Stress is inevitable. Everyone experiences some type and level of it normally, but the past few years have elevated Americans’ stress levels with record-high inflation and economic uncertainty. In fact, around 77% of Americans currently feel stressed about the future of our nation, and 73% feel stressed about the economy, 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 39 key metrics. Our data set ranges from average weekly work hours to the unemployment rate to divorce and suicide rates.

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
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 | Detroit, MI | 61.82 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | 60.83 | 68 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | 58.28 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 38 |
| 4 | Gulfport, MS | 57.75 | 83 | 9 | 1 | 13 |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | 57.57 | 80 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
| 6 | Shreveport, LA | 54.80 | 74 | 4 | 48 | 5 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | 54.21 | 6 | 19 | 31 | 32 |
| 8 | Toledo, OH | 54.15 | 35 | 18 | 14 | 19 |
| 9 | Birmingham, AL | 54.09 | 70 | 17 | 6 | 24 |
| 10 | Jackson, MS | 53.60 | 58 | 5 | 46 | 14 |
| 11 | Akron, OH | 53.32 | 69 | 15 | 18 | 21 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge, LA | 53.27 | 11 | 23 | 35 | 20 |
| 13 | Montgomery, AL | 52.79 | 64 | 11 | 45 | 16 |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | 52.58 | 38 | 6 | 75 | 15 |
| 15 | Wilmington, DE | 52.28 | 19 | 22 | 12 | 72 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | 52.23 | 8 | 72 | 29 | 11 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | 51.85 | 30 | 13 | 49 | 44 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | 51.84 | 66 | 33 | 20 | 8 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | 51.41 | 36 | 49 | 11 | 33 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | 51.35 | 102 | 10 | 50 | 23 |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH | 50.76 | 28 | 35 | 43 | 26 |
| 22 | Newark, NJ | 50.39 | 12 | 16 | 44 | 107 |
| 23 | Mobile, AL | 50.21 | 108 | 7 | 69 | 29 |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | 49.65 | 157 | 31 | 3 | 57 |
| 25 | Augusta, GA | 49.62 | 85 | 29 | 65 | 12 |
| 26 | Fayetteville, NC | 49.60 | 130 | 20 | 24 | 36 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | 49.58 | 67 | 40 | 21 | 45 |
| 28 | Louisville, KY | 49.35 | 16 | 30 | 85 | 51 |
| 29 | San Bernardino, CA | 48.96 | 170 | 28 | 8 | 58 |
| 30 | Columbus, GA | 48.91 | 140 | 12 | 57 | 42 |
| 31 | Dallas, TX | 48.43 | 26 | 90 | 47 | 27 |
| 32 | Fort Smith, AR | 48.37 | 165 | 42 | 68 | 3 |
| 33 | Modesto, CA | 48.21 | 100 | 86 | 4 | 71 |
| 34 | Washington, DC | 47.99 | 5 | 130 | 28 | 65 |
| 35 | Chicago, IL | 47.98 | 10 | 36 | 93 | 80 |
| 36 | Corpus Christi, TX | 47.97 | 135 | 80 | 38 | 7 |
| 37 | Little Rock, AR | 47.77 | 110 | 14 | 120 | 25 |
| 38 | Brownsville, TX | 47.66 | 175 | 43 | 17 | 31 |
| 39 | New York, NY | 47.54 | 2 | 53 | 87 | 119 |
| 39 | Arlington, TX | 47.54 | 34 | 98 | 36 | 30 |
| 41 | Miami, FL | 47.20 | 118 | 21 | 25 | 112 |
| 42 | Tucson, AZ | 47.19 | 133 | 66 | 23 | 40 |
| 43 | Tacoma, WA | 47.01 | 92 | 118 | 10 | 53 |
| 44 | Spokane, WA | 46.96 | 87 | 115 | 15 | 54 |
| 45 | Jacksonville, FL | 46.87 | 89 | 59 | 64 | 39 |
| 46 | Hialeah, FL | 46.84 | 101 | 26 | 19 | 143 |
| 47 | Tulsa, OK | 46.62 | 109 | 44 | 72 | 35 |
| 48 | Moreno Valley, CA | 46.48 | 144 | 37 | 5 | 121 |
| 49 | Dover, DE | 46.47 | 174 | 39 | 41 | 28 |
| 50 | El Paso, TX | 46.26 | 151 | 38 | 26 | 73 |
| 51 | Huntington, WV | 46.16 | 182 | 27 | 81 | 10 |
