Most & Least Stressed Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterJul 11, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Jul 11, 2022

Stress is inevitable. Everyone experiences some type and level of it normally, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made the past few years much more stressful than usual. Now that most people are vaccinated and cases are on the decline, though, plenty of new stressors have taken the place of the pandemic. Around 87% of Americans currently feel stressed about inflation, and 80% feel stressed about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a recent survey from the American Psychological Association.

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.

To determine the cities where Americans cope best, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 40 key metrics. Our data set ranges from average weekly work hours to the unemployment rate 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	64.66	18	1	2	2
2	Detroit, MI	61.20	23	2	7	1
3	Gulfport, MS	57.03	33	4	32	8
4	Baltimore, MD	56.72	5	18	8	48
5	Philadelphia, PA	56.45	2	6	46	39
6	Memphis, TN	56.31	47	13	16	7
7	New Orleans, LA	55.91	17	8	19	30
8	Birmingham, AL	54.86	68	27	4	17
9	St. Louis, MO	54.36	39	3	63	28
10	Toledo, OH	54.03	99	15	21	13
11	Augusta, GA	53.80	60	19	55	4
12	Jackson, MS	53.55	93	22	9	25
13	North Las Vegas, NV	53.40	45	33	3	67
14	San Bernardino, CA	53.28	152	31	1	44
15	Fayetteville, NC	53.01	77	17	20	36
16	Akron, OH	52.83	92	12	29	33
17	Wilmington, DE	52.83	8	29	31	52
18	Houston, TX	52.82	4	81	17	42
19	Montgomery, AL	52.79	121	11	49	12
20	Shreveport, LA	52.58	129	5	91	10
21	Cincinnati, OH	51.91	51	25	48	26
22	Newark, NJ	51.85	6	14	59	103
23	Mobile, AL	51.71	75	16	77	23
24	Columbus, GA	51.67	87	7	106	18
25	Indianapolis, IN	51.48	57	9	84	40
26	Baton Rouge, LA	50.87	34	26	83	34
27	Las Vegas, NV	50.51	54	39	15	65
28	Huntington, WV	50.50	157	10	123	6
29	Springfield, MO	50.39	59	37	102	9
30	Dover, DE	50.08	88	32	70	27
31	Norfolk, VA	49.92	56	20	27	97
32	Milwaukee, WI	49.78	43	40	60	46
33	Chicago, IL	49.74	12	36	69	87
34	Newport News, VA	49.09	30	34	112	43
35	Washington, DC	48.88	11	158	5	89
36	Dallas, TX	48.79	22	107	22	58
37	Richmond, VA	48.71	80	41	35	69
38	Tulsa, OK	48.47	140	49	71	14
39	Chattanooga, TN	48.39	103	66	96	11
40	Bridgeport, CT	48.22	10	28	56	158
41	San Antonio, TX	48.22	74	64	36	56
42	Atlanta, GA	48.20	35	74	41	75
43	Glendale, AZ	47.98	73	38	39	90
44	New York, NY	47.94	3	67	68	140
45	Tucson, AZ	47.93	138	53	11	81
46	Columbia, SC	47.78	90	35	93	51
47	Columbus, OH	47.76	64	77	65	45
