Stress Behavior Demographics & Statistics Environment

The Most Stressed Cities In America

9 months, 3 weeks ago

6576 0
Posted on Jul 10, 2023, 5 p.m.

Are you stressed, do you think that where you live has a lot to do with it and find yourself wondering just how does where you live stack up to other places? Stress can come from a variety of things, like work pressure, family obligations, paying rent, driving, crime rates, pollution, inflation, relationships, and buying groceries. In today’s society, we are literally surrounded by things that are stress-inducing.

Stress is pretty much inevitable, and everyone will experience some form of stress at one point or another. However, the last few years have battered the American psyche with a barrage of external stressors beyond our control that has elevated stress levels with the pandemic being followed by record-high rates of inflation and spiking levels of homicide rates. A recent study conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association revealed that 83% of Americans are feeling extra stress about inflation and 75% are stressed out about violence and crime.

While stress can be hard to deal with, it isn’t necessarily always a bad thing because certain kinds of stress can have positive effects on one’s well-being 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.” Chronic stress is what we want to avoid because that is when we can become vulnerable to damaging effects such as health problems and loss of productivity, workplace related stress alone is estimated to cost society over a staggering $300 billion annually.

Civil liberty distress is a serious topic with the majority of American adults reporting feelings of uncertainty and concern for the future, with 70% thinking that the government does not care about them, 64% saying that they feel that their rights are under attack, 45% feel that they are not protected by the laws in America, 38% are considering moving to another country, and 40% agreed that the political environment in their state has made them consider moving to another state. 76% said that the future of this nation is a significant source of stress and 68% said that this is the lowest point in the nation's history that they can remember. 83% are concerned with inflation, 69% are worried about the economy and 66% said that money is a significant source of stress.

In another study to determine which cities are coping with stress better than others, WalletHub compared over 180 American cities across 39 key metrics running from average weekly work hours to the unemployment rate, to divorce and suicide rates. These findings revealed that the top five stressed-out cities in America are: Cleveland, Ohio which took the top spot, followed by Detroit, Michigan coming in second, Baltimore, Maryland placed third, Birmingham, Alabama landed in fourth, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rounds off the list of the top five in terms of the most stressed out American cities.

Overall those living in Cleveland, Ohio are the most stressed in the entire nation which was the leader in terms of stress ranking first in financial stress, second in health and safety stress, and third in family stress. Cleveland also has the second-highest poverty rate, and the highest divorce rate, to add to this residents are getting the second-fewest amounts of sleep each night across the nation.

Birmingham, AL is tied with Springfield, MO for having the highest crime rate, while Port St. Lucie, FL has the lowest. South Burlington, Vermont has the lowest unemployment rate but Stockton, California has a jobless rate that is more than 8 times higher. Portland, Maine has the lowest number of adults in fair to poor shape, but Huntington, West Virginia has the highest number of adults in poor health. In terms of sleep, those living in Detroit, MI sleep the least, followed by Cleveland, OH, Montgomery, AL, Birmingham, AL, and Augusta, GA.

Adjusted for cost of living, Columbia, Maryland has the highest median annual household income at $104,886 which is about three times higher than those living in Detroit which has the lowest average income at $33,329. In terms of affordable housing, New York City ranks last which is followed by Los Angeles, and Glendale, California. In terms of the poverty rate, Detroit, MI has the highest rate, followed by Cleveland, OH, Huntington, WV, Rochester, NY, and Buffalo, NY.

The 182 Most And Least Stressed Cities In America: 1 represents the worst conditions for that metric category with the exception of Total Score.