| 52 | Fresno, CA | 46.11 | 139 | 41 | 27 | 81 |
| 53 | Rochester, NY | 45.64 | 125 | 58 | 54 | 62 |
| 54 | Norfolk, VA | 45.55 | 90 | 32 | 77 | 83 |
| 55 | Laredo, TX | 45.52 | 150 | 34 | 51 | 86 |
| 56 | Henderson, NV | 45.33 | 18 | 68 | 76 | 115 |
| 57 | Grand Prairie, TX | 45.32 | 46 | 113 | 42 | 55 |
| 58 | Columbus, OH | 45.31 | 51 | 77 | 83 | 59 |
| 59 | Los Angeles, CA | 45.22 | 42 | 57 | 89 | 90 |
| 60 | Oklahoma City, OK | 45.22 | 93 | 61 | 105 | 34 |
| 61 | Buffalo, NY | 45.15 | 79 | 83 | 67 | 63 |
| 62 | Glendale, AZ | 45.14 | 84 | 56 | 66 | 84 |
| 63 | Bakersfield, CA | 45.14 | 156 | 46 | 52 | 66 |
| 64 | Newport News, VA | 45.05 | 94 | 52 | 61 | 94 |
| 65 | Chattanooga, TN | 45.02 | 129 | 73 | 113 | 9 |
| 66 | Richmond, VA | 44.96 | 50 | 54 | 88 | 100 |
| 67 | Knoxville, TN | 44.90 | 152 | 78 | 90 | 17 |
| 68 | Lubbock, TX | 44.88 | 160 | 25 | 102 | 49 |
| 69 | Springfield, MO | 44.87 | 105 | 63 | 124 | 18 |
| 70 | Kansas City, MO | 44.86 | 60 | 75 | 137 | 22 |
| 71 | Fort Worth, TX | 44.82 | 112 | 133 | 34 | 37 |
| 72 | Salem, OR | 44.78 | 149 | 103 | 39 | 43 |
| 73 | Ontario, CA | 44.41 | 162 | 55 | 22 | 122 |
| 74 | Vancouver, WA | 44.36 | 72 | 111 | 33 | 95 |
| 75 | Atlanta, GA | 44.34 | 23 | 84 | 125 | 64 |
| 76 | New Haven, CT | 44.31 | 39 | 48 | 115 | 99 |
| 77 | Oxnard, CA | 44.27 | 95 | 108 | 30 | 111 |
| 78 | Stockton, CA | 44.24 | 119 | 69 | 53 | 105 |
| 79 | Denver, CO | 44.22 | 7 | 131 | 145 | 46 |
| 80 | Tampa, FL | 44.12 | 49 | 105 | 70 | 87 |
| 81 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 44.03 | 73 | 65 | 99 | 74 |
| 82 | Fort Wayne, IN | 43.95 | 122 | 62 | 79 | 68 |
| 83 | Garland, TX | 43.94 | 91 | 124 | 37 | 70 |
| 84 | Winston-Salem, NC | 43.85 | 124 | 91 | 32 | 110 |
| 85 | Sacramento, CA | 43.82 | 154 | 73 | 40 | 85 |
| 86 | Phoenix, AZ | 43.79 | 120 | 88 | 71 | 61 |
| 87 | Bridgeport, CT | 43.69 | 47 | 45 | 86 | 146 |
| 88 | Portland, OR | 43.59 | 20 | 136 | 92 | 89 |
| 89 | Charleston, WV | 43.57 | 147 | 156 | 82 | 6 |
| 90 | Nashville, TN | 43.48 | 13 | 107 | 157 | 50 |
| 91 | Cape Coral, FL | 43.35 | 33 | 51 | 112 | 129 |
| 92 | Amarillo, TX | 43.07 | 145 | 93 | 80 | 48 |
| 93 | West Valley City, UT | 42.83 | 177 | 99 | 16 | 77 |
| 94 | Greensboro, NC | 42.81 | 158 | 70 | 62 | 101 |
| 95 | Riverside, CA | 42.71 | 172 | 50 | 59 | 113 |
| 96 | Lewiston, ME | 42.67 | 107 | 97 | 103 | 56 |
| 97 | Orlando, FL | 42.57 | 138 | 94 | 56 | 97 |
| 98 | Columbia, SC | 42.41 | 169 | 24 | 127 | 78 |
| 99 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 42.32 | 55 | 60 | 116 | 126 |
| 100 | Reno, NV | 42.00 | 141 | 112 | 74 | 76 |
| 101 | Oakland, CA | 41.98 | 22 | 144 | 73 | 134 |
| 102 | Long Beach, CA | 41.96 | 96 | 64 | 91 | 138 |
| 103 | Glendale, CA | 41.83 | 17 | 71 | 128 | 149 |
| 104 | Colorado Springs, CO | 41.76 | 104 | 146 | 55 | 116 |
| 105 | Aurora, CO | 41.71 | 56 | 87 | 117 | 103 |
| 106 | Salt Lake City, UT | 41.47 | 103 | 96 | 94 | 114 |
| 107 | Fontana, CA | 41.43 | 168 | 79 | 57 | 132 |
| 108 | Charlotte, NC | 41.30 | 25 | 148 | 107 | 130 |
| 109 | Tallahassee, FL | 41.27 | 180 | 76 | 63 | 92 |
| 110 | Des Moines, IA | 41.13 | 86 | 100 | 121 | 91 |
| 111 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 41.01 | 61 | 92 | 98 | 141 |
| 112 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 41.00 | 40 | 85 | 155 | 96 |
| 113 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 40.78 | 27 | 102 | 108 | 155 |
| 114 | Wichita, KS | 40.72 | 123 | 81 | 150 | 60 |
| 115 | St. Petersburg, FL | 40.68 | 63 | 132 | 129 | 79 |
| 116 | Mesa, AZ | 40.55 | 106 | 109 | 104 | 109 |
| 117 | Irving, TX | 40.46 | 115 | 150 | 78 | 82 |