48	Knoxville, TN	47.72	154	68	45	24
49	New Haven, CT	47.61	136	45	13	111
50	Brownsville, TX	47.50	170	30	40	60
51	Rochester, NY	47.44	61	70	43	79
52	Casper, WY	47.23	15	43	155	31
53	Vancouver, WA	47.23	21	108	26	90
54	Oklahoma City, OK	47.23	67	51	101	50
55	Jacksonville, FL	47.15	91	58	89	47
56	Corpus Christi, TX	47.11	105	92	73	32
57	Charleston, WV	47.02	145	116	99	3
58	Henderson, NV	46.96	27	112	12	128
59	Phoenix, AZ	46.94	112	72	47	55
60	Modesto, CA	46.80	104	102	14	68
61	Wichita, KS	46.76	102	46	122	38
62	Winston-Salem, NC	46.75	122	87	25	77
63	Little Rock, AR	46.74	146	23	129	41
64	Moreno Valley, CA	46.67	162	75	6	74
65	Louisville, KY	46.62	40	63	157	16
66	Stockton, CA	46.61	130	52	37	101
67	Spokane, WA	46.44	124	119	18	62
68	Fresno, CA	46.38	171	56	10	104
69	Miami, FL	46.27	139	24	66	112
70	Kansas City, MO	46.25	49	78	151	15
71	El Paso, TX	46.16	124	76	24	95
72	Salem, OR	45.83	142	133	64	21
73	Hialeah, FL	45.64	160	21	52	138
74	Los Angeles, CA	45.63	76	60	29	146
75	Fort Smith, AR	45.51	181	55	126	5
76	Fort Worth, TX	45.45	52	111	61	76
77	Denver, CO	45.26	9	101	108	130
78	Arlington, TX	45.25	86	110	58	62
78	Buffalo, NY	45.25	89	98	78	71
80	Greensboro, NC	45.20	119	82	79	61
81	Bakersfield, CA	45.12	172	61	33	83
82	Fort Wayne, IN	45.09	150	48	113	49
83	Providence, RI	45.03	133	59	44	123
84	Tacoma, WA	44.94	32	139	54	102
85	Port St. Lucie, FL	44.90	37	89	131	64
86	Lewiston, ME	44.89	14	73	164	29
87	Laredo, TX	44.70	178	47	28	129
88	Cape Coral, FL	44.66	13	103	144	70
89	Grand Prairie, TX	44.37	70	130	50	80
90	Garland, TX	44.37	78	114	51	100
91	Aurora, CO	44.35	26	54	110	142
92	Portland, OR	44.12	25	131	85	127
93	Ontario, CA	44.09	165	84	38	107
94	Lubbock, TX	44.08	167	57	130	35
95	Reno, NV	44.03	131	136	62	66
96	Huntsville, AL	43.96	135	134	118	19
97	Sacramento, CA	43.85	143	83	34	137
98	Amarillo, TX	43.81	115	120	145	20
99	Albuquerque, NM	43.58	101	94	95	98
100	Tampa, FL	43.58	69	100	114	94
101	Long Beach, CA	43.42	97	62	57	157
102	Colorado Springs, CO	43.40	134	65	75	133
103	Fontana, CA	43.36	164	85	72	85
104	Tallahassee, FL	43.19	163	44	115	93
105	Las Cruces, NM	43.15	158	42	105	117
106	Worcester, MA	43.04	114	117	100	86
107	Orlando, FL	42.98	179	69	76	72
108	West Valley City, UT	42.81	175	99	23	110
109	Fort Lauderdale, FL	42.75	85	71	138	88
110	Peoria, AZ	42.56	19	104	136	125
111	Riverside, CA	42.56	177	90	67	82
112	Mesa, AZ	42.40	118	91	107	115
113	Nashville, TN	42.26	83	121	139	78
114	Des Moines, IA	41.88	108	97	141	84
115	Nampa, ID	41.87	147	146	127	37
116	Tempe, AZ	41.84	173	88	86	109
117	Irving, TX	41.69	111	152	87	106
