durham, NC	56.27	73	59	44	20	81
41	Los Angeles, CA	56.11	42	158	136	63	17
42	Fort Lauderdale, FL	55.99	18	151	76	73	48
43	Phoenix, AZ	55.61	68	43	78	70	55
44	Peoria, AZ	55.58	58	33	19	51	122
45	Sacramento, CA	55.41	55	81	110	88	38
46	Cedar Rapids, IA	55.39	122	9	103	9	104
47	Colorado Springs, CO	55.28	43	106	92	78	52
48	Chesapeake, VA	55.26	110	53	37	35	63
49	Houston, TX	55.19	96	67	126	83	22
50	Pembroke Pines, FL	55.13	29	118	16	39	127
51	Sioux Falls, SD	55.10	119	55	67	10	86
52	Albuquerque, NM	54.98	60	60	150	86	37
53	Miami, FL	54.91	39	181	30	46	26
54	Santa Clarita, CA	54.77	19	113	72	41	115
55	Spokane, WA	54.51	57	101	35	97	77
56	West Valley City, UT	54.32	98	35	21	34	135
57	Nashua, NH	54.31	66	18	79	90	99
58	Boston, MA	54.26	52	111	161	131	18
59	Vancouver, WA	54.15	36	57	139	47	111
60	Dallas, TX	54.12	95	126	56	74	40
61	Oceanside, CA	54.11	3	144	147	26	134
62	San Antonio, TX	53.99	109	130	45	87	34
63	Warwick, RI	53.90	67	12	40	115	136
64	Grand Rapids, MI	53.88	83	42	114	43	89
65	Henderson, NV	53.84	33	48	26	153	90
66	Reno, NV	53.83	46	137	34	160	46
67	Jacksonville, FL	53.82	93	94	31	154	36
68	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	53.73	71	78	15	69	126
69	Garden Grove, CA	53.69	38	145	75	23	116
70	Santa Rosa, CA	53.61	8	115	134	31	152
71	Fort Worth, TX	53.59	126	69	42	58	68
72	Mesa, AZ	53.47	41	65	53	71	123
73	Glendale, AZ	53.46	59	122	85	77	70
74	Juneau, AK	53.34	63	50	25	107	138
75	Burlington, VT	53.27	32	117	142	56	97
76	Chula Vista, CA	53.26	15	120	144	18	120
77	Bismarck, ND	53.23	117	27	96	22	119
78	Rapid City, SD	53.09	118	91	77	27	87
79	Tucson, AZ	52.84	54	135	137	100	53
80	Kansas City, MO	52.83	160	34	81	121	35
81	Pearl City, HI	52.81	34	102	46	48	163
82	New York, NY	52.76	76	166	178	30	20
83	Lexington-Fayette, KY	52.73	92	30	109	140	57
84	Cincinnati, OH	52.68	115	89	130	157	19
85	Des Moines, IA	52.64	147	24	93	45	75
86	St. Paul, MN	52.54	82	28	170	72	65
87	Oakland, CA	52.43	37	114	159	19	106
88	Anchorage, AK	52.40	97	38	123	110	74
89	Columbus, OH	52.31	148	26	140	125	30
90	Huntsville, AL	52.28	146	31	20	93	101
91	St. Louis, MO	52.25	72	77	118	179	23
92	Oklahoma City, OK	52.07	143	19	104	113	58
93	Anaheim, CA	52.05	23	172	128	21	112
94	Cape Coral, FL	52.05	77	73	22	96	153
95	Nashville, TN	51.96	125	80	98	168	24
96	Arlington, TX	51.89	121	84	43	67	94
97	Tacoma, WA	51.72	94	51	135	120	78
98	Aurora, CO	51.67	47	103	156	66	98
99	El Paso, TX	51.65	112	124	115	61	66
100	Glendale, CA	51.57	12	165	132	50	149
101	Irving, TX	51.51	99	76	32	102	114
102	Cheyenne, WY	51.30	135	47	66	60	133
103	Billings, MT	51.28	120	32	80	128	100
104	Greensboro, NC	51.26	102	100	52	104	95
105	Modesto, CA	51.18	48	56	95	122	157
106	Aurora, IL	51.18	132	29	131	32	124
107	Long Beach, CA	50.70	22	174	133	64	109
108	Milwaukee, WI	50.64	128	74	152	126	47
109	Louisville, KY	50.51	124	41	120	171	44
110	Columbia, SC	50.30	136	141	86	98	61
111	Tallahassee, FL	50.25	133	171	91	65	59
112	Yonkers, NY	50.10	78	116	177	3	158
113	Tulsa, OK	50.06	159	85	54	109	80
114	Missoula, MT	49.96	56	170	116	137	73
115	Port St. Lucie, FL	49.88	114	93	28	76	169
116	Bakersfield, CA	49.76	90	70	121	117	117
117	Manchester, NH	49.68	86	75	141	114	130
118	Jersey City, NJ	49.43	69	83	175	53	125
119	Amarillo, TX	49.40	141	95	14	132	129
120	Rochester, NY	49.40	113	133	167	81	71
121	Knoxville, TN	49.31	106	164	39	175	42
122	Riverside, CA	49.31	91	143	60	85	132
123	Indianapolis, IN	49.22	130	49	151	149	67
124	Providence, RI	49.12	101	142	106	143	84
125	Grand Prairie, TX	48.90	163	72	41	94	143
126	Buffalo, NY	48.78	111	82	173	118	76
127	Fresno, CA	48.77	85	121	74	124	139
128	Garland, TX	48.73	123	62	55	89	156
129	Casper, WY	48.37	134	52	124	103	155
130	Worcester, MA	48.32	105	119	163	105	102
131	Springfield, MO	48.26	127	149	61	148	93
132	Fort Wayne, IN	47.93	167	45	48	106	145
133	Chattanooga, TN	47.73	138	108	59	163	96
134	Santa Ana, CA	47.67	75	177	102	33	161
135	Lubbock, TX	47.48	153	146	38	139	108
136	Nampa, ID	47.33	152	140	70	79	150
137	Wichita, KS	47.33	170	16	117	135	121
138	Fort Smith, AR	47.31	129	99	7	165	162
139	Philadelphia, PA	47.24	81	63	180	180	45
140	Oxnard, CA	47.18	65	154	169	59	178
141	Salem, OR	47.08	131	109	90	145	144
142	Wilmington, DE	47.03	107	128	164	133	110
143	Norfolk, VA	46.99	161	159	125	127	72
144	Corpus Christi, TX	46.78	162	127	83	150	91
145	Cleveland, OH	46.58	149	96	145	174	64
146	New Orleans, LA	46.58	140	179	165	173	12
147	Fontana, CA	46.28	151	147	112	92	147
148	Richmond, VA	45.90	104	152	155	152	105
149	Las Cruces, NM	45.83	155	167	154	68	137
150	Newport News, VA	45.82	150	139	100	123	148
151	Mobile, AL	45.80	154	132	99	151	128
152	Winston-Salem, NC	45.78	168	98	64	142	140
153	Birmingham, AL	45.70	165	163	73	162	82
154	Stockton, CA	45.66	84	125	153	116	170
155	Bridgeport, CT	45.64	74	153	181	11	182
156	Akron, OH	45.57	157	105	148	138	131
157	New Haven, CT	45.46	139	162	174	54	142
158	Baltimore, MD	45.42	108	87	176	181	62
159	Little Rock, AR	45.24	144	112	101	155	154
160	Laredo, TX	45.03	179	107	4	101	168
161	Ontario, CA	44.89	145	169	84	99	165
162	Columbus, GA	44.87	164	136	33	141	176
163	Moreno Valley, CA	44.38	158	150	111	95	173
164	Baton Rouge, LA	43.91	156	156	172	158	88
165	North Las Vegas, NV	43.70	100	148	157	167	146
166	Lewiston, ME	43.65	137	71	138	172	172
167	Dover, DE	42.78	174	157	108	108	180
168	Toledo, OH	42.60	142	104	171	178	118
169	Memphis, TN	42.28	173	161	160	166	92
170	Hialeah, FL	42.24	103	182	127	52	181
171	Brownsville, TX	42.18	182	138	36	112	177
172	Charleston, WV	41.96	175	110	51	176	166
173	Fayetteville, NC	41.81	169	173	129	147	151
174	Montgomery, AL	41.76	178	129	119	144	164
175	San Bernardino, CA	40.82	166	175	149	129	174
176	Jackson, MS	40.36	180	134	143	134	160
177	Augusta, GA	40.13	176	160	88	170	167
178	Detroit, MI	39.91	171	131	179	177	103
178	Huntington, WV	39.91	172	168	49	182	141
180	Shreveport, LA	37.64	177	176	162	156	179
181	Gulfport, MS	37.00	181	178	50	169	175
182	Newark, NJ	36.29	116	180	182	159	171

