Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJun 21, 2022

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Jun 21, 2022

The past year has been a true test of the effectiveness of local leadership. City leaders have had to facilitate the transition from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic back to a state much closer to normal, including loosening restrictions and distributing the vaccine.

Even when the U.S. isn’t dealing with a pandemic, running a city is a tall order. The larger the city, the more complex it becomes to manage. In addition to representing the residents, local leaders must balance the public’s diverse interests with the city’s limited resources. That often means not everyone’s needs can or will be met. Leaders must carefully consider which services are most essential, which agencies’ budgets to cut or boost and whether and how much to raise taxes, among other decisions.

But how do we measure the effectiveness of local leadership? One way is by determining a city’s operating efficiency. In other words, we can learn how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget.

Using that approach, WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 150 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal which among them are managed best. We constructed a “Quality of Services” score made up of 38 metrics grouped into six service categories, which we then measured against the city’s per-capita budget.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best-Run Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Quality of City Services	Total Budget per Capita
1	Nampa, ID	21	1
2	Boise, ID	3	3
3	Fort Wayne, IN	62	2
4	Nashua, NH	9	9
5	Lexington-Fayette, KY	34	6
6	Lincoln, NE	11	19
7	Las Cruces, NM	69	5
8	Oklahoma City, OK	65	8
9	Missoula, MT	50	12
10	Durham, NC	51	11
11	Virginia Beach, VA	2	36
12	Rapid City, SD	108	4
13	Raleigh, NC	13	29
14	Billings, MT	77	13
15	Provo, UT	5	38
16	Chesapeake, VA	10	34
17	Sioux Falls, SD	44	21
18	Salem, OR	24	26
19	Manchester, NH	53	20
20	Mesa, AZ	30	25
21	Huntington Beach, CA	1	55
22	Charleston, SC	8	44
23	Albuquerque, NM	115	10
24	Madison, WI	19	42
25	Arlington, TX	27	31
26	Columbus, GA	91	16
27	Greensboro, NC	71	23
28	Cedar Rapids, IA	25	39
29	Huntington, WV	103	15
30	Bismarck, ND	15	48
31	Louisville, KY	100	17
32	Aurora, IL	36	37
33	Tucson, AZ	112	14
34	Phoenix, AZ	46	35
35	Warren, MI	72	28
36	Lewiston, ME	68	30
37	Tulsa, OK	92	22
38	El Paso, TX	33	50
39	Warwick, RI	61	43
40	Grand Rapids, MI	47	47
41	St. Petersburg, FL	28	54
42	Corpus Christi, TX	84	41
43	Worcester, MA	54	52
44	Portland, ME	14	69
45	Colorado Springs, CO	63	51
46	Las Vegas, NV	26	61
47	Reno, NV	67	49
48	Mobile, AL	99	32
49	Fort Worth, TX	66	53
50	Wichita, KS	132	24
51	Eugene, OR	29	71
52	Aurora, CO	81	56
53	Hialeah, FL	23	78
54	Topeka, KS	118	40
55	Des Moines, IA	64	62
56	Spokane, WA	58	68
57	Fort Smith, AR	128	33
58	Baton Rouge, LA	137	27
59	San Diego, CA	4	97
60	Fairbanks, AK	120	45
61	Fargo, ND	43	79
62	Santa Ana, CA	38	81
63	Little Rock, AR	122	46
64	Indianapolis, IN	88	60
65	Jackson, MS	149	7
66	Rutland, VT	87	67
67	Portland, OR	17	95
68	Omaha, NE	52	86
69	Frederick, MD	6	108
70	Casper, WY	76	80
71	Garland, TX	48	89
72	Montgomery, AL	123	58
73	Boston, MA	22	100
74	Gary, IN	147	18
75	Miami, FL	32	96
76	Fremont, CA	7	113
77	Dover, DE	110	64
78	Jacksonville, FL	105	70
79	Columbia, SC	93	76
80	Tallahassee, FL	79	85
81	Akron, OH	116	65
82	Houston, TX	106	73
83	Springfield, MA	125	63
84	Tampa, FL	31	101
85	Austin, TX	12	117
86	San Antonio, TX	45	103
87	Dayton, OH	119	74
88	New Orleans, LA	134	57
89	Salt Lake City, UT	37	106
90	Anchorage, AK	111	82
91	Bakersfield, CA	95	86
92	Columbus, OH	83	92
93	Charleston, WV	126	77
94	San Jose, CA	20	121
95	St. Paul, MN	60	104
96	Providence, RI	127	72
97	Norfolk, VA	107	88
98	Richmond, VA	80	98
99	Burlington, VT	40	114
100	Bridgeport, CT	124	83
101	Dallas, TX	98	93
102	Stockton, CA	130	75
103	Shreveport, LA	141	59
104	Orlando, FL	49	118
105	Anaheim, CA	70	111
106	Kansas City, MO	117	91
107	Toledo, OH	139	66
108	Lubbock, TX	94	101
109	Fort Lauderdale, FL	57	120
110	Cincinnati, OH	78	112
111	Modesto, CA	89	109
112	Charlotte, NC	41	126
113	Knoxville, TN	42	130
114	Nashville, TN	109	105
115	Sacramento, CA	86	122
116	Fresno, CA	121	107
117	Minneapolis, MN	59	133
118	Seattle, WA	18	140
119	Birmingham, AL	135	94
120	Pittsburgh, PA	74	129
121	Riverside, CA	85	127
122	Wilmington, DE	104	119
123	Milwaukee, WI	138	90
124	Syracuse, NY	97	123
125	Atlanta, GA	82	132
126	Long Beach, CA	39	139
127	Buffalo, NY	113	125
128	Cheyenne, WY	90	135
129	Los Angeles, CA	56	143
130	Baltimore, MD	140	110
131	New Haven, CT	131	124
132	Denver, CO	75	141
133	St. Louis, MO	148	84
134	Philadelphia, PA	129	128
135	Memphis, TN	143	115
136	Kansas City, KS	142	116
137	Yonkers, NY	73	144
138	Rochester, NY	114	138
139	Tacoma, WA	102	142
140	Chicago, IL	136	136
141	Gulfport, MS	101	145
142	Hartford, CT	144	131
143	Oakland, CA	96	147
144	Flint, MI	146	134
145	Detroit, MI	150	99
146	Cleveland, OH	145	137
147	Chattanooga, TN	133	146
148	New York, NY	35	148
149	San Francisco, CA	16	149
150	Washington, DC	55	150