118	Oakland, CA	41.64	46	153	53	159
119	Grand Rapids, MI	41.27	96	137	134	96
120	Charlotte, NC	41.21	58	148	117	136
121	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	41.17	137	135	88	120
122	Boston, MA	41.06	38	141	116	155
123	Pittsburgh, PA	40.99	106	95	146	124
124	Honolulu, HI	40.85	81	129	97	162
125	Oceanside, CA	40.82	71	109	119	160
126	Pearl City, HI	40.79	1	156	132	163
127	Anchorage, AK	40.59	50	169	103	118
128	Warwick, RI	40.55	7	155	160	132
129	Virginia Beach, VA	40.26	63	147	135	131
130	Cheyenne, WY	40.20	113	93	163	73
131	St. Petersburg, FL	40.10	153	138	147	59
132	Chesapeake, VA	40.06	66	115	152	116
132	Billings, MT	40.06	109	160	165	22
134	Lexington-Fayette, KY	40.05	126	50	173	54
135	Durham, NC	39.96	141	164	82	126
136	Santa Ana, CA	39.64	182	106	42	153
137	Jersey City, NJ	39.55	36	118	128	172
138	Salt Lake City, UT	39.46	127	143	125	145
139	Aurora, IL	39.35	62	128	148	144
140	Santa Clarita, CA	39.34	42	79	143	176
141	Glendale, CA	39.33	94	96	120	173
142	Manchester, NH	39.30	79	157	158	92
143	St. Paul, MN	39.27	72	126	159	121
144	Garden Grove, CA	39.10	159	123	80	165
145	Pembroke Pines, FL	38.98	16	124	167	139
146	Yonkers, NY	38.95	48	149	111	170
147	Chandler, AZ	38.93	117	144	133	143
148	Oxnard, CA	38.89	166	145	92	154
149	Juneau, AK	38.58	29	175	140	114
150	Anaheim, CA	38.56	161	125	74	171
151	Santa Rosa, CA	38.22	144	159	90	168
152	Chula Vista, CA	38.21	128	122	124	174
153	Charleston, SC	38.02	100	161	162	108
154	Raleigh, NC	37.88	107	173	81	167
155	San Francisco, CA	37.85	28	170	104	179
156	Huntington Beach, CA	37.55	53	163	109	175
157	Omaha, NE	37.53	116	86	170	134
158	San Diego, CA	37.38	151	150	98	177
159	Gilbert, AZ	37.37	132	132	156	147
160	Scottsdale, AZ	37.27	24	162	161	151
161	Rapid City, SD	36.88	98	105	180	53
162	Austin, TX	36.84	95	167	150	149
163	Seattle, WA	36.71	123	178	94	164
164	Minneapolis, MN	36.61	155	154	154	141
165	Missoula, MT	36.58	176	80	174	57
166	Boise, ID	36.49	174	168	137	105
167	Nashua, NH	34.94	44	172	171	119
168	Plano, TX	34.89	65	179	153	152
169	Cedar Rapids, IA	34.11	156	151	172	135
170	Lincoln, NE	33.70	169	127	176	122
171	Portland, ME	33.60	82	142	178	150
172	Irvine, CA	33.30	120	166	142	180
173	Burlington, VT	33.24	180	113	168	156
174	Sioux Falls, SD	32.94	84	140	181	148
175	Bismarck, ND	32.91	110	174	177	99
176	San Jose, CA	32.85	149	180	121	178
177	Columbia, MD	32.12	55	176	149	181
178	Fargo, ND	31.46	168	165	179	113
179	Overland Park, KS	31.46	41	177	175	166
180	Madison, WI	31.27	148	171	169	169
181	South Burlington, VT	31.14	31	181	182	161
182	Fremont, CA	28.58	20	182	166	182

