2023’s Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJun 20, 2023

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Jun 20, 2023

The past year has been a true test of the effectiveness of local leadership. City leaders have had to deal with economic difficulties like high inflation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other issues like elevated homicide rates.

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

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. Casper, WY
2. Nampa, ID
3. Huntington, WV
4. Boise, ID
5. Baton Rouge, LA

Highest

Highest
T-145. San Francisco, CA
T-145. Denver, CO
T-145. Atlanta, GA
T-145. New York, NY
T-145. Nashville, TN

High School Graduation Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Tallahassee, FL
2. Austin, TX
3. Fort Wayne, IN
4. Cedar Rapids, IA
5. Provo, UT

Lowest

Lowest
145. Fairbanks, AK
146. Baltimore, MD
147. Columbia, SC
148. Toledo, OH
149. Richmond, VA

Infant Mortality Rate

Lowest

Lowest
1. Yonkers, NY
2. San Diego, CA
3. Spokane, WA
4. Bridgeport, CT
5. Worcester, MA

Highest

Highest
135. Tallahassee, FL
T-136. Richmond, VA
T-136. Jackson, MS
T-136. Rapid City, SD
T-136. Little Rock, AR

Violent Crime Rate

Lowest

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

Highest

Highest
T-140. Little Rock, AR
T-140. Baltimore, MD
T-140. Detroit, MI
T-140. St. Louis, MO
T-140. Memphis, TN

Unemployment Rate

Lowest

Lowest
T-1. Madison, WI
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Hialeah, FL
T-1. Bismark, ND
T-1. Burlington, VT

Highest

Highest
145. Hartford, CT
146. Stockton, CA
147. Gary, IN
148. Detroit, MI
149. Flint, MI

Median Annual Household Income (Cost of Living-Adjusted)

Highest

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

Lowest

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

% of Population in Poverty

Lowest

Lowest
1. Fremont, CA
2. Warwick, RI
3. San Jose, CA
T-4. Huntington Beach, CA
T-4. Virginia Beach, VA

Highest

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

Quality of Roads

Highest

Highest
1. Tallahassee, FL
2. Frederick, MD
3. Jacksonville, FL
T-4. Minneapolis, MN
T-4. St. Paul, MN

Lowest

Lowest
T-125. Oakland, CA
T-125. San Francisco, CA
127. San Jose, CA
T-128. Anaheim, CA
T-128. Long Beach, CA
T-128. Los Angeles, CA

Air Pollution

Least

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

Most

Most
T-142. Los Angeles, CA
T-142. Santa Ana, CA
T-147. Mesa, AZ
T-147. Phoenix, AZ
149. Riverside, CA

