Most & Least Stressed Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterJul 12, 2021

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Jul 12, 2021

Stress is inevitable. Everyone experiences some type and level of it normally, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created a much more stressful environment than usual. A recent study on stress by the American Psychological Association found that more than 6 in 10 adults have had undesired weight changes since the start of the pandemic, and 1 in 4 essential workers have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

Stress is not always a bad thing, though. 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 the pandemic.

To determine the cities where Americans cope best, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 41 key metrics. Our data set ranges from COVID-19 cases to average weekly work hours to divorce and suicide rates.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Most & Least Stressed Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Work Stress	Financial Stress	Family Stress	Health & Safety Stress
1	Cleveland, OH	61.55	147	1	1	3
2	Detroit, MI	56.66	131	14	3	7
3	New Orleans, LA	55.52	31	15	11	22
4	Baltimore, MD	55.13	6	19	7	80
5	Newark, NJ	55.09	1	12	85	64
6	San Bernardino, CA	54.87	60	44	2	13
7	Birmingham, AL	54.85	135	11	5	17
8	North Las Vegas, NV	53.67	92	37	4	12
9	Philadelphia, PA	53.51	2	40	50	46
10	Memphis, TN	53.48	85	13	21	16
11	Huntington, WV	53.47	122	6	70	5
12	Shreveport, LA	53.19	39	2	100	28
13	Hialeah, FL	53.17	30	25	6	61
14	Mobile, AL	52.94	119	7	97	1
15	Jackson, MS	52.75	108	26	10	11
16	Augusta, GA	52.60	124	10	74	4
17	Dover, DE	52.49	28	21	23	65
18	St. Louis, MO	52.47	77	9	63	20
19	Gulfport, MS	52.22	63	22	25	30
20	Toledo, OH	52.17	112	8	44	24
21	Columbus, GA	51.75	98	5	42	45
22	Akron, OH	51.43	97	4	36	56
23	Wilmington, DE	51.13	23	31	13	87
24	Montgomery, AL	51.12	140	3	59	35
25	New Haven, CT	50.89	9	27	40	112
26	Cincinnati, OH	50.72	89	18	28	49
27	Milwaukee, WI	50.57	71	30	17	39
28	Norfolk, VA	50.44	53	20	39	60
29	Indianapolis, IN	50.42	38	23	46	62
29	Little Rock, AR	50.42	90	17	95	14
31	Richmond, VA	50.17	22	29	35	88
32	Tulsa, OK	49.83	129	47	54	6
33	Baton Rouge, LA	49.83	104	32	82	8
34	Bridgeport, CT	49.83	3	38	24	165
35	Las Vegas, NV	49.67	93	58	15	26
36	Miami, FL	49.64	103	16	27	73
37	Fort Smith, AR	49.63	152	24	104	2
38	Vancouver, WA	49.50	16	46	32	77
39	Wichita, KS	49.31	120	53	29	15
40	Chicago, IL	49.25	8	35	51	124
41	Newport News, VA	47.66	20	42	105	53
42	Glendale, AZ	47.54	52	64	52	43
43	Henderson, NV	47.47	107	75	18	47
44	Phoenix, AZ	47.33	66	72	65	29
45	Chattanooga, TN	47.28	132	51	78	18
46	Springfield, MO	47.26	133	39	109	10
47	Houston, TX	47.25	18	100	38	83
48	Brownsville, TX	46.90	162	28	62	33
49	Fayetteville, NC	46.84	96	41	79	42
50	Spokane, WA	46.64	127	89	20	44
51	Charleston, WV	46.50	47	33	157	21
52	Atlanta, GA	46.40	126	50	31	78
53	Rochester, NY	46.32	105	62	19	96
54	Fresno, CA	46.14	145	61	9	108
55	Louisville, KY	46.02	58	34	134	50
56	Oklahoma City, OK	45.85	80	59	91	37
57	West Valley City, UT	45.79	164	107	37	19
58	El Paso, TX	45.67	149	73	34	55
59	New York, NY	45.65	4	76	102	142
60	Ontario, CA	45.62	151	54	58	48
61	Dallas, TX	45.53	43	113	45	81
62	San Antonio, TX	45.35	111	86	55	36
63	Tacoma, WA	45.30	37	129	47	63
64	Kansas City, MO	45.26	61	57	150	25
65	Stockton, CA	45.14	69	80	22	128
66	Modesto, CA	45.13	33	115	71	69
67	Jacksonville, FL	45.10	136	55	84	41
68	Winston-Salem, NC	45.01	141	78	41	71
69	Providence, RI	44.82	173	36	26	114
70	Orlando, FL	44.74	161	69	43	54
71	Garland, TX	44.67	72	134	14	105
72	Albuquerque, NM	44.56	74	90	49	92
73	Bakersfield, CA	44.53	84	88	53	91
74	Tucson, AZ	44.44	110	66	77	74
75	Columbia, SC	44.41	117	71	57	82
76	Corpus Christi, TX	44.39	83	101	90	40
77	Washington, DC	44.18	15	152	8	154
78	Worcester, MA	44.18	86	131	16	116
79	Fort Lauderdale, FL	44.17	65	60	106	79
80	Cheyenne, WY	44.07	21	151	141	9
