Most & Least Stressed Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterJul 13, 2020

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Jul 13, 2020

Stress is inevitable. Everyone experiences some type and level of it normally, but the COVID-19 pandemic this year has created a much more stressful environment than usual. With social distancing and isolation, that stress has only become amplified. In fact, 39 percent of Americans say worry or stress about coronavirus has had a negative impact on their physical health. As states reopen, hopefully Americans’ anxiety will start to diminish, too.

Stress is not always a bad thing. Certain kinds of stress can have positive effects on a person’s well-being, at least in the right doses. According to Psychology Today, “A little bit of stress, known as ‘acute stress,’ can be exciting—it keeps us active and alert.” When stress reaches an unmanageable level, however, it turns “chronic.” That’s when we become vulnerable to its damaging effects such as health problems and loss of productivity. By one estimate, workplace-related stress alone costs society more than $300 billion per year – and that’s not even taking into account this year’s pandemic.

To determine the cities where Americans cope best, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 42 key metrics. Our data set ranges from how vulnerable the state is to COVID-19 to average weekly work hours to divorce and suicide rates. Read on for our findings, expert insight and a full description of our methodology.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

*1=Most Stressed

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Most & Least Stressed Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	‘Work Stress’ Rank	‘Financial Stress’ Rank	‘Family Stress’ Rank	‘Health & Safety Stress’ Rank
1	Cleveland, OH	66.93	35	1	4	3
2	Detroit, MI	64.96	97	5	3	1
3	Birmingham, AL	62.40	71	15	1	4
4	Gulfport, MS	62.39	10	18	20	5
5	Newark, NJ	62.37	6	4	30	43
6	Baltimore, MD	62.03	9	7	12	45
7	New Orleans, LA	60.44	24	16	40	8
8	St. Louis, MO	59.78	48	2	43	41
9	Mobile, AL	59.75	53	6	90	9
10	Jackson, MS	59.27	81	20	7	13
11	Montgomery, AL	59.26	86	3	61	17
12	Akron, OH	59.16	63	11	37	11
13	Toledo, OH	58.65	87	17	36	6
14	Charleston, WV	58.57	8	38	120	2
15	Houston, TX	58.46	17	28	11	52
16	Shreveport, LA	58.13	45	19	65	10
17	Memphis, TN	57.97	92	8	39	23
18	Philadelphia, PA	57.47	14	31	47	28
19	Cincinnati, OH	57.20	52	26	69	7
20	Huntington, WV	56.56	64	9	103	20
21	Milwaukee, WI	56.46	36	30	15	64
22	Wilmington, DE	56.26	62	40	18	21
23	Augusta, GA	56.04	88	12	54	40
24	Columbus, GA	56.00	90	13	85	18
25	Chicago, IL	55.89	7	41	45	89
26	New York, NY	55.66	4	29	52	129
27	Newport News, VA	55.54	20	10	112	72
28	Indianapolis, IN	55.13	28	23	130	24
29	San Bernardino, CA	55.12	121	47	2	59
30	Baton Rouge, LA	54.85	39	61	73	12
31	Norfolk, VA	54.85	65	24	32	68
