Aspiring to become the best and fittest version of yourself is easy. Actually achieving that goal is much more difficult, and it requires a consistently active lifestyle. The road to an active lifestyle can be filled with obstacles, sometimes because where we live may be failing to promote a healthy way of life. Some cities, for instance, lack sidewalks or neighborhood parks.
Two of Americans’ top New Year’s resolutions for 2024 are “exercising more” and “losing weight,” and living in one of the best cities for an active lifestyle can make keeping those resolutions much easier. With New Year self-improvement in mind, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities based on 35 key indicators of an active lifestyle. Our data set ranges from the average monthly fitness-club fee to the city’s bike score to the share of physically inactive adults.
“It can be difficult to get motivated to stay fit, especially when people are busy with work, but living in a city that promotes physical activity can make things a lot easier. The best cities are easy to traverse by walking or biking, have a lot of athletic fields that are open to the public, and are in close proximity to natural hiking trails and swimming areas.”
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle
Overall Rank | City | WalletHub’s Active Lifestyle Score |
Budget & Participation Rank | Sports & Outdoors Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honolulu, HI | 63.09 | 48 | 1 |
2 | New York, NY | 61.51 | 22 | 2 |
3 | Chicago, IL | 59.02 | 10 | 3 |
4 | San Francisco, CA | 58.03 | 15 | 5 |
5 | San Diego, CA | 57.21 | 26 | 4 |
6 | Las Vegas, NV | 56.44 | 1 | 11 |
7 | Cincinnati, OH | 56.21 | 3 | 9 |
8 | Madison, WI | 54.99 | 30 | 6 |
9 | Denver, CO | 54.65 | 8 | 8 |
10 | Atlanta, GA | 54.28 | 2 | 19 |
11 | Los Angeles, CA | 53.39 | 11 | 10 |
12 | Minneapolis, MN | 53.28 | 54 | 7 |
13 | Philadelphia, PA | 52.30 | 17 | 12 |
14 | Seattle, WA | 51.25 | 21 | 16 |
15 | Austin, TX | 51.06 | 14 | 18 |
16 | Scottsdale, AZ | 50.01 | 5 | 32 |
17 | Washington, DC | 49.79 | 49 | 14 |
18 | Portland, OR | 49.78 | 24 | 21 |
19 | Sacramento, CA | 49.78 | 46 | 15 |
20 | Irvine, CA | 48.95 | 67 | 13 |
21 | Tampa, FL | 48.58 | 25 | 26 |
22 | Orlando, FL | 48.50 | 6 | 33 |
23 | Miami, FL | 48.38 | 13 | 31 |
24 | Jacksonville, FL | 48.32 | 31 | 25 |
25 | St. Paul, MN | 47.91 | 70 | 17 |
26 | Tucson, AZ | 47.84 | 47 | 23 |
27 | St. Louis, MO | 47.78 | 4 | 43 |
28 | Milwaukee, WI | 47.53 | 65 | 20 |
29 | Pittsburgh, PA | 47.53 | 7 | 35 |
30 | San Antonio, TX | 47.47 | 32 | 29 |
31 | Boise, ID | 47.16 | 36 | 30 |
32 | Boston, MA | 46.92 | 40 | 28 |
33 | Phoenix, AZ | 46.10 | 9 | 42 |
34 | San Jose, CA | 45.96 | 84 | 22 |
35 | Houston, TX | 45.86 | 16 | 38 |
36 | Omaha, NE | 45.59 | 77 | 24 |
37 | Dallas, TX | 45.49 | 20 | 37 |
38 | Colorado Springs, CO | 45.01 | 29 | 36 |
39 | Charlotte, NC | 44.45 | 37 | 39 |
40 | Reno, NV | 44.10 | 33 | 41 |
41 | Henderson, NV | 43.66 | 56 | 34 |
42 | Plano, TX | 43.10 | 92 | 27 |
43 | Buffalo, NY | 42.94 | 43 | 46 |
44 | Virginia Beach, VA | 42.90 | 34 | 50 |
45 | Long Beach, CA | 42.81 | 51 | 45 |
46 | Louisville, KY | 42.69 | 28 | 53 |
47 | Lincoln, NE | 42.67 | 64 | 40 |
48 | St. Petersburg, FL | 42.53 | 53 | 44 |
49 | Tulsa, OK | 42.40 | 45 | 49 |
50 | Raleigh, NC | 42.08 | 39 | 54 |
51 | Columbus, OH | 40.41 | 72 | 52 |
52 | Chesapeake, VA | 40.34 | 57 | 56 |
53 | Fremont, CA | 40.21 | 19 | 66 |
54 | El Paso, TX | 40.12 | 44 | 60 |