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Work Stress	Financial Stress	Family Stress	Health & Safety Stress
1	Cleveland, OH	62.62	47	1	3	2
2	Detroit, MI	57.75	50	2	29	1
3	Baltimore, MD	57.43	4	5	9	44
4	Birmingham, AL	57.11	23	20	4	5
5	Philadelphia, PA	55.29	8	9	50	11
6	Shreveport, LA	54.11	64	3	67	6
7	Memphis, TN	53.81	30	11	39	12
8	Fayetteville, NC	53.53	45	17	6	36
9	St. Louis, MO	53.30	48	8	31	17
10	Augusta, GA	52.74	33	24	21	23
11	Montgomery, AL	52.62	60	15	35	7
12	Gulfport, MS	52.39	15	10	85	20
13	New Orleans, LA	52.38	24	4	100	25
14	Houston, TX	52.09	7	70	17	14
15	Akron, OH	51.80	66	13	49	10
16	Toledo, OH	51.52	86	6	62	21
17	Jackson, MS	51.48	44	14	48	26
18	North Las Vegas, NV	51.31	104	31	2	54
19	Milwaukee, WI	51.00	28	39	12	40
20	Huntington, WV	50.97	130	12	104	3
21	Las Vegas, NV	50.83	29	45	13	32
22	San Bernardino, CA	50.71	131	35	5	46
23	Cincinnati, OH	50.53	52	22	41	24
24	San Antonio, TX	50.14	51	52	15	16
25	Newark, NJ	49.93	43	21	14	86
26	Indianapolis, IN	49.84	32	19	74	34
27	Columbus, GA	49.56	147	7	68	29
28	Newport News, VA	49.10	95	34	7	75
29	Fresno, CA	49.03	153	44	1	97
30	Mobile, AL	48.77	69	18	94	19
31	Washington, DC	47.90	1	121	18	119
32	Chicago, IL	47.68	2	30	102	125
33	Dover, DE	47.52	67	23	96	41
34	Baton Rouge, LA	47.20	99	26	112	22
35	Dallas, TX	47.11	21	97	42	42
36	Atlanta, GA	47.10	19	63	53	60
37	Rochester, NY	46.90	109	42	19	73
38	New York, NY	46.85	3	55	65	132
39	Hialeah, FL	46.81	173	27	11	115
40	New Haven, CT	46.56	76	72	22	66
41	Tucson, AZ	46.49	135	62	20	53
42	Buffalo, NY	46.43	57	77	24	65
43	Wilmington, DE	46.43	38	36	90	58
44	Moreno Valley, CA	46.27	59	47	10	113
45	Modesto, CA	46.03	75	122	8	74
46	Little Rock, AR	45.94	159	16	87	51
47	Brownsville, TX	45.73	166	33	32	62
48	Los Angeles, CA	45.70	34	54	34	117
49	Norfolk, VA	45.66	113	32	46	85
50	Miami, FL	45.60	118	25	61	83
51	Bridgeport, CT	45.50	6	49	82	145
52	Columbus, OH	45.49	55	80	70	37
53	Oklahoma City, OK	45.23	92	68	51	47
54	Charleston, WV	45.22	78	117	114	4
55	Henderson, NV	45.09	71	67	28	110
56	Richmond, VA	45.03	49	40	73	92
57	Corpus Christi, TX	45.00	139	79	83	13
58	Long Beach, CA	44.94	46	56	30	141
59	Chattanooga, TN	44.84	123	37	117	31
60	Springfield, MO	44.81	127	43	134	9
61	Knoxville, TN	44.59	134	71	81	28
62	Phoenix, AZ	44.59	85	73	55	56
63	Columbia, SC	44.59	77	28	135	49
64	El Paso, TX	44.55	148	48	40	72
65	Vancouver, WA	44.51	39	95	47	69
66	Fort Smith, AR	44.46	174	41	121	8
67	Tulsa, OK	44.39	145	50	110	18
68	Spokane, WA	44.28	138	123	23	57
69	Jacksonville, FL	43.87	137	38	89	59
70	Fort Wayne, IN	43.76	126	61	56	67
71	Winston-Salem, NC	43.75	108	78	33	112
72	Tacoma, WA	43.72	72	133	25	76
73	Louisville, KY	43.59	22	53	158	48
74	Denver, CO	43.44	5	139	105	98
75	Bakersfield, CA	43.35	119	51	59	103
76	Laredo, TX	43.35	181	64	37	50
77	Fort Worth, TX	43.33	94	96	64	63
78	Worcester, MA	43.29	53	151	16	126
79	Ontario, CA	43.27	150	66	27	122
80	Salem, OR	43.18	101	127	76	38
81	Glendale, AZ	43.06	125	46	72	96
82	Garland, TX	42.98	97	88	69	68
83	Albuquerque, NM	42.87	93	75	75	81
84	Nashville, TN	42.70	20	91	126	87
85	Reno, NV	42.60	154	146	43	43
86	Arlington, TX	42.58	87	89	98	61
87	Kansas City, MO	42.58	91	83	150	15
88	Portland, OR	42.55	12	134	78	134
89	Stockton, CA	42.50	98	92	54	108
90	Greensboro, NC	42.46	88	82	79	89
91	Aurora, CO	42.36	41	93	77	101
92	Las Cruces, NM	42.22	168	29	95	111
93	Riverside, CA	42.19	146	69	52	104
94	Amarillo, TX	41.76	159	86	113	35
95	Oakland, CA	41.53	13	153	45	151
96	Santa Clarita, CA	41.36	31	76	66	170
97	Sacramento, CA	41.26	90	100	37	154
98	Grand Prairie, TX	41.18	144	126	57	64
99	Lubbock, TX	40.99	164	59	141	39
100	Glendale, CA	40.99	26	84	80	164