32	Dover, DE	54.48	120	22	53	44
33	Little Rock, AR	54.40	124	21	111	14
34	Rochester, NY	54.38	46	66	21	54
35	Fayetteville, NC	54.29	75	14	102	48
36	Dallas, TX	54.24	55	51	14	85
37	Atlanta, GA	54.02	38	35	57	77
38	Richmond, VA	54.00	56	48	27	69
39	Chattanooga, TN	53.92	142	25	68	22
40	Hialeah, FL	53.69	107	33	8	101
41	Phoenix, AZ	53.63	161	27	29	32
42	Miami, FL	53.47	122	37	22	71
43	Laredo, TX	53.22	154	34	31	39
44	Tulsa, OK	52.83	73	65	51	29
45	Washington, DC	52.81	34	130	5	121
46	Bridgeport, CT	52.55	22	43	44	131
47	New Haven, CT	52.32	145	32	28	81
48	Providence, RI	52.32	70	50	82	51
49	Worcester, MA	52.10	27	134	16	93
50	San Antonio, TX	52.02	68	54	91	46
51	Corpus Christi, TX	52.00	111	64	79	30
52	Los Angeles, CA	51.83	74	57	19	119
53	Las Vegas, NV	51.69	132	107	9	75
54	Las Cruces, NM	51.66	130	36	76	62
55	El Paso, TX	51.61	117	70	26	74
56	Springfield, MO	51.50	104	68	77	38
57	Fresno, CA	51.33	151	52	13	82
58	Columbia, SC	51.24	164	39	72	36
59	Winston-Salem, NC	51.20	114	83	46	49
60	Brownsville, TX	51.18	156	44	35	57
61	Boston, MA	51.11	31	91	59	112
62	Wichita, KS	51.07	139	71	24	61
63	Jacksonville, FL	51.04	103	84	92	33
64	Kansas City, MO	50.92	47	79	129	34
65	Oklahoma City, OK	50.74	60	58	118	53
66	Tampa, FL	50.69	84	98	58	58
67	Buffalo, NY	50.65	50	112	94	60
68	Stockton, CA	50.64	133	59	38	83
69	Albuquerque, NM	50.58	134	73	80	35
70	North Las Vegas, NV	50.47	138	74	6	105
71	Fort Worth, TX	50.33	40	117	55	88
72	Fort Wayne, IN	50.31	137	90	84	37
73	Louisville, KY	50.17	26	49	163	47
74	Oakland, CA	50.16	15	97	63	133
75	Columbus, OH	50.05	58	103	136	27
76	Fort Smith, AR	50.03	165	46	110	15
77	Denver, CO	50.03	19	111	56	147
78	Sacramento, CA	49.67	116	89	17	134
79	Portland, OR	49.61	29	126	70	123
80	Garland, TX	49.60	109	92	10	145
81	Arlington, TX	49.32	77	105	49	97
82	Fort Lauderdale, FL	49.26	18	119	115	80
83	Warwick, RI	49.22	3	76	168	104
84	Yonkers, NY	49.11	1	136	121	148
85	Tucson, AZ	49.05	174	62	75	31
86	St. Petersburg, FL	49.05	129	138	89	25
87	Huntsville, AL	49.04	172	72	93	16
88	Knoxville, TN	48.94	162	53	139	19
89	Vancouver, WA	48.84	93	85	41	126
90	Lewiston, ME	48.80	61	69	117	114
91	Greensboro, NC	48.41	125	87	109	65
92	Amarillo, TX	48.21	153	86	126	26
93	Glendale, AZ	48.20	171	60	60	78
94	Jersey City, NJ	48.12	23	106	95	136
95	Long Beach, CA	48.03	30	82	104	143
96	Orlando, FL	47.86	170	96	64	56
97	Pittsburgh, PA	47.76	82	93	140	67
98	Spokane, WA	47.57	175	116	33	66
99	Lubbock, TX	47.56	167	100	88	49
100	Tacoma, WA	47.54	100	115	78	110
101	Moreno Valley, CA	47.48	147	75	23	139
102	Bakersfield, CA	47.30	157	55	113	86
103	Austin, TX	47.12	85	145	66	135
104	Nashville, TN	47.06	128	101	128	73
105	Grand Rapids, MI	47.02	110	149	119	55
106	Salem, OR	47.01	126	102	123	84
107	Mesa, AZ	46.90	168	77	107	63
108	Grand Prairie, TX	46.84	99	108	50	144
109	Port St. Lucie, FL	46.67	119	45	153	107
