Most Stressed U.S. Cities: Cleveland, Detroit continue to struggle in 2024

WASHINGTON — Stress is unavoidable in life. Whether it’s money troubles, family issues, or just the simple annoyances of everyday life, it’s almost guaranteed that something is going to stress us out at some point. However, a new poll finds that where you live plays a massive role in how you’re feeling. Unfortunately, for Americans living in two major Rust Belt cities, local living conditions are sending their stress levels off the charts.

Researchers with WalletHub compared over 180 U.S. cities based on 39 key factors that can lead to stress. These include financial stress, workplace stress, family conflicts, health issues, and local crime.

The study revealed that Americans in Cleveland, Ohio are dealing with more stress than anyone else in the nation. Cleveland residents have one of the country’s lowest average household incomes once you adjust for the current cost of living (under $41,000). The city also ranked second overall in terms of health and safety stress.

Cleveland finished second in terms of the local poverty rate, divorce rate, and each resident getting the least amount of sleep. The only city worse than Cleveland in each of these categories was Detroit, Michigan.

Detroit finished second on this year’s list of the most stressed U.S. cities, narrowly missing out on the top spot by less than one point in WalletHub’s calculations.

Rounding out the top five stressed cities were Baltimore, Maryland (3rd), Memphis, Tennessee (4th), and Gulfport, Mississippi (5th). Unfortunately, it’s more of the same for the top three stressed cities, which finished in the same order on last year’s list.

“Some stress is out of our control, due to issues with family, friends or employers. However, where you live can play a big role in how stressed you are. Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents. When moving, it’s important to consider how a certain city may impact your mental health – not just your financial opportunities,” says WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe in a statement.

Researchers note that money, health, and the economy are still Americans’ top stressors. However, three in five talk don’t about their stress with the main reason being that they don’t want to burden others. Estimates also show that stress in the workplace costs the economy more than $300 billion each year.

At the other end of the spectrum, Fremont, California (182nd), South Burlington, Vermont (181st), and Fargo, North Dakota (180th) finished at the bottom of 2024’s list — meaning they rank as the least-stressed cities in America.

Elsewhere, Miami and Hialeah, Florida recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the country. For comparison, unemployment was 5.9 times lower in these cities than in Detroit.

Portland, Maine appears to be one of the healthiest places in America, having the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health. In comparison, there were 2.5 times fewer people in poor health in Portland, Maine than there were in Huntington, West Virginia, the city with the highest number of residents in poor health.