55 | Norfolk, VA | 39.84 | 82 | 48 |
56 | Baton Rouge, LA | 39.80 | 58 | 57 |
57 | Indianapolis, IN | 38.96 | 50 | 63 |
58 | Albuquerque, NM | 38.76 | 83 | 55 |
59 | Lubbock, TX | 38.60 | 12 | 77 |
60 | Anchorage, AK | 38.38 | 94 | 51 |
61 | Oakland, CA | 38.30 | 99 | 47 |
62 | Nashville, TN | 38.20 | 79 | 58 |
63 | Chandler, AZ | 38.11 | 18 | 73 |
64 | Stockton, CA | 38.02 | 61 | 65 |
65 | Cleveland, OH | 37.84 | 78 | 61 |
66 | Toledo, OH | 37.80 | 60 | 67 |
67 | Baltimore, MD | 37.70 | 73 | 62 |
68 | Glendale, AZ | 37.65 | 23 | 74 |
69 | New Orleans, LA | 37.13 | 68 | 68 |
70 | Fort Worth, TX | 37.13 | 55 | 70 |
71 | Kansas City, MO | 36.96 | 89 | 59 |
72 | Chula Vista, CA | 36.81 | 52 | 71 |
73 | Anaheim, CA | 36.27 | 38 | 75 |
74 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 36.17 | 41 | 76 |
75 | Mesa, AZ | 36.15 | 27 | 80 |
76 | Arlington, TX | 36.09 | 35 | 79 |
77 | Detroit, MI | 35.45 | 93 | 64 |
78 | Riverside, CA | 34.36 | 59 | 82 |
79 | Jersey City, NJ | 33.78 | 87 | 72 |
80 | Laredo, TX | 33.75 | 98 | 69 |
81 | Memphis, TN | 33.48 | 62 | 86 |
82 | Bakersfield, CA | 33.19 | 75 | 83 |
83 | Wichita, KS | 33.06 | 71 | 85 |
84 | San Bernardino, CA | 33.02 | 80 | 78 |
85 | Oklahoma City, OK | 32.73 | 86 | 81 |
86 | Birmingham, AL | 32.19 | 63 | 96 |
87 | Garland, TX | 32.13 | 66 | 92 |
88 | Santa Ana, CA | 31.36 | 74 | 91 |
89 | Newark, NJ | 31.16 | 91 | 84 |
90 | Durham, NC | 30.85 | 85 | 90 |
91 | Fresno, CA | 30.73 | 81 | 93 |
92 | Greensboro, NC | 30.35 | 76 | 97 |
93 | Fort Wayne, IN | 30.30 | 42 | 99 |
94 | Hialeah, FL | 30.10 | 96 | 88 |
95 | Aurora, CO | 29.91 | 97 | 87 |
96 | Corpus Christi, TX | 29.44 | 90 | 94 |
97 | Irving, TX | 29.17 | 88 | 98 |
98 | Gilbert, AZ | 29.05 | 95 | 95 |
99 | Winston-Salem, NC | 28.03 | 69 | 100 |
100 | North Las Vegas, NV | 26.75 | 100 | 89 |
Note: With the exception of “WalletHub’s Active Lifestyle 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.
In-Depth Look at the Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu is 2024’s best city for an active lifestyle, in large part because it promotes certain community sporting activities more than any other city. For example, it ranks first in the nation when it comes to baseball diamonds, skate parks, volleyball courts and tennis courts.
The island paradise feel of Honolulu makes it easy for outdoor recreation to flourish. Even if you’re not interested in traditional sports, the city’s proximity to the ocean allows for easy access to swimming and surfing, and it’s the top city for hiking trails as well.
Honolulu ranks third in the nation for air quality, too, so that will help your breathing while you engage in outdoor activities.
New York, NY
The second-best city for an active lifestyle is New York City, and you can get plenty of exercise simply by walking to your job, restaurants and other destinations. New York ranks as the second most walkable city in the U.S., and it also provides plenty of opportunities for organized recreation. The city ranks first when it comes to the availability of dance schools, swimming lessons, bike rental facilities, soccer fields and basketball hoops.
Plus, New York’s residents express a high level of interest in staying active. People in NYC search Google for terms relating to workouts and exercise equipment more than people in any other city. That means if you’re interested in staying active, you’ll probably be able to find a lot of like-minded people who you could potentially work out with.