110	Reno, NV	46.65	155	147	48	87
111	Modesto, CA	46.61	59	156	106	94
112	Fontana, CA	46.54	140	67	108	120
113	Santa Ana, CA	46.53	150	99	71	113
114	Tallahassee, FL	46.51	169	42	127	91
115	Henderson, NV	46.46	96	154	25	159
116	Charlotte, NC	46.39	54	142	147	92
117	San Francisco, CA	46.27	41	169	62	158
118	Riverside, CA	46.18	159	104	87	99
119	Manchester, NH	45.91	78	150	138	79
120	Cape Coral, FL	45.87	51	137	116	137
121	Anchorage, AK	45.85	11	170	97	155
122	San Diego, CA	45.84	98	144	74	167
123	Lexington-Fayette, KY	45.82	136	118	164	42
124	Pembroke Pines, FL	45.65	13	139	157	130
125	Santa Rosa, CA	45.36	43	161	122	152
126	Tempe, AZ	45.29	181	81	100	70
127	Aurora, CO	45.24	66	132	101	156
128	Minneapolis, MN	45.20	112	157	86	141
129	Anaheim, CA	45.12	72	123	105	157
130	Durham, NC	44.99	80	164	133	90
131	Aurora, IL	44.96	25	159	146	117
132	Juneau, AK	44.92	5	179	143	109
133	Oxnard, CA	44.87	118	140	114	132
134	Seattle, WA	44.86	95	172	42	160
135	Honolulu, HI	44.86	37	153	99	174
136	Ontario, CA	44.80	163	94	83	151
137	Casper, WY	44.74	32	131	156	172
138	St. Paul, MN	44.67	44	146	142	128
139	Chula Vista, CA	44.47	89	133	98	169
140	Colorado Springs, CO	44.46	160	128	67	153
141	Nampa, ID	44.42	144	79	81	173
142	Irving, TX	44.42	135	135	96	149
143	West Valley City, UT	44.35	176	88	34	163
144	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	44.01	101	125	131	146
145	Glendale, CA	43.99	42	110	155	162
146	Virginia Beach, VA	43.91	113	143	145	115
147	Chesapeake, VA	43.74	123	122	134	140
148	Cheyenne, WY	43.69	76	155	152	122
149	Raleigh, NC	43.62	79	173	132	118
150	Salt Lake City, UT	43.43	149	109	135	150
151	Santa Clarita, CA	43.38	33	95	150	179
152	Rapid City, SD	43.31	49	113	173	124
153	Oceanside, CA	43.25	106	120	125	175
154	Charleston, SC	43.21	131	152	159	95
155	Garden Grove, CA	43.14	69	124	148	161
156	Huntington Beach, CA	42.95	16	167	141	168
157	Peoria, AZ	42.94	152	114	151	124
158	Portland, ME	42.78	105	121	167	127
159	Nashua, NH	42.19	108	166	161	96
160	Des Moines, IA	41.85	158	160	154	108
161	Omaha, NE	41.48	173	63	170	116
162	Chandler, AZ	41.25	179	141	149	98
163	Missoula, MT	41.18	143	56	176	142
164	Scottsdale, AZ	40.92	148	151	166	103
165	Irvine, CA	40.87	57	127	160	178
166	Burlington, VT	40.03	91	78	178	166
167	Pearl City, HI	39.74	21	162	144	182
168	Columbia, MD	39.58	141	175	162	76
169	Gilbert, AZ	39.34	182	129	165	102
170	San Jose, CA	39.32	115	180	124	176
171	Cedar Rapids, IA	38.63	166	168	171	106
172	Plano, TX	38.43	94	181	158	165
173	Billings, MT	38.30	127	165	175	154
174	Fremont, CA	38.28	2	182	174	180
175	South Burlington, VT	37.80	12	174	182	177
176	Madison, WI	37.53	146	171	169	164
177	Bismarck, ND	37.29	67	177	180	111
178	Overland Park, KS	36.70	83	178	172	170
179	Fargo, ND	36.40	177	163	179	100
180	Sioux Falls, SD	36.14	102	148	181	171
181	Boise, ID	35.77	178	176	137	181
182	Lincoln, NE	35.49	180	158	177	138