Detailed Breakdown by City

Quality of City Services* (Score)	City	Financial Stability	Education	Health	Safety	Economy	Infrastructure & Pollution
1 (71.20)	Huntington Beach, CA	62	2	11	15	26	66
2 (68.58)	Fremont, CA	122	1	9	27	19	104
3 (68.53)	Virginia Beach, VA	9	7	77	8	23	107
4 (67.92)	Nashua, NH	21	49	40	1	36	38
5 (67.50)	Portland, ME	36	79	20	3	18	4
6 (66.75)	Provo, UT	24	29	32	9	29	65
7 (66.14)	San Diego, CA	86	8	7	25	39	41
8 (65.73)	Frederick, MD	34	5	46	29	115	10
9 (65.51)	Boise, ID	43	30	44	6	4	92
10 (65.44)	Chesapeake, VA	3	9	65	20	30	141
11 (65.13)	Seattle, WA	25	11	13	83	14	23
12 (64.95)	San Francisco, CA	49	12	2	65	92	16
13 (64.42)	Raleigh, NC	12	73	26	32	13	89
14 (63.91)	Madison, WI	11	87	14	23	102	75
15 (63.73)	Hialeah, FL	129	3	18	21	10	130
16 (63.71)	Austin, TX	33	18	19	74	11	50
17 (63.36)	San Jose, CA	57	23	1	40	61	121
18 (63.06)	St. Petersburg, FL	94	6	74	70	1	33
19 (62.82)	Portland, OR	16	35	15	87	87	6
20 (62.80)	Boston, MA	4	143	17	18	117	31
21 (62.79)	Tampa, FL	31	31	80	62	2	29
22 (62.66)	Lincoln, NE	2	71	54	19	73	114
23 (61.94)	Aurora, IL	116	19	25	5	83	109
24 (61.87)	Grand Rapids, MI	64	26	48	36	75	12
25 (61.81)	Bismarck, ND	27	65	38	31	95	73
26 (60.94)	Orlando, FL	39	16	33	112	31	28
27 (60.82)	Sioux Falls, SD	53	53	41	44	21	88
28 (60.45)	Cedar Rapids, IA	28	69	75	30	70	94
29 (60.39)	Charleston, SC	19	95	67	51	24	63
30 (60.38)	Durham, NC	7	41	27	73	33	138
31 (60.37)	Fargo, ND	100	20	34	41	71	40
32 (60.24)	Warwick, RI	101	42	82	2	54	98
33 (60.02)	Salt Lake City, UT	32	22	29	125	22	11
34 (59.63)	Nampa, ID	77	135	45	7	9	110
35 (59.56)	New York, NY	103	27	23	11	143	32
36 (59.50)	Miami, FL	142	4	12	71	25	14
37 (59.29)	Las Vegas, NV	82	56	68	35	64	30
38 (59.26)	Eugene, OR	22	55	66	57	124	21
39 (58.83)	Mesa, AZ	59	48	64	37	7	142
40 (58.81)	Charlotte, NC	13	91	52	78	8	123
41 (58.71)	Worcester, MA	91	88	28	26	111	58
42 (58.45)	Lexington-Fayette, KY	56	14	79	45	78	128
43 (58.40)	San Antonio, TX	26	37	73	89	43	78
44 (58.23)	Salem, OR	72	66	22	64	81	79
45 (57.94)	El Paso, TX	119	15	59	16	69	116
46 (57.70)	Phoenix, AZ	35	93	61	104	5	67
47 (57.50)	Manchester, NH	89	116	36	46	62	22
48 (57.45)	Santa Ana, CA	88	82	10	39	53	129
49 (57.19)	Minneapolis, MN	48	125	37	108	90	1
50 (57.16)	Lewiston, ME	93	146	108	14	12	34
51 (56.80)	Omaha, NE	78	62	89	47	48	96
52 (56.77)	Spokane, WA	68	33	24	110	63	95
53 (56.76)	Yonkers, NY	137	75	5	4	139	45
54 (56.55)	Pittsburgh, PA	124	17	86	43	116	9
55 (56.54)	Burlington, VT	95	138	4	28	113	18
56 (56.43)	Fort Lauderdale, FL	40	50	30	130	40	54
57 (56.35)	Arlington, TX	63	24	85	54	35	143
58 (56.28)	Reno, NV	120	36	94	22	44	102
59 (56.27)	Los Angeles, CA	96	85	21	53	119	87
60 (56.10)	Colorado Springs, CO	71	46	104	59	15	115
61 (56.05)	Las Cruces, NM	52	77	100	52	94	83
62 (55.96)	Missoula, MT	115	68	57	60	17	82
63 (55.93)	Denver, CO	49	99	53	99	37	80
64 (55.82)	Garland, TX	108	25	76	24	56	148
65 (55.76)	Fort Wayne, IN	20	54	132	42	41	133
66 (55.14)	Greensboro, NC	6	40	117	107	84	126
67 (55.05)	Des Moines, IA	60	115	63	77	79	55
68 (54.99)	Anaheim, CA	139	44	8	38	57	124
69 (54.80)	Rutland, VT	10	140	83	12	80	27
70 (54.78)	Aurora, CO	38	102	39	85	66	139
71 (54.75)	Jacksonville, FL	74	52	121	91	20	48
72 (54.59)	Casper, WY	1	124	120	13	67	74
73 (54.59)	Warren, MI	66	83	103	10	123	51
74 (54.52)	Oklahoma City, OK	8	81	109	96	49	133
75 (54.47)	Long Beach, CA	130	32	16	48	122	120
76 (54.46)	Oakland, CA	65	60	6	126	131	97