Notes: *No. 1 = Best-Run
The columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the highest quality of city services, and the smallest budget per capita, respectively.

Long-Term Debt Outstanding per Capita

Lowest

Lowest
1. Nampa, ID
2. Casper, WY
3. Boise, ID
4. Huntington, WV
5. Cheyenne, WY

Highest

Highest
T-144. Atlanta, GA
T-144. New York, NY
T-144. Nashville, TN
T-144. San Francisco, CA
T-144. Washington, DC

High School Graduation Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Austin, TX
2. Tallahassee, FL
3. Birmingham, AL
4. Frederick, MD
5. Lubbock, TX

Lowest

Lowest
144. Denver, CO
145. Washington, DC
146. Columbia, SC
147. Toledo, OH
148. Richmond, VA

Infant Mortality Rate

Lowest

Lowest
1. San Jose, CA
2. San Francisco, CA
T-3. Huntington Beach, CA
T-3. Anaheim, CA
T-3. Santa Ana, CA

Highest

Highest
135. Topeka, KS
136. Jackson, MS
137. Shreveport, LA
T-138. Toledo, OH
T-138. Rapid City, SD

Violent Crime Rate

Lowest

Lowest
1. Warwick, RI
2. Virginia Beach, VA
3. Provo, UT
4. Nashua, NH
5. Fremont, CA

Highest

Highest
T-141. Baltimore, MD
T-141. Birmingham, AL
T-141. St. Louis, MO
T-141. Detroit, MI
T-141. Memphis, TN

Unemployment Rate

Lowest

Lowest
T-1. Provo, UT
T-1. Burlington, VT
T-1. Madison, WI
T-1. Lincoln, NE
T-1. Salt Lake City, UT

Highest

Highest
T-146. Bridgeport, CT
T-146. Gary, IN
148. Cleveland, OH
T-149. Detroit, MI
T-149. Flint, MI

Median Annual Household Income (Cost of Living-Adjusted)

Highest

Highest
1. Chesapeake, VA
2. Fremont, CA
3. Virginia Beach, VA
4. Raleigh, NC
5. Austin, TX

Lowest

Lowest
146. Cleveland, OH
147. Hartford, CT
148. Hialeah, FL
149. Detroit, MI
150. Gary, IN