Chicago, IL
Chicago ranks as the third-best city for staying active, and it’s an especially good place for children given that it ranks first for the availability of playgrounds. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., so it’s important for cities to provide places for children to exercise.
The Windy City is located right on Lake Michigan, so there are plenty of opportunities to swim and walk on the beach. In addition, Chicago ranks at the top of the pack when it comes to the availability of sports clubs and swimming pools.
Lowest
- Lowest
- 1. Scottsdale, AZ
- 2. Toledo, OH
- T-3. Arlington, TX
- T-3. Glendale, AZ
- 5. Lubbock, TX
Highest
- Highest
- T-91. Washington, DC
- T-91. Boston, MA
- T-91. San Francisco, CA
- T-91. Anchorage, AK
- T-91. New York, NY
Lowest
- Lowest
- 1. Irvine, CA
- 2. Seattle, WA
- 3. Scottsdale, AZ
- 4. Fremont, CA
- 5. Madison, WI
Highest
- Highest
- 96. Birmingham, AL
- 97. Newark, NJ
- 98. Detroit, MI
- 99. Laredo, TX
- 100. Hialeah, FL
Most
- Most
- T-1. Cleveland, OH
- T-1. Philadelphia, PA
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. Atlanta, GA
- T-1. Pittsburgh, PA
Fewest
- Fewest
- 93. Chula Vista, CA
- 94. Fort Worth, TX
- 95. Fremont, CA
- 96. Madison, WI
- 97. Anaheim, CA
Most
- Most
- T-1. New York, NY
- T-1. St. Paul, MN
- 3. Irvine, CA
- 4. Norfolk, VA
- 5. Jacksonville, FL
Fewest
- Fewest
- 94. Fort Wayne, IN
- 95. Greensboro, NC
- 96. Gilbert, AZ
- 97. Irving, TX
- 98. St. Louis, MO
Most
- Most
- T-1. Honolulu, HI
- T-1. Omaha, NE
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. Norfolk, VA
- 5. Washington, DC
Fewest
- Fewest
- 94. North Las Vegas, NV
- 95. Mesa, AZ
- 96. Gilbert, AZ
- 97. Irving, TX
- 98. Bakersfield, CA
Most
- Most
- T-1. Gilbert, AZ
- T-1. Glendale, AZ
- T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
- 4. Chandler, AZ
- 5. St. Paul, MN
Fewest
- Fewest
- 96. Corpus Christi, TX
- 97. Houston, TX
- 98. Bakersfield, CA
- 99. New York, NY
- 100. Laredo, TX
Most
- Most
- 1. Scottsdale, AZ
- 2. Orlando, FL
- 3. Honolulu, HI
- 4. Tampa, FL
- 5. Oakland, CA
Fewest
- Fewest
- 96. North Las Vegas, NV
- 97. Newark, NJ
- 98. San Bernardino, CA
- 99. Garland, TX
- 100. Laredo, TX
Most
- Most
- T-1. New York, NY
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. Charlotte, NC
- 4. Detroit, MI
- 5. San Antonio, TX
Fewest
- Fewest
- 94. Jersey City, NJ
- 95. Santa Ana, CA
- 96. Newark, NJ
- 97. Gilbert, AZ
- 98. Hialeah, FL
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Tips for Staying Active
- Find activities you enjoy: Being active doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym every day. Find things you enjoy, like hiking, dancing, swimming, playing a sport, or just walking around your neighborhood. Doing things you like makes it easier to keep doing them.
- Incorporate exercise into your routine: Make moving a regular part of your day. It can be simple, like taking a short walk during lunch, biking to work, or doing a quick home workout. Keep it consistent by finding a schedule that works for you.
- Set realistic goals: Stay motivated by setting goals you can reach with a bit of effort. Whether it’s walking a certain number of steps, increasing your weekly run, or learning a new yoga pose, achieving realistic goals feels good and keeps you active.
- Stay active with a group: Exercise with friends, take group classes, or join a local sports team. Being active together makes it more fun and holds you accountable. You’re more likely to stick to your fitness routine when you have others to do it with.
- Mix it up: Avoid getting bored by trying different exercises, sports or classes. Changing things up challenges your body and helps you stay interested and engaged in exercise in the long run.
Ask the Experts
Maintaining an active lifestyle not only improves quality of life, but it can also help prevent certain illnesses and cut down on medical costs. Promoting healthy choices, however, requires a group effort. We asked a panel of experts to share their advice on introducing positive changes both at home and at the policy level. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
- How can local communities encourage and facilitate active lifestyles among residents?