77 (54.43)	St. Paul, MN	73	128	96	66	112	8
78 (54.32)	Atlanta, GA	83	98	78	129	3	36
79 (54.18)	Knoxville, TN	42	34	99	134	50	44
80 (53.79)	Tallahassee, FL	79	28	138	75	86	15
81 (53.61)	Dover, DE	84	72	98	76	109	46
82 (53.61)	Wilmington, DE	70	38	43	122	134	7
83 (53.58)	Cheyenne, WY	15	129	92	49	28	71
84 (52.93)	Richmond, VA	37	144	136	34	59	93
85 (52.76)	Cincinnati, OH	81	94	101	97	121	17
86 (52.73)	Rochester, NY	105	114	31	92	132	2
87 (52.67)	Riverside, CA	126	57	47	55	16	145
88 (52.63)	Corpus Christi, TX	75	39	91	88	93	136
89 (52.62)	Fort Worth, TX	111	74	60	61	34	144
90 (52.55)	Columbus, OH	85	123	119	56	52	84
91 (52.24)	Indianapolis, IN	14	109	128	105	47	117
92 (52.13)	Sacramento, CA	117	76	55	79	97	103
92 (52.13)	Bridgeport, CT	138	117	3	17	146	62
94 (52.01)	Providence, RI	135	111	51	33	72	52
95 (51.57)	Tucson, AZ	90	101	69	119	45	99
96 (51.56)	Gulfport, MS	128	10	97	82	98	125
97 (51.36)	Syracuse, NY	106	113	70	68	141	3
98 (51.11)	Rapid City, SD	54	110	142	94	6	111
99 (51.11)	Louisville, KY	47	103	127	101	105	77
100 (50.95)	Tacoma, WA	99	89	50	121	103	56
101 (50.91)	Billings, MT	51	105	125	111	46	106
102 (50.85)	Dallas, TX	131	51	56	109	27	113
103 (50.68)	Modesto, CA	121	107	95	63	74	100
104 (50.56)	Anchorage, AK	87	96	93	90	51	76
105 (50.52)	Fairbanks, AK	18	141	35	67	106	69
106 (50.48)	Topeka, KS	97	86	113	117	89	20
107 (50.44)	Norfolk, VA	67	134	130	58	82	119
108 (50.38)	Mobile, AL	55	61	141	120	58	43
109 (50.36)	Buffalo, NY	102	133	90	69	142	19
110 (50.07)	Tulsa, OK	29	78	115	138	60	108
111 (50.01)	Albuquerque, NM	92	100	62	144	42	39
112 (49.76)	Houston, TX	112	45	42	133	101	112
113 (49.68)	Fresno, CA	113	70	81	86	99	137
114 (49.57)	Columbia, SC	41	149	84	114	104	61
115 (49.40)	Huntington, WV	5	59	134	84	128	35
116 (49.18)	Dayton, OH	61	112	122	118	120	26
117 (48.76)	Akron, OH	98	118	116	93	125	47
118 (48.43)	Columbus, GA	46	64	149	98	110	68
119 (48.20)	Lubbock, TX	69	47	106	132	91	146
120 (47.74)	Springfield, MA	123	130	102	50	147	49
121 (47.62)	Nashville, TN	103	104	123	128	32	90
122 (47.57)	Bakersfield, CA	109	80	105	81	96	149
123 (47.29)	Wichita, KS	80	121	111	131	76	118
124 (47.08)	Little Rock, AR	30	106	135	142	68	70
125 (47.07)	Kansas City, MO	110	58	112	136	55	105
126 (46.71)	Charleston, WV	133	21	139	102	100	53
127 (46.07)	Philadelphia, PA	132	137	124	72	114	59
128 (45.12)	Montgomery, AL	118	97	145	95	126	42
129 (44.93)	Chattanooga, TN	76	92	72	146	38	60
130 (44.48)	Milwaukee, WI	136	119	87	113	130	72
131 (44.21)	New Haven, CT	144	126	58	103	136	13
132 (44.13)	Birmingham, AL	107	43	114	148	88	85
133 (43.82)	Baltimore, MD	45	148	147	123	138	86
134 (43.08)	Chicago, IL	149	67	71	80	129	37
135 (43.01)	Baton Rouge, LA	44	108	129	145	135	135
136 (42.97)	New Orleans, LA	125	142	110	137	133	24
137 (42.74)	Cleveland, OH	114	136	107	139	137	91
138 (41.93)	Fort Smith, AR	134	63	126	143	65	64
139 (41.69)	Stockton, CA	140	120	88	115	107	147
140 (41.48)	Kansas City, KS	145	145	118	116	77	81
141 (40.40)	St. Louis, MO	141	13	148	147	85	25
142 (40.39)	Toledo, OH	127	147	144	100	127	122
143 (39.34)	Memphis, TN	58	122	143	149	108	131
144 (39.22)	Flint, MI	17	139	137	124	144	57
145 (38.24)	Hartford, CT	147	132	49	106	149	5
146 (38.00)	Shreveport, LA	143	84	133	127	140	101
147 (35.68)	Gary, IN	23	127	131	135	148	140
148 (33.19)	Jackson, MS	146	90	140	140	118	132
149 (29.39)	Detroit, MI	148	131	146	141	145	127