% of Population in Poverty

Lowest

Lowest
1. Fremont, CA
T-2. Virginia Beach, VA
T-2. Warwick, RI
4. Chesapeake, VA
5. Huntington Beach, CA

Highest

Highest
146. Cleveland, OH
147. Huntington, WV
148. Gary, IN
149. Detroit, MI
150. Flint, MI

Quality of Roads

Highest

Highest
1. Jacksonville, FL
T-2. Knoxville, TN
T-2. Manchester, NH
T-2. Eugene, OR
T-2. Nashua, NH

Lowest

Lowest
T-123. Huntington Beach, CA
T-123. Santa Ana, CA
T-128. San Jose, CA
T-128. Oakland, CA
T-128. Fremont, CA
T-128. San Francisco, CA

Air Pollution

Least

Least
1. Billings, MT
2. Lubbock, TX
3. Anchorage, AK
4. Lewiston, ME
5. Salem, OR

Most

Most
T-143. Santa Ana, CA
T-143. Huntington Beach, CA
T-143. Long Beach, CA
T-148. Riverside, CA
T-148. Mesa, AZ
T-148. Phoenix, AZ

Detailed Breakdown by City

Quality of City Services* (Score)	City	Financial Stability	Education	Health	Safety	Economy	Infrastructure & Pollution
1 (69.66)	Huntington Beach, CA	64	1	4	23	20	131
2 (69.24)	Virginia Beach, VA	7	3	38	4	42	110
3 (68.02)	Boise, ID	37	41	10	8	4	32
4 (67.06)	San Diego, CA	74	5	11	25	21	37
5 (66.81)	Provo, UT	21	144	26	5	38	16
6 (66.65)	Frederick, MD	35	4	19	10	105	70
7 (65.97)	Fremont, CA	101	2	23	18	7	123
8 (65.92)	Charleston, SC	10	44	20	48	29	26
9 (65.64)	Nashua, NH	40	45	74	1	75	15
10 (65.27)	Chesapeake, VA	2	8	106	14	45	105
11 (65.23)	Lincoln, NE	14	50	21	22	59	54
12 (64.62)	Austin, TX	48	16	7	71	1	45
13 (64.56)	Raleigh, NC	15	82	77	15	6	75
14 (64.41)	Portland, ME	30	96	32	7	54	23
15 (63.68)	Bismarck, ND	22	100	6	29	32	60
16 (63.44)	San Francisco, CA	41	11	16	64	25	48
17 (63.37)	Portland, OR	19	30	24	85	63	3
18 (63.29)	Seattle, WA	27	12	15	75	26	57
19 (63.05)	Madison, WI	11	78	37	24	85	72
20 (62.96)	San Jose, CA	56	13	5	35	24	137
21 (62.63)	Nampa, ID	70	87	48	6	13	77
22 (62.32)	Boston, MA	4	145	34	17	92	49
23 (61.69)	Hialeah, FL	135	6	56	21	14	103
24 (61.21)	Salem, OR	57	67	22	51	52	30
25 (60.64)	Cedar Rapids, IA	24	70	91	27	77	80
26 (60.50)	Las Vegas, NV	85	55	81	37	46	11
27 (60.45)	Arlington, TX	52	17	53	45	15	134
28 (60.29)	St. Petersburg, FL	91	34	87	72	2	17
29 (60.06)	Eugene, OR	20	74	107	46	98	7
30 (60.02)	Mesa, AZ	62	88	43	31	8	115
31 (59.94)	Tampa, FL	72	52	96	55	11	28
32 (59.88)	Miami, FL	108	10	40	67	28	34
33 (59.81)	El Paso, TX	110	15	36	16	112	55
34 (59.74)	Lexington-Fayette, KY	58	25	47	32	57	125
35 (59.47)	New York, NY	103	29	29	12	135	46
36 (59.45)	Aurora, IL	131	24	33	9	84	100
37 (59.30)	Salt Lake City, UT	28	119	50	131	9	2
38 (59.12)	Santa Ana, CA	98	27	3	33	23	144
39 (59.06)	Long Beach, CA	121	7	9	49	30	124
40 (58.96)	Burlington, VT	95	125	1	20	119	13
41 (58.87)	Charlotte, NC	17	77	55	78	12	127
42 (58.80)	Knoxville, TN	23	19	84	116	51	19
43 (58.68)	Fargo, ND	87	91	28	44	66	36
44 (58.63)	Sioux Falls, SD	54	35	97	58	56	64
45 (58.37)	San Antonio, TX	29	38	62	83	65	78
46 (58.28)	Phoenix, AZ	34	101	41	91	18	59
47 (58.23)	Grand Rapids, MI	65	54	102	36	117	29
48 (58.21)	Garland, TX	112	22	44	30	10	139
49 (58.03)	Orlando, FL	80	32	63	113	5	35
50 (58.03)	Missoula, MT	106	65	13	39	41	87
51 (57.90)	Durham, NC	3	60	70	87	31	143
52 (57.82)	Omaha, NE	75	62	58	54	61	69
53 (57.72)	Manchester, NH	90	109	69	38	90	6
54 (57.61)	Worcester, MA	88	79	100	26	114	31
55 (57.58)	Washington, DC	41	84	57	73	131	20
56 (57.57)	Los Angeles, CA	93	72	14	52	80	86
57 (57.43)	Fort Lauderdale, FL	36	92	73	119	16	8
58 (57.15)	Spokane, WA	60	23	46	90	62	102
59 (57.12)	Minneapolis, MN	53	136	35	103	71	4
60 (56.99)	St. Paul, MN	51	138	49	59	68	50
61 (56.92)	Warwick, RI	102	48	130	2	69	128
62 (56.73)	Fort Wayne, IN	46	61	112	28	34	148
63 (56.43)	Colorado Springs, CO	71	58	71	69	27	119
64 (56.23)	Des Moines, IA	59	99	67	80	79	41
65 (55.96)	Oklahoma City, OK	8	46	111	97	67	136
66 (55.90)	Fort Worth, TX	105	69	30	62	22	121
67 (55.88)	Reno, NV	115	28	66	43	85	71