101	Pittsburgh, PA	40.97	79	58	146	82
102	Fontana, CA	40.84	167	106	44	99
103	Fort Lauderdale, FL	40.69	35	74	148	94
104	Wichita, KS	40.68	151	57	151	52
105	Providence, RI	40.66	82	85	93	136
106	Garden Grove, CA	40.43	128	99	36	159
107	Colorado Springs, CO	40.13	157	104	71	109
108	Mesa, AZ	40.07	129	90	99	118
109	Tampa, FL	39.92	106	115	88	120
110	Casper, WY	39.82	122	135	145	33
111	West Valley City, UT	39.82	182	118	26	90
112	Oceanside, CA	39.65	58	113	109	143
113	Orlando, FL	39.63	178	65	92	93
114	Cape Coral, FL	39.42	81	87	142	107
115	Oxnard, CA	39.35	140	141	63	138
116	Tallahassee, FL	39.27	180	60	123	80
117	Durham, NC	39.24	116	161	58	123
118	Charlotte, NC	39.21	25	147	111	155
119	Santa Ana, CA	39.11	169	108	60	137
120	Honolulu, HI	38.88	83	103	84	173
121	Boston, MA	38.79	18	124	153	150
122	Port St. Lucie, FL	38.78	158	119	143	55
123	Tempe, AZ	38.71	170	107	86	128
124	Yonkers, NY	38.61	11	98	136	172
125	Nampa, ID	38.61	141	102	124	124
126	Des Moines, IA	38.37	136	81	154	91
127	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	38.36	100	130	106	142
128	Peoria, AZ	38.34	63	114	133	139
129	Huntsville, AL	38.33	175	138	147	30
130	Santa Rosa, CA	38.29	54	145	118	148
131	St. Paul, MN	38.28	74	140	132	106
132	Manchester, NH	38.20	111	157	120	84
133	Lewiston, ME	38.06	143	94	167	27
134	Irving, TX	37.84	162	149	116	79
135	Austin, TX	37.72	27	168	140	133
136	Salt Lake City, UT	37.48	133	131	122	135
137	San Diego, CA	37.45	89	112	119	168
138	Raleigh, NC	37.44	42	170	91	160
139	Jersey City, NJ	37.42	56	120	101	175
140	St. Petersburg, FL	37.42	142	132	149	78
141	Pearl City, HI	37.28	9	152	128	176
142	Anchorage, AK	37.16	102	162	115	127
143	Grand Rapids, MI	36.82	120	109	161	95
144	Anaheim, CA	36.76	132	110	108	165
145	Chula Vista, CA	36.65	124	129	125	162
146	Chesapeake, VA	36.36	121	137	130	147
147	Aurora, IL	36.26	40	101	159	163
148	Cheyenne, WY	36.03	62	166	156	100
149	San Francisco, CA	35.94	14	172	131	179
150	Lexington-Fayette, KY	35.82	65	111	174	71
151	Omaha, NE	35.69	117	105	164	130
152	Minneapolis, MN	35.56	107	160	155	105
153	Pembroke Pines, FL	35.51	61	116	163	146
154	Virginia Beach, VA	35.28	103	155	139	153
155	Juneau, AK	35.25	37	177	157	88
156	Huntington Beach, CA	35.21	80	163	107	171
157	Chandler, AZ	35.15	161	144	127	156
158	Seattle, WA	34.98	96	178	97	157
159	Warwick, RI	34.94	16	165	166	140
160	Billings, MT	34.76	112	158	171	45
161	Columbia, MD	34.53	10	164	138	180
162	Scottsdale, AZ	34.30	68	154	152	167
163	Boise, ID	33.94	156	171	129	144
164	Charleston, SC	32.61	152	159	169	102
165	Missoula, MT	32.51	171	136	173	77
166	Gilbert, AZ	32.44	172	128	162	161
167	San Jose, CA	32.44	115	180	103	178
168	Cedar Rapids, IA	31.98	149	150	172	129
169	Portland, ME	31.87	105	156	175	131
170	Irvine, CA	31.81	84	169	137	181
171	Madison, WI	31.76	155	174	144	169
172	Plano, TX	31.75	114	176	160	152
173	Nashua, NH	31.44	73	173	170	121
174	Rapid City, SD	31.04	176	125	180	70
175	Bismarck, ND	31.02	36	179	178	114
176	Burlington, VT	29.69	179	148	168	158
177	Lincoln, NE	29.64	165	142	177	149
178	Fargo, ND	28.60	177	167	179	116
179	Overland Park, KS	27.83	70	175	176	174
180	Sioux Falls, SD	27.53	163	143	181	166
181	Fremont, CA	27.04	17	181	165	182
182	South Burlington, VT	23.43	110	182	182	177

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.

Content may be edited for style and length.

References/Sources/Materials provided by:

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/concerned-future-inflation

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress

https://wallethub.com/edu/most-least-stressed-cities/22759

https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress

https://www.apa.org/topics/stress