| 118 | Boston, MA | 40.32 | 24 | 139 | 132 | 137 |
| 119 | Pittsburgh, PA | 39.97 | 116 | 82 | 138 | 118 |
| 120 | Albuquerque, NM | 39.68 | 132 | 101 | 123 | 102 |
| 121 | Worcester, MA | 39.54 | 155 | 145 | 60 | 139 |
| 122 | Santa Rosa, CA | 39.52 | 75 | 126 | 100 | 154 |
| 123 | Peoria, AZ | 39.48 | 78 | 95 | 139 | 124 |
| 124 | Tempe, AZ | 39.43 | 173 | 117 | 106 | 69 |
| 125 | Huntsville, AL | 39.23 | 171 | 116 | 97 | 108 |
| 126 | Austin, TX | 39.11 | 31 | 157 | 134 | 125 |
| 127 | Chesapeake, VA | 39.02 | 62 | 121 | 136 | 128 |
| 128 | Santa Clarita, CA | 39.01 | 32 | 67 | 148 | 169 |
| 129 | Pearl City, HI | 38.98 | 1 | 149 | 153 | 160 |
| 130 | Honolulu, HI | 38.85 | 41 | 110 | 135 | 164 |
| 131 | Oceanside, CA | 38.70 | 126 | 128 | 118 | 127 |
| 132 | Las Cruces, NM | 38.69 | 178 | 47 | 154 | 88 |
| 133 | Santa Ana, CA | 38.64 | 163 | 106 | 96 | 140 |
| 134 | Chula Vista, CA | 38.47 | 77 | 127 | 95 | 171 |
| 135 | Anaheim, CA | 38.46 | 97 | 104 | 108 | 161 |
| 136 | Casper, WY | 38.21 | 113 | 154 | 158 | 47 |
| 137 | Aurora, IL | 38.00 | 57 | 147 | 122 | 152 |
| 138 | Seattle, WA | 37.98 | 37 | 175 | 84 | 153 |
| 139 | Scottsdale, AZ | 37.78 | 4 | 153 | 156 | 156 |
| 140 | Grand Rapids, MI | 37.68 | 117 | 143 | 149 | 106 |
| 141 | San Francisco, CA | 37.54 | 9 | 172 | 143 | 174 |
| 142 | Providence, RI | 37.53 | 159 | 89 | 133 | 144 |
| 143 | Virginia Beach, VA | 37.40 | 99 | 134 | 141 | 147 |
| 144 | Anchorage, AK | 37.26 | 59 | 176 | 114 | 117 |
| 145 | Cheyenne, WY | 36.87 | 65 | 123 | 167 | 98 |
| 146 | Chandler, AZ | 36.52 | 131 | 142 | 130 | 148 |
| 147 | Garden Grove, CA | 36.50 | 146 | 129 | 101 | 175 |
| 148 | Raleigh, NC | 36.50 | 45 | 173 | 111 | 176 |
| 149 | Durham, NC | 36.47 | 114 | 169 | 110 | 150 |
| 150 | Yonkers, NY | 36.42 | 53 | 120 | 152 | 168 |
| 151 | St. Paul, MN | 36.41 | 111 | 151 | 142 | 133 |
| 152 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 36.26 | 127 | 137 | 151 | 142 |
| 153 | Columbia, MD | 36.15 | 15 | 165 | 126 | 178 |
| 154 | San Diego, CA | 36.13 | 143 | 141 | 119 | 170 |
| 155 | Minneapolis, MN | 35.92 | 142 | 160 | 159 | 92 |
| 156 | Plano, TX | 35.82 | 48 | 170 | 131 | 158 |
| 157 | Warwick, RI | 35.80 | 29 | 155 | 169 | 120 |
| 158 | Juneau, AK | 35.30 | 82 | 178 | 147 | 67 |
| 159 | Billings, MT | 35.27 | 153 | 162 | 168 | 41 |
| 160 | Huntington Beach, CA | 35.12 | 44 | 163 | 144 | 173 |
| 161 | Nampa, ID | 34.71 | 179 | 125 | 164 | 104 |
| 162 | Gilbert, AZ | 34.49 | 167 | 122 | 160 | 151 |
| 163 | Manchester, NH | 34.47 | 137 | 166 | 162 | 123 |
| 164 | Omaha, NE | 34.18 | 81 | 114 | 172 | 157 |
| 165 | Rapid City, SD | 33.76 | 121 | 171 | 177 | 52 |
| 166 | Madison, WI | 33.72 | 136 | 168 | 146 | 167 |
| 167 | Jersey City, NJ | 33.69 | 54 | 135 | 161 | 179 |
| 168 | Missoula, MT | 33.06 | 181 | 119 | 173 | 75 |
| 169 | Portland, ME | 32.47 | 128 | 152 | 166 | 163 |
| 170 | Nashua, NH | 32.19 | 76 | 177 | 165 | 145 |
| 171 | Charleston, SC | 32.08 | 98 | 158 | 179 | 135 |
| 172 | San Jose, CA | 31.90 | 71 | 180 | 140 | 180 |
| 173 | Boise, ID | 31.29 | 148 | 174 | 170 | 131 |
| 174 | Overland Park, KS | 31.16 | 52 | 164 | 174 | 177 |
| 175 | Lincoln, NE | 30.49 | 166 | 138 | 178 | 165 |
| 176 | Bismarck, ND | 29.92 | 43 | 179 | 180 | 136 |
| 177 | Fargo, ND | 29.80 | 161 | 161 | 175 | 162 |
| 178 | Burlington, VT | 29.73 | 176 | 140 | 176 | 166 |
| 179 | Irvine, CA | 29.04 | 164 | 167 | 163 | 181 |
| 180 | Sioux Falls, SD | 28.93 | 134 | 159 | 181 | 159 |
| 181 | Fremont, CA | 27.88 | 21 | 181 | 171 | 182 |
| 182 | South Burlington, VT | 26.75 | 88 | 182 | 182 | 172 |
Notes: *No. 1=Most Stressed
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.