68 (55.76)	Lewiston, ME	89	142	59	11	123	51
69 (55.57)	Las Cruces, NM	44	75	119	61	99	79
70 (55.50)	Anaheim, CA	136	36	2	41	40	126
71 (55.49)	Greensboro, NC	6	26	127	99	108	120
72 (55.21)	Warren, MI	66	97	110	13	103	58
73 (55.16)	Yonkers, NY	139	66	18	3	121	96
74 (55.06)	Pittsburgh, PA	124	14	85	47	128	42
75 (54.90)	Denver, CO	41	134	64	92	43	83
76 (54.74)	Casper, WY	1	141	42	19	107	91
77 (54.57)	Billings, MT	50	89	116	89	44	74
78 (54.56)	Cincinnati, OH	78	86	98	94	116	14
79 (54.55)	Tallahassee, FL	84	18	136	77	106	18
80 (54.39)	Richmond, VA	33	147	93	50	100	99
81 (54.30)	Aurora, CO	39	106	45	81	70	141
82 (54.09)	Atlanta, GA	80	95	76	123	53	24
83 (53.94)	Columbus, OH	82	123	101	53	83	76
84 (53.83)	Corpus Christi, TX	76	37	94	79	104	111
85 (53.83)	Riverside, CA	122	53	25	63	19	147
86 (53.54)	Sacramento, CA	117	93	75	66	39	73
87 (53.53)	Rutland, VT	16	137	31	40	110	38
88 (53.11)	Indianapolis, IN	12	122	114	108	48	138
89 (53.08)	Modesto, CA	120	85	79	57	58	95
90 (53.03)	Cheyenne, WY	9	103	125	60	17	98
91 (52.51)	Columbus, GA	45	73	148	86	88	27
92 (52.12)	Tulsa, OK	26	68	90	137	76	117
93 (51.90)	Columbia, SC	47	146	51	102	130	62
94 (51.83)	Lubbock, TX	69	39	72	115	78	146
95 (51.46)	Bakersfield, CA	111	56	113	98	33	113
96 (51.38)	Oakland, CA	67	83	17	135	74	145
97 (51.33)	Syracuse, NY	113	110	80	65	144	9
98 (51.25)	Dallas, TX	133	47	27	111	35	106
99 (51.14)	Mobile, AL	55	71	131	122	102	52
100 (51.04)	Louisville, KY	31	111	126	112	81	112
101 (50.87)	Gulfport, MS	127	9	68	110	94	122
102 (50.86)	Tacoma, WA	100	63	88	118	91	92
103 (50.85)	Huntington, WV	5	51	123	101	111	33
104 (50.80)	Wilmington, DE	73	40	86	125	141	66
105 (50.68)	Jacksonville, FL	125	31	135	107	37	47
106 (50.56)	Houston, TX	114	42	39	129	96	93
107 (50.21)	Norfolk, VA	68	130	137	56	115	118
108 (50.21)	Rapid City, SD	86	64	138	96	60	142
109 (50.12)	Nashville, TN	103	104	104	130	3	109
110 (49.96)	Dover, DE	83	21	142	105	132	85
111 (49.87)	Anchorage, AK	77	80	128	84	47	94
112 (49.82)	Tucson, AZ	96	121	60	127	82	90
113 (49.74)	Buffalo, NY	116	132	115	68	134	39
114 (49.29)	Rochester, NY	126	112	108	74	142	1
115 (49.28)	Albuquerque, NM	92	117	95	144	89	5
116 (49.21)	Akron, OH	94	107	89	106	136	97
117 (49.11)	Kansas City, MO	107	57	54	140	93	82
118 (48.88)	Topeka, KS	97	76	149	100	73	44
119 (48.84)	Dayton, OH	63	120	121	132	125	40
120 (48.84)	Fairbanks, AK	13	133	12	109	64	130
121 (48.83)	Fresno, CA	137	43	78	88	50	132
122 (48.53)	Little Rock, AR	25	114	83	147	87	89
123 (48.40)	Montgomery, AL	109	81	143	95	95	63
124 (48.26)	Bridgeport, CT	144	108	8	42	145	88
125 (48.20)	Springfield, MA	119	131	133	70	140	10
126 (47.75)	Charleston, WV	123	20	144	121	36	101
127 (46.93)	Providence, RI	143	113	122	34	109	68
128 (46.64)	Fort Smith, AR	140	33	99	139	49	65
129 (45.82)	Philadelphia, PA	134	143	105	82	138	56
130 (45.42)	Stockton, CA	138	94	92	117	55	133
131 (45.39)	New Haven, CT	145	116	61	104	133	22
132 (45.08)	Wichita, KS	79	128	139	134	97	129
133 (44.48)	Chattanooga, TN	99	49	103	146	72	53
134 (44.40)	New Orleans, LA	132	118	109	138	139	21
135 (44.10)	Birmingham, AL	118	59	82	148	126	61
136 (43.70)	Chicago, IL	150	90	65	76	101	43
137 (43.36)	Baton Rouge, LA	49	124	129	145	129	140
138 (42.87)	Milwaukee, WI	130	105	118	124	143	108
139 (42.30)	Toledo, OH	128	150	145	93	124	84
140 (41.91)	Baltimore, MD	38	148	150	136	137	116
141 (41.01)	Shreveport, LA	141	102	132	133	113	81
142 (40.94)	Kansas City, KS	147	140	117	120	120	104
143 (40.64)	Memphis, TN	61	115	134	149	118	150
144 (38.49)	Hartford, CT	148	126	52	114	146	25
145 (37.70)	Cleveland, OH	129	135	124	142	148	114
146 (37.32)	Flint, MI	18	139	141	126	150	67
147 (36.34)	Gary, IN	32	127	140	128	149	135
148 (34.85)	St. Louis, MO	142	149	146	150	127	12
149 (34.33)	Jackson, MS	146	98	120	141	122	149
150 (28.92)	Detroit, MI	149	129	147	143	147	107