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	Cleveland, OH	60.37	55	1	12	2
2	Detroit, MI	59.72	44	9	4	1
3	Baltimore, MD	58.30	5	2	16	38
4	Memphis, TN	57.12	53	4	15	6
5	Gulfport, MS	57.12	28	13	5	22
6	Philadelphia, PA	56.03	12	12	31	9
7	Birmingham, AL	55.96	57	18	11	3
8	Akron, OH	54.86	108	16	6	8
9	New Orleans, LA	54.02	25	3	65	20
10	Jackson, MS	53.43	68	10	41	14
11	St. Louis, MO	53.38	35	5	69	16
12	Montgomery, AL	53.10	114	6	40	7
13	Indianapolis, IN	52.41	19	17	42	37
14	Shreveport, LA	52.29	81	7	61	13
15	Newark, NJ	51.35	9	15	35	92
16	Mobile, AL	51.23	65	8	84	27
17	Milwaukee, WI	50.92	60	45	13	34
18	Houston, TX	50.92	13	72	36	17
19	San Bernardino, CA	50.83	112	35	2	53
20	San Antonio, TX	50.43	92	47	18	11
21	Baton Rouge, LA	50.02	69	23	70	15
22	Augusta, GA	49.80	89	21	39	29
23	Cincinnati, OH	49.45	41	31	48	36
24	Las Vegas, NV	49.11	32	37	29	76
25	Wilmington, DE	49.05	43	30	34	62
26	Toledo, OH	49.03	78	19	90	26
27	North Las Vegas, NV	48.87	128	32	3	84
28	Columbus, GA	48.80	150	11	47	55
29	Fresno, CA	48.58	139	39	1	117
30	Huntington, WV	48.54	180	20	79	5
31	Vancouver, WA	48.52	4	100	33	63
32	Fayetteville, NC	48.43	136	43	24	30
33	Chicago, IL	48.12	8	36	93	85
34	Salem, OR	47.74	117	113	21	12
35	Spokane, WA	47.68	107	107	7	54
36	New York, NY	47.59	6	51	75	105
37	Fort Smith, AR	47.57	147	27	80	10
38	Laredo, TX	47.44	181	22	14	57
39	Dover, DE	47.28	67	28	98	31
40	Modesto, CA	47.21	101	84	8	107
41	Dallas, TX	47.08	21	87	81	35
42	Los Angeles, CA	46.76	29	61	37	103
43	Little Rock, AR	46.74	88	14	119	50
44	Tucson, AZ	46.73	134	68	25	45
45	Rochester, NY	46.68	121	60	27	56
46	Washington, DC	46.65	15	99	28	108
47	Corpus Christi, TX	46.65	166	41	45	23
48	Charleston, WV	46.64	62	150	63	4
49	Louisville, KY	46.54	20	33	137	41
50	Buffalo, NY	46.52	64	78	51	43
51	Bridgeport, CT	46.32	7	34	101	140
52	Winston-Salem, NC	46.06	100	71	23	75
53	Newport News, VA	46.05	157	49	19	79
54	Richmond, VA	45.88	38	48	86	73
55	Kansas City, MO	45.79	47	91	103	19
56	Oklahoma City, OK	45.58	95	67	64	40
57	Knoxville, TN	45.50	153	65	72	21
58	Tacoma, WA	45.33	46	125	20	81
59	Norfolk, VA	45.30	138	46	60	48
60	Jacksonville, FL	45.30	118	38	59	67
61	El Paso, TX	45.21	158	44	43	61
62	Tulsa, OK	45.18	152	54	87	24
63	Bakersfield, CA	44.89	111	58	30	115
64	Ontario, CA	44.75	133	63	17	130
65	Fort Wayne, IN	44.54	84	64	82	66
66	Moreno Valley, CA	44.51	149	59	9	123
67	Columbus, OH	44.42	61	75	107	46
68	Fort Worth, TX	44.37	63	118	46	59
69	Worcester, MA	44.36	123	102	10	128
70	New Haven, CT	44.35	116	26	83	102
71	Brownsville, TX	44.12	167	40	55	65
72	Miami, FL	44.09	151	24	67	96
73	Hialeah, FL	44.07	168	29	32	127
74	Sacramento, CA	44.00	103	76	22	129
75	Arlington, TX	43.90	120	93	54	51
76	Columbia, SC	43.78	172	25	96	47
77	Phoenix, AZ	43.72	122	82	58	58
78	Grand Prairie, TX	43.63	51	104	73	64
79	Atlanta, GA	43.54	39	81	116	69
80	Denver, CO	43.44	1	122	150	86
81	Long Beach, CA	43.37	48	56	62	151
82	Portland, OR	43.35	10	130	102	106
83	Glendale, AZ	43.34	144	55	76	77
84	Albuquerque, NM	43.30	97	106	53	71
85	Springfield, MO	43.30	125	57	145	18
86	Greensboro, NC	43.22	113	83	56	93
87	Stockton, CA	42.88	104	62	66	119
88	Garland, TX	42.65	105	90	77	74
89	Reno, NV	42.65	110	129	49	70
90	West Valley City, UT	42.55	162	100	26	72
91	Chattanooga, TN	42.52	173	66	113	28
92	Aurora, CO	42.45	23	77	120	111
93	Oceanside, CA	42.20	22	116	74	159
94	Las Cruces, NM	42.15	119	52	108	97
95	Fontana, CA	42.02	161	69	38	136
96	Oakland, CA	41.95	11	141	68	149