81	Moreno Valley, CA	44.03	76	79	12	137
82	Colorado Springs, CO	43.89	143	146	48	34
83	Columbus, OH	43.88	116	87	76	59
84	Fontana, CA	43.62	101	94	88	52
85	Arlington, TX	43.59	54	126	56	85
86	Fort Wayne, IN	43.58	175	45	61	90
87	Buffalo, NY	43.39	87	92	69	101
88	Tampa, FL	43.29	106	91	81	75
89	Lewiston, ME	43.28	78	82	153	27
90	Long Beach, CA	43.27	17	67	93	151
91	Chesapeake, VA	42.99	49	68	143	70
92	Sacramento, CA	42.87	138	84	30	130
93	Mesa, AZ	42.87	75	95	116	66
94	Los Angeles, CA	42.78	91	63	66	139
95	Fort Worth, TX	42.66	45	145	75	89
96	Laredo, TX	42.53	180	48	33	146
97	Las Cruces, NM	42.49	125	43	86	144
98	Salem, OR	42.49	158	117	83	38
99	Denver, CO	42.46	27	133	121	107
100	Aurora, CO	42.41	19	127	120	97
101	Oakland, CA	42.14	11	103	67	166
102	Salt Lake City, UT	42.04	159	111	119	31
103	Knoxville, TN	42.03	181	65	125	32
104	Peoria, AZ	41.63	25	110	155	86
105	Grand Prairie, TX	41.46	62	148	68	100
106	Casper, WY	41.41	14	141	163	51
107	Port St. Lucie, FL	41.37	156	49	135	94
108	Pittsburgh, PA	41.29	102	56	139	115
109	Amarillo, TX	41.27	130	136	149	23
110	Huntsville, AL	41.22	167	97	107	58
111	Nashville, TN	41.22	114	83	129	95
112	Tempe, AZ	41.17	170	105	89	72
113	St. Petersburg, FL	40.87	168	116	92	68
114	Portland, OR	40.65	94	130	94	118
115	Des Moines, IA	40.59	79	70	151	120
116	Greensboro, NC	40.57	163	74	112	113
117	Nampa, ID	40.33	166	140	87	67
118	Anchorage, AK	40.32	35	168	115	93
119	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	40.09	148	143	101	84
120	Riverside, CA	40.03	157	108	64	132
121	Charlotte, NC	39.99	68	135	122	123
122	Lubbock, TX	39.70	176	99	123	76
123	Oceanside, CA	39.68	64	114	117	152
124	Santa Ana, CA	39.31	165	102	60	148
125	Irving, TX	39.30	109	154	99	106
126	Cape Coral, FL	39.18	113	93	140	125
127	Pembroke Pines, FL	39.07	57	120	145	121
128	Jersey City, NJ	39.03	12	109	152	158
129	Virginia Beach, VA	39.00	51	160	136	111
130	Anaheim, CA	38.91	46	104	108	170
131	Reno, NV	38.82	182	125	72	99
132	Grand Rapids, MI	38.80	177	112	114	103
133	Chula Vista, CA	38.75	48	132	110	161
134	Boston, MA	38.71	115	122	80	156
135	Glendale, CA	38.69	24	81	156	168
136	Santa Rosa, CA	38.65	73	121	103	172
137	Aurora, IL	38.65	41	123	142	136
138	St. Paul, MN	38.56	50	147	133	135
139	Honolulu, HI	38.15	121	137	111	141
140	Chandler, AZ	38.11	70	156	148	104
141	Tallahassee, FL	38.10	179	52	147	126
142	Lexington-Fayette, KY	37.93	146	77	164	109
143	Seattle, WA	37.90	160	173	73	102
144	Yonkers, NY	37.90	10	144	154	163
145	Juneau, AK	37.34	26	172	126	143
146	Santa Clarita, CA	37.23	36	85	158	175
147	Pearl City, HI	36.94	7	167	144	149
148	Garden Grove, CA	36.77	82	139	118	173
149	Oxnard, CA	36.54	118	157	98	169
150	Scottsdale, AZ	36.50	29	164	167	117
151	Minneapolis, MN	36.47	150	159	127	134
152	San Diego, CA	36.33	155	138	113	167
153	San Francisco, CA	36.24	34	170	128	176
154	Austin, TX	36.17	137	166	124	138
155	Cedar Rapids, IA	36.11	44	119	171	129
156	Manchester, NH	36.07	154	150	131	145
157	Charleston, SC	35.73	142	153	138	147
158	Huntington Beach, CA	35.52	32	162	137	174
159	Gilbert, AZ	35.40	139	149	166	110
160	Omaha, NE	35.33	144	98	168	131
161	Durham, NC	35.24	153	155	130	157
162	Billings, MT	34.92	128	161	174	57
163	Raleigh, NC	34.75	99	176	132	155
164	Warwick, RI	34.67	56	158	161	159
165	Rapid City, SD	34.34	100	128	180	98
166	Boise, ID	33.92	174	165	146	133
167	Missoula, MT	33.54	171	96	175	122
168	Portland, ME	33.35	81	124	170	171
169	San Jose, CA	33.34	59	180	96	179
170	Sioux Falls, SD	33.17	55	142	181	119
171	Irvine, CA	31.90	67	163	159	178
172	Plano, TX	31.69	88	179	162	153
173	Burlington, VT	31.61	95	106	173	177
174	Lincoln, NE	30.90	169	118	177	160
175	Bismarck, ND	30.90	42	175	179	150
176	Overland Park, KS	30.31	134	171	176	140
177	Fargo, ND	30.09	172	169	178	127
178	Columbia, MD	30.04	40	178	160	181
179	Nashua, NH	30.00	123	177	169	164
180	Madison, WI	29.67	178	174	165	162
181	Fremont, CA	28.59	5	182	172	182
182	South Burlington, VT	27.25	13	181	182	180