Notes: *No. 1 = Best-Run
With the exception of the “Quality of City Services” 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.

Ask the Experts

A well-run city isn’t just the product of efficient budgeting or lots of resources. It is the fruit of countless other decisions, too. For more insight into why some cities perform better than others, we turned to a panel of local-government, economic and diversity experts. Click on the panelists’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing US cities today?
What can citizens do to increase the transparency and accountability of local government?
In evaluating how well a city is run, what are the top 5 indicators?
What can be learned from cities' responses to the COVID-19 crisis? What, in your opinion, are the areas that need improvement?
How can local policymakers reduce racial tensions in the wake of recent movements?

Ask the Experts

Robert E. Wright
Ph.D. – Senior Faculty Fellow, American Institute for Economic Research
Read More

Gary L. Rose
Ph.D. – Professor and Chair, Department of Government – Sacred Heart University
Read More

Terry L. Clower
Ph.D. – Director, Center for Regional Analysis; Northern Virginia Chair and Professor of Public Policy; Schar School of Policy & Government – George Mason University
Read More

Kenneth Kickham
Ph.D. – Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Central Oklahoma
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best- and worst-run cities in America, WalletHub compared 150 of the most populated cities across six key categories: 1) Financial Stability, 2) Education, 3) Health, 4) Safety, 5) Economy and 6) Infrastructure & Pollution.