- Most
- T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
- T-1. Cheyenne, WY
- 3. Dallas, TX
- 4. Anchorage, AK
- 5. Washington, DC

- Fewest
- T-177. Buffalo, NY
- T-177. Bridgeport, CT
- 179. New Haven, CT
- 180. Tallahassee, FL
- 181. Huntington, WV
- 182. Burlington, VT

- Lowest
- 1. Scottsdale, AZ
- 2. Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- 3. San Francisco, CA
- 4. Glendale, CA
- 5. Baton Rouge, LA

- Highest
- 176. Jersey City, NJ
- 177. Worcester, MA
- 178. North Las Vegas, NV
- 179. San Bernardino, CA
- 180. Nampa, ID

- Lowest
- 1. San Antonio, TX
- 2. Detroit, MI
- 3. Newark, NJ
- 4. Memphis, TN
- 5. Jackson, MS

- Highest
- 177. Overland Park, KS
- 178. Seattle, WA
- 179. Scottsdale, AZ
- 180. Fremont, CA
- 181. Fort Worth, TX

- Highest
- 1. Detroit, MI
- 2. Cleveland, OH
- T-3. Buffalo, NY
- T-3. Huntington, WV
- 5. Jackson, MS

- Lowest
- T-175. Nashua, NH
- T-175. Warwick, RI
- 179. Pearl City, HI
- T-180. Fremont, CA
- T-180. Gilbert, AZ
- 182. Overland Park, KS

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

- Most
- 178. Des Moines, IA
- 179. Wichita, KS
- 180. Bismarck, ND
- 181. Akron, OH
- 182. Cedar Rapids, IA