97	Wichita, KS	41.85	129	74	130	44
98	Riverside, CA	41.68	148	73	57	118
99	Oxnard, CA	41.54	93	114	44	157
100	Henderson, NV	41.44	49	98	78	145
101	Nashville, TN	41.26	33	95	144	80
102	Glendale, CA	41.20	24	70	97	171
103	Tampa, FL	41.04	90	92	88	125
104	Tallahassee, FL	41.04	171	42	106	89
105	Colorado Springs, CO	40.89	142	132	52	99
106	Lubbock, TX	40.86	178	50	132	32
107	Port St. Lucie, FL	40.67	99	133	117	60
108	Des Moines, IA	40.54	58	97	135	91
109	Casper, WY	40.42	56	149	155	25
110	Santa Clarita, CA	40.37	31	53	123	172
111	Santa Ana, CA	40.13	140	108	71	126
112	Salt Lake City, UT	40.08	135	105	91	109
113	Charlotte, NC	39.98	42	137	99	139
114	Amarillo, TX	39.95	176	96	118	42
115	Peoria, AZ	39.79	59	94	127	124
116	Cape Coral, FL	39.78	85	80	129	132
117	Boston, MA	39.42	30	103	147	142
118	Pittsburgh, PA	39.19	131	86	143	82
119	Irving, TX	39.16	155	143	92	78
120	Mesa, AZ	39.06	163	109	94	104
121	Orlando, FL	39.04	177	79	95	101
122	Anaheim, CA	39.00	83	111	89	164
123	Garden Grove, CA	38.92	126	124	50	167
124	Providence, RI	38.82	96	88	134	131
125	Missoula, MT	38.56	127	139	142	52
126	Fort Lauderdale, FL	38.40	124	89	141	110
127	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	38.32	102	115	115	143
128	Huntsville, AL	38.07	175	131	126	49
129	Austin, TX	38.02	40	158	128	134
130	San Diego, CA	37.91	70	117	111	176
131	Chula Vista, CA	37.83	66	134	85	177
132	Pembroke Pines, FL	37.75	36	123	138	158
133	Anchorage, AK	37.70	79	167	114	113
134	Santa Rosa, CA	37.70	91	140	109	163
135	Lewiston, ME	37.66	159	120	163	39
136	Aurora, IL	37.63	54	136	133	141
137	Tempe, AZ	37.46	182	112	100	90
138	Billings, MT	37.26	130	152	166	33
139	Lexington-Fayette, KY	37.07	73	85	174	87
140	San Francisco, CA	37.00	3	169	140	179
141	St. Petersburg, FL	36.98	109	138	146	114
142	Cheyenne, WY	36.95	26	159	168	68
143	Honolulu, HI	36.92	76	121	124	175
144	Yonkers, NY	36.81	14	135	154	170
145	Chesapeake, VA	36.73	143	128	125	138
146	Seattle, WA	36.68	34	179	104	154
147	Omaha, NE	36.57	87	110	164	122
148	Jersey City, NJ	36.41	16	126	152	173
149	Huntington Beach, CA	36.21	50	165	112	166
150	Nampa, ID	36.02	154	119	162	88
151	St. Paul, MN	35.99	98	146	148	135
152	Pearl City, HI	35.93	2	155	157	174
153	Raleigh, NC	35.61	80	175	110	165
154	Juneau, AK	35.50	27	178	159	94
155	Warwick, RI	35.49	17	156	175	116
156	Chandler, AZ	35.46	160	144	121	146
157	Grand Rapids, MI	35.44	156	145	160	98
158	Cedar Rapids, IA	35.40	82	147	167	112
159	Minneapolis, MN	35.26	106	160	156	121
160	Scottsdale, AZ	35.12	52	153	158	162
161	Virginia Beach, VA	34.96	115	151	139	160
162	Manchester, NH	34.67	137	161	161	95
163	Durham, NC	34.60	164	170	105	144
164	Gilbert, AZ	33.75	170	127	151	155
165	Plano, TX	33.59	77	172	153	153
166	Columbia, MD	33.48	37	171	122	181
167	Irvine, CA	32.51	71	166	136	180
168	San Jose, CA	32.19	45	180	131	178
169	Charleston, SC	31.80	141	163	173	120
170	Madison, WI	31.67	145	174	149	168
171	Burlington, VT	31.64	179	154	171	100
172	Rapid City, SD	31.19	132	162	178	83
173	Overland Park, KS	30.95	72	168	169	169
174	Portland, ME	30.76	94	157	176	150
175	Nashua, NH	30.57	146	176	172	133
176	Boise, ID	30.03	174	173	165	147
177	Sioux Falls, SD	29.98	86	148	182	148
178	Bismarck, ND	29.49	74	177	179	137
179	Lincoln, NE	28.77	165	142	181	156
180	Fargo, ND	27.93	169	164	177	152
181	South Burlington, VT	27.81	75	182	180	161
182	Fremont, CA	27.52	18	181	170	182

Notes: *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.