We evaluated those dimensions using 38 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 highest quality of service.

Next, we calculated an overall “Quality of City Services” score for each city based on its weighted average across all the metrics. Finally, for each city, we divided the “Quality of City Services” score by the “Total Budget per Capita” (dollar amount) in order to construct a “Score per Dollar Spent” index — displayed as “Overall Rank” in the Main Findings table above — which we then used to rank-order the cities in our sample.

The metrics used do not create a disadvantage for DC, despite its unusual status as a city/state, with the exception of the Outstanding Long-Term Debt per Capita metric. However, even with that metric removed, DC still ranks last. Thus, the District was included in this report.

Financial Stability – Total Points: 16.67

Moody’s City Credit Rating: Quadruple Weight (~13.33 Points)
Outstanding Long-Term Debt per Capita: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

Education – Total Points: 16.67

K–12 School-System Quality: Double Weight (~11.11 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of public schools rated by GreatSchools.org with above average score.
High School Graduation Rate: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)

Health – Total Points: 16.67

Infant Mortality Rate: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
Average Life Expectancy (in Years): Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
Hospital Beds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Quality of Public Hospital System: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems.
Average Daily COVID-19 Deaths in the Past Week per Capita: Double Weight (~2.38 Points)
Average Daily COVID-19 Cases in the Past Week per Capita: Double Weight (~2.38 Points)

Safety – Total Points: 16.67

Violent Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
Property Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
Motor Vehicle Fatalities per Capita: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
Share of Sheltered Homeless Persons: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Perception of Safety (Safety walking alone during daylight/night): Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Note: These data are based on perceptions of visitors of numbeo.com website in the past 3 years.
If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.

Economy – Total Points: 16.67

Unemployment Rate: Triple Weight (~3.13 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.04 Points)
Median Annual Household Income (Adjusted for Cost of Living): Double Weight (~2.08 Points)
Median Annual Income Growth Rate: Double Weight (~2.08 Points)
Note: Growth compares the income level in 2020 versus in 2019.
Annual Job Growth Rate (Adjusted for Population Growth): Double Weight (~2.08 Points)
Note: Growth compares the number of employed civilian population in 2022 versus in 2021.
Share of Population Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~2.08 Points)
Growth in Number of Businesses: Full Weight (~1.04 Points)
Note: Growth compares the number of businesses in 2019 versus in 2018.
Change in Housing Prices: Full Weight (~1.04 Points)
Note: Change compares the price in 2021 versus in 2014.
Zillow Home Value 1-year Forecast: Full Weight (~1.04 Points)
Note: The Zillow Home Value Forecast is Zillow's prediction of what the Zillow Home Value Index will be one year from now.
Building-Permit Growth: Full Weight (~1.04 Points)
Note: Growth spans 2018 to 2020.

Infrastructure & Pollution – Total Points: 16.67

- Quality of Roads: Quadruple Weight (~3.03 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of pavements in poor condition.
- Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
- Transit Access Shed: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
  Note: “Transit Access Shed” is the total area of land that is easily accessible from any point via public transportation.
- Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
- Walk Score: Triple Weight (~2.27 Points)
  Note: “Walk Score” measures pedestrian friendliness by analyzing population density and road metrics such as block length and intersection density.
- Bike Score: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
  Note: “Bike Score” measures whether an area is good for biking. The Bike Score is calculated by measuring bike infrastructure (lanes, trails, etc.), hills, destinations and road connectivity, and the number of bike commuters.
- Transit Score: Half Weight (~0.38 Points)
  Note: “Transit Score” is a patented measure of how well a location is served by public transit.
- Recreation-Friendliness: Quadruple Weight (~3.03 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking.
- Share of Residents with Access to Internet: Half Weight (~0.38 Points)
- Water Quality: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
- Air Pollution: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
- Greenhouse-Gas Emissions per Capita: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
- Share of Parkland: Triple Weight (~2.27 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Moody's Investors Service, GreatSchools.org, County Health Rankings, Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Zillow, The Road Information Program, Center for Neighborhood Technology, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Walk Score, The Trust for Public Land, INRIX, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Numbeo, The New York Times and WalletHub research.

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