*1=Most Stressed
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 worst conditions for that metric category.

artwork 2021 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

Bryan Edwards
Joe Synar Chair, Associate Professor, Department of Management, Spears School of Business – Oklahoma State University
Read More

Johnna Swartz
Associate Professor, Department of Human Ecology – University of California, Davis
Read More

Deirdre Bowen
Associate Professor, School of Law – Seattle University
Read More

Jennifer Thompson
Professor, IO/Business Psychology, Organization Leadership, Behavioral Economics – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
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 41 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 2019 versus in 2018.
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 Seriously Underwater Mortgages: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the proportion of seriously underwater mortgages, where the combined estimated balance of loans secured by those properties was at least 25 percent more than their estimated market value

Family Stress – Total Points: 25

Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Share of Single Parent Households: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Median Duration of Current Marriage: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Availability of Childcare Workers per Total Number of Children: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Child Care Cost: Full Weight (~5.00 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

Average Daily COVID-19 Deaths in the Past Week per Capita: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Average Daily COVID-19 Cases in the Past Week per Capita: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Share of Adults Who Could Not See a Doctor Because of Cost: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Share of Adults Diagnosed with Depression: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Mental Health: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Share of Insured Population: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Share of Adult Binge Drinkers: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion.
Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Physical-Activity Rate: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Share of Obese Residents: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Share of Adults with Inadequate Sleep: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours per night.
Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~1.25 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 Ranking, 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, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, The New York Times, ATTOM Data Solutions Q1 2021 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report and WalletHub research.

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