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, in your opinion, are the areas that need improvement when it comes to cities’ emergency preparedness and response?
How can local policymakers reduce racial tensions in the wake of recent movements?

Ask the Experts

James Davenport
Associate Dean for Social Sciences/Professor of Political Science, Liberal Arts & Sciences Division – Rose State College
Read More

Michael Touchton
Professor of Political Science, Faculty Lead for Global Health, Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas – University of Miami
Read More

Katrina Taylor
Professor, Department of Political Science; Chair, Anthropology/History/Political Science – Tacoma Community College
Read More

James Quirk
Ph.D. – Senior Professorial Lecturer, School of Public Affairs – American University
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best- and worst-run cities in America, WalletHub compared 149 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 36 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.

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 (~6.67 Points)
Average Life Expectancy (in Years): Quadruple Weight (~6.67 Points)
Hospital Beds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Quality of Public Hospital System: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems.

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 2021 versus in 2020.
Annual Job Growth Rate (Adjusted for Population Growth): Double Weight (~2.08 Points)
Note: Growth compares the number of employed civilian population in 2023 versus in 2022.
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 2021 versus in 2020.
Change in Housing Prices: Full Weight (~1.04 Points)
Note: Change compares the price in 2022 versus in 2019.
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 2020 to 2022.

Infrastructure & Pollution – Total Points: 16.67

Quality of Roads: Quadruple Weight (~3.03 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of major roads in poor and mediocre 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 and WalletHub research.

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Questions & Answers(11 questions)

Where is the complete report?

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Why do these lists always compare global cities with global challenges (NYC and SF) against small towns?

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Would Flint, Michigan's deadly water really only lower it's infrastructure score by a tiny percentage? What jobs of joke is this?

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What was the population cutoff for the cities in the survey

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Please share how the road condition data is determined. If it comes from TRIP, they appear to report only on state highway conditions.

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No New Jersey Cities?

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Miami has a higher violent crime rate and the same percentage of homelessness. SoWhere is it?

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The report states that these are the largest cities. There are larger cities than #1 Nampa ID missing from the list of the 149. Why?

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Why were no cities from Hawaii rated?

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Is Burbank Ca a good city

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