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

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

- Highest
- T-1. San Antonio, TX
- T-1. Louisville, KY
- T-1. Shreveport, LA
- T-1. Brownsville, TX
- 5. Irving, TX

- Lowest
- T-177. St. Paul, MN
- T-177. Bridgeport, CT
- 179. Portland, ME
- 180. Jersey City, NJ
- 181. Sioux Falls, SD
- 182. Cheyenne, WY

- Highest
- T-1. Memphis, TN
- T-1. Oakland, CA
- 3. St. Louis, MO
- 4. Little Rock, AR
- 5. Tacoma, WA

- Lowest
- 175. Warwick, RI
- 176. Nashua, NH
- 177. Gilbert, AZ
- 178. Port St. Lucie, FL
- 179. Huntsville, AL

- Fewest
- 1. Detroit, MI
- 2. Honolulu, HI
- 3. Pearl City, HI
- 4. Newark, NJ
- 5. Cleveland, OH

- Most
- 178. Denver, CO
- 179. Portland, OR
- 180. Missoula, MT
- 181. Burlington, VT
- 182. South Burlington, VT
In-Depth Look at the Most Stressed Cities
Detroit, MI
Detroit has the most stressed residents in the country. One contributing factor is the fact that the city has the highest unemployment rate in America, at 11.4%. It also has the lowest median household income after adjusting for the cost of living, at slightly over $38,000.
In addition, Detroit has the highest poverty rate in the country, at 31.5%. Residents also have a very low median credit score, at 624, which is in the bad credit range.
Many Detroit residents also have stress in their family structures – the city has the second-highest separation and divorce rate and share of single-parent households. People in Detroit are physically active at low rates, too, and the city has the sixth-highest obesity rate.
Safety is another big stressor, with Detroit having one of the highest violent crime rates in the country.
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland is the second-most stressed city in the U.S., due in part to the fact that it has one of the lowest median household incomes in the country after adjusting for the cost of living, at under $43,000. Low wages contribute to Cleveland also having the fourth-highest share of households that fell behind on bills in the last 12 months, the second-highest foreclosure rate, and the second-highest poverty rate.
It’s not just financial issues that stress out Cleveland residents, though. The city also has the highest separation and divorce rate in the country, at over 41%, along with the 19th-highest percentage of single-parent households.
Cleveland is also stressful when it comes to health and safety. Over 22% of adults have 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month, and 45% of adults sleep less than seven hours per night. On top of that, Cleveland has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country.
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore is the third-most stressed city. One reason is that it’s very expensive to rent in the city, with the average annual rent for a two-bedroom apartment at nearly 40% of the median household income, the third-highest in the country. In addition, many people who buy rather than rent have trouble keeping up with their mortgage payments, as the city has the seventh-highest share of seriously underwater mortgages.
Crime contributes a lot to stress in Baltimore, too. It has one of the highest violent crime rates in the U.S., along with the sixth-most mass shootings between March 2020 and March 2025.
To top things off, Baltimore has a few other miscellaneous factors that create stress. The city has the ninth-highest separation and divorce rate, the 10th-highest traffic congestion rate and the 18th-highest food insecurity rate.
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 wants to relax on a budget?
- What are, in your opinion, the top financial stressors in 2025?
- What are the main causes of family stress, and how can they be addressed both at family level and state policy level?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Psychology Department - University of California – Riverside
Read More
Ph.D. – Director, Strategic Research, School for Professional Studies, Saint Louis University
Read More
Ed.D. – Professor and Director, Social Marketing and Health Communication Lab, HBS Internship Director, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition - University of Delaware
Read More
Ph.D. – Professor of Management, School of Management - Marist University
Read More
Ph.D., LMHC – Professor III & Department Co-Chair of Human Services, Human Services | Palm Beach State College
Read More
Associate Professor, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts - Arizona State University
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 39 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 2023 versus in 2022. - 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
- Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Adults Who Could Not See a Doctor Because of Cost: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Adults Diagnosed with Depression: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Mental Health: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Insured Population: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Adult Binge Drinkers: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion. - Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Physical-Activity Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Obese Residents: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Share of Adults with Inadequate Sleep: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours per night. - Community Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.67 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 (~1.67 Points)
- Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Number of Mass Shootings: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of April 28, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, INRIX, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Indeed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, County Health Ranking, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, TransUnion, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Numbeo, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATTOM, a property data provider - U.S. Home Equity and Underwater Report, ATTOM, a property data provider - U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index, and Gun Violence Archive.








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