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

artwork 2022 best cities for keeping your new years resolutions

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?
Without a doubt, the pandemic affected the majority of Americans’ financial plans. Given that paying off debt or saving a lot of money might not be feasible plans for a few years, what should people keep in mind in order to make – and keep – realistic financial resolutions?
Does using phrasing of “New Year’s Resolutions” deter people from making them? How else can we refer to them?

Ask the Experts

Noah Goldstein
Ph.D. – Professor of Management and Organizations, Anderson School of Management – University of California, Los Angeles and author of the New York Times bestseller, Yes!
Read More

Clark McCauley
Research Professor of Psychology – Bryn Mawr College
Read More

Julio A. Rivas
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Finance, College of Business – Lipscomb University
Read More

Steven C. Hayes
Foundation Professor of Psychology, College of Science – University of Nevada, Reno and author of A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters (Penguin/Avery)
Read More

Wendy Johnny
Ph.D. – Adjunct Assistant Professor / Counselor, SEEK Department – John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
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 (2015–2019): 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 (2015–2019): 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 2021 September – Number of Employees in 2020 September) / Number of Employees in 2020 September.
Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Sharecare’s Community Well-Being “Purpose” Index Score: 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 Drinking: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric measures the age-adjusted prevalence of binge 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 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.
Sharecare’s Community Well-Being “Social” Index Score: 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)

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, Sharecare, TripAdvisor, The Trust for Public Land, Gallup – Sharecare and WalletHub research.

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