*1=Most Stressed

artwork 2020 stressed cities

Ask the Experts

Stress can be harmful to various aspects of our lives, including our jobs, finances and relationships. To help Americans find effective ways to manage their stress, we turned to a panel of health experts for advice. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

How can employers reduce work-related stress?
What are the most effective ways for people to manage stress levels caused by the COVID-19 pandemic?
What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful?
What tips do you have for a person who wishes to find relaxation on a budget?
What activities should families engage in together to minimize stress and ease tensions between family members?

Ask the Experts

: Claudia Grauf-Grounds
Ph.D. – Professor Emerita of Marriage and Family Therapy, Seattle Pacific University
Read More

: Jerry Gale
Ph.D. – Professor, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia
Read More

: Amanda Szarzynski
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Professional Practice; Clinical Director of the Center for Family Services, Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University
Read More

: Miyoung Yoon Hammer
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy, Chair, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary
Read More

: Christopher J. L. Cunningham
Ph.D. – I-O Psychology Graduate Program Coordinator, UC Foundation Professor, Member of Graduate Faculty, Psychology, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Read More

: Lioudmila Praslova
Ph.D. – Director of Organizational Psychology, Vanguard University of Southern California
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the most and least stressed cities in America, 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 four key dimensions: 1) Work Stress, 2) Financial Stress, 3) Family Stress, and 4) Health & Safety Stress. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the four dimensions using 42 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 levels of stress. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only.

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.

Work Stress – Total Points: 25

Average Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Job Security: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Note: This metric measures the annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter.
Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Share of Households where No Adults Work: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Half Weight (~1.47 Points)
Income Growth: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Note: “Growth” compares income levels in 2018 versus in 2017.
Job Satisfaction Ranking: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Indeed Job Happiness Index.

Financial Stress – Total Points: 25

Median Annual Household Income: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
Share of Households Behind on Bills in Past 12 Months: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Personal-Bankruptcy Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Median Debt per Median Earnings: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Food Insecurity: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: Food Insecurity is the percentage of the population who did not have access to a reliable source of food during the past year.
Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Household Income.
Share of Mortgage Holders with Negative Equity: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the proportion of mortgage holders whose balance on mortgage is higher than the value of homes.

Family Stress – Total Points: 25

Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Share of Single Parent Households: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Median Duration of Current Marriage: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Strength of Social Ties: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Note: This metric is based on responses to Sharecare’s RealAge® Test and was used to indicate where relationships with family and friends are stronger, thus providing an upside to one’s social life and well-being.
Availability of Childcare Workers per Total Number of Children: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Child Care Cost: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Note: Monthly Cost of Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private for 1 Child (proxy for child care cost).

Health & Safety Stress – Total Points: 25

WalletHub “States with the Most Vulnerable Populations to Coronavirus” Score*: Triple Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “States with the Most Vulnerable Populations to Coronavirus” ranking.
WalletHub “States with the Biggest Health Improvements During COVID-19” Score*: Triple Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “States with the Biggest Health Improvements During COVID-19” ranking.
Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Share of Adults Who Could Not See a Doctor Because of Cost: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Share of Adults Diagnosed with Depression: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Mental Health: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Share of Insured Population: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Share of Adult Binge Drinkers: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of adults consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion.
Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Physical-Activity Rate: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Share of Obese Residents: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Share of Adults with Inadequate Sleep: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours per night.
Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Occurrence of Protests and Rallies in the Wake of George Floyd's Death: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of protests and rallies that occurred in the wake of George Floyd’s death in each city, as of June 29, 2020.
Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, INRIX, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Indeed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Renwood RealtyTrac, County Health Rankings, Zillow, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, TransUnion, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Gallup-Healthways, Numbeo, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sharecare, USA Today and WalletHub research.

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