*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.

Avg. Weekly Work Hours

Highest

Highest
1. Fayetteville, NC
2. Pearl City, HI
3. Casper, WY
T-4. Scottsdale, AZ
T-4. Norfolk, VA

Lowest

Lowest
178. Bridgeport, CT
179. New Haven, CT
180. Huntington, WV
181. Tallahassee, FL
182. Burlington, VT

Job Security

Lowest

Lowest
1. Reno, NV
2. Augusta, GA
3. Pittsburgh, PA
4. Columbia, SC
5. Chesapeake, VA

Highest

Highest
176. San Diego, CA
177. Chula Vista, CA
178. Oceanside, CA
179. San Francisco, CA
180. Orlando, FL

Median Credit Score

Lowest

Lowest
1. Glendale, AZ
2. Las Vegas, NV
T-3. Colorado Springs, CO
T-3. New Orleans, LA
5. Detroit, MI

Highest

Highest
T-176. Seattle, WA
T-176. Scottsdale, AZ
178. Overland Park, KS
T-179. Bismarck, ND
T-179. San Francisco, CA
181. Fremont, CA

Poverty Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Detroit, MI
2. Huntington, WV
3. Cleveland, OH
4. Rochester, NY
5. Buffalo, NY

Lowest

Lowest
178. Plano, TX
179. Gilbert, AZ
180. Fremont, CA
181. Overland Park, KS
182. Pearl City, HI

Affordable Housing

Least

Least
1. New York, NY
T-2. Glendale, CA
T-2. Los Angeles, CA
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Long Beach, CA

Most

Most
178. Akron, OH
179. Columbia, MD
180. Des Moines, IA
181. Overland Park, KS
182. Cedar Rapids, IA

Divorce Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Cleveland, OH
2. Detroit, MI
3. Birmingham, AL
4. Rochester, NY
5. Wilmington, DE

Lowest

Lowest
178. Glendale, CA
179. San Jose, CA
180. Pearl City, HI
181. Irvine, CA
182. Fremont, CA

% of Adults in Fair/Poor Health

Highest

Highest
1. El Paso, TX
2. Montgomery, AL
T-3. Rancho Cucamonga, CA
T-3. Ontario, CA
T-3. Riverside, CA
T-3. Fontana, CA

Lowest

Lowest
135. Portland, ME
T-136. Lincoln, NE
T-136. South Burlington, VT
T-136. Burlington, VT
139. Sioux Falls, SD

Crime Rate

Highest

Highest
T-1. Springfield, MO
T-1. Birmingham, AL
3. St. Louis, MO
4. Memphis, TN
5. Chattanooga, TN

Lowest

Lowest
174. Warwick, RI
175. Gilbert, AZ
176. Santa Clarita, CA
177. Nashua, NH
178. Port St. Lucie, FL

Avg. Hours of Sleep per Night

Lowest

Lowest
1. Detroit, MI
2. Cleveland, OH
3. Memphis, TN
4. Pearl City, HI
5. Honolulu, HI

Highest

Highest
178. Rapid City, SD
179. Seattle, WA
180. Overland Park, KS
181. Minneapolis, MN
182. South Burlington, VT

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 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 are, in your opinion, the top financial stressors in 2022?
What activities should families undertake together in order to minimize stress and alleviate tensions between family members?

Ask the Experts

Andrew A. Bennett
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Department of Management – Old Dominion University
Read More

Sara Langford
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Psychology Department – California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Read More

Sara Lazar
Ph.D. – Associate Researcher in Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School
Read More

Robert J. Vandenberg
Robert O. Arnold Professor of Business and Head, Department of Management, Terry College of Business – University of Georgia
Read More

Joanne H. Gavin
Ph.D. – Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Professor of Management, School of Management – Marist College
Read More

Mahima Saxena
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences – University of Nebraska Omaha
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 40 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 2020 versus in 2019.
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

Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~2.94 Points)
Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Share of Adults Who Could Not See a Doctor Because of Cost: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Share of Adults Diagnosed with Depression: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Mental Health: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Share of Insured Population: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Share of Adult Binge Drinkers: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion.
Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Physical-Activity Rate: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Share of Obese Residents: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Share of Adults with Inadequate Sleep: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours per night.
Community Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Sharecare’s Community Well-Being Index Score, which is a measure that evaluates health risk across 10 domains, five domains to represent well-being tied to individuals and five domains to contextualize the social determinants of health that define environment and surroundings.
Crime Rate: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)
Number of Mass Shootings: Full Weight (~1.47 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, INRIX, ATTOM Data Solutions, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Indeed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, County Health Ranking, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, TransUnion, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Numbeo, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATTOM Data Solutions Q1 2022 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index, Gun Violence Archive, and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

Questions & Answers(3 questions)

Where does Portland oregon fall on the chart?

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is Cleveland the least stressed?

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can the work stress measure also be used as a measure for work life balance?

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