- Does the presence of professional sports teams in a city encourage residents to be more active? Should cities subsidize professional sports franchises through tax incentives and facilities?
- How can we increase access to and use of gyms and recreational facilities? Would incentives – such as tax deductions for gym memberships – or penalties – such as higher health care premiums – be more effective?
- What tips do you have for someone looking to maintain an active lifestyle on a budget?
- How can parents encourage children to be active in order to combat obesity?
Jennifer D. Roberts
Ph.D., MPH – Associate Professor, Physical Cultural Studies Research Group; Founding Executive Director | Wekesa Earth Center; Director | Public Health Outcomes and Effects of the Built Environment Laboratory; Department of Kinesiology | School of Public Health – University of Maryland
Read More
Paul Estabrooks
Professor and Associate Dean of Community Engagement, Department of Health & Kinesiology, College of Health – University of Utah
Read More
Katherine Fennelly
Professor Emerita, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and author of Family Declassified: Uncovering My Grandfather’s Journey from Spy to Children’s Book Author
Read More
Deborah H. John
Ph.D., MS – Professor and Extension Specialist for Health Equity and Place – Oregon State University, College of Health
Read More
Susan Massad
HSD, R.D. – Professor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics, Department of Nutrition and Health Studies – Framingham State University
Read More
Kindal Shores
Ph.D. – Professor of Recreation Sciences, College of Health and Human Performance – East Carolina University
Read More
More Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the best cities for an active lifestyle, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across two key dimensions, “Budget & Participation” and “Sports & Outdoors.”
We evaluated those dimensions using 35 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 most favorable conditions for a physically active population. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its Active Lifestyle Score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.
Budget & Participation – Total Points: 30
- Average Monthly Fitness-Club Fee: Double Weight (~5.45 Points)
- Average Cost of Sports Apparel: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
Note: This metric considers the average price of a pair of running shoes as a proxy for the cost of sports apparel. - Average Bowling Cost: Half Weight (~1.36 Points)
- Average Cost of Tennis-Court Rent: Half Weight (~1.36 Points)
Note: “Average Cost” is for one hour of rent during the weekend. - Sporting-Goods Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
- Sports Clubs per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
- Share of Physically Inactive Adults: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
- Share of Workers Aged 16 and Over Who Bike or Walk to Work: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
- Google Search Interest for “At Home Workouts”: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to find information about the following search terms: “Hiit workout,” “Workout at home,” “Ab workouts at home,” “Chest workout at home,” “Leg workouts at home,” “Bodyweight workout,” “Cardio workout at home”. “Real intent” is measured using the average monthly search volumes for those specific terms. - Google Search Interest for “At Home Sports Equipment”: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to find information about the following search terms: “Dumbbells”, “Resistance bands”, “NordicTrack treadmill”, “Peloton”, “Kettlebell”, “Barbell”, “Home gym,” “Home gym equipment,” “Home workout equipment”. “Real intent” is measured using the average monthly search volumes for those specific terms. - Intramural Leagues per Capita: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
Sports & Outdoors – Total Points: 70
- Basketball Hoops per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.75 Points)
- Baseball & Softball Diamonds per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.75 Points)
- Soccer Fields per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
- Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Volleyball Nets per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Public and Municipal Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Ice-Skating Rinks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Skateboard Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Dance Schools per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Swimming Lessons Opportunities per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Bike Score: Double Weight (~4.75 Points)
- Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.19 Points)
- Presence of Bike-Sharing Programs: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Fitness Centers per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.75 Points)
- Fitness Trainers & Aerobics Instructors per Capita: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Playgrounds per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.75 Points)
- Parkland Acres per Capita: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Walk Score: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Hiking Trails per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.75 Points)
- Proximity to Major Lake/Ocean: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
- Access to Exercise Opportunities: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
Note: Access to Exercise Opportunities measures the percentage of individuals in a county who live reasonably close to a location for physical activity. Locations for physical activity are defined as parks or recreational facilities. Individuals are considered to have access to exercise opportunities if they:- reside in a census block that is within a half mile of a park, or
- reside in an urban census block that is within one mile of a recreational facility, or
- reside in a rural census block that is within three miles of a recreational facility.
- Weather: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking. - Air Quality: Full Weight (~2.37 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of December 15, 2023 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Environmental Protection Agency, AreaVibes, County Health Rankings, Numbeo, IMLeagues, The Meddin Bike-Sharing World Map, Trust for Public Land, Yelp, Walk Score, GolfLink, Google Ads and WalletHub research.
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