With statistics showing that 77 percent of Americans are feeling stressed about the future of the nation, the personal-finance website WalletHub on July 7 released its report on 2025’s Most & Least Stressed Cities in America, as well as expert commentary. Two California cities, Irvine and Fremont, were among the least stressed, according to the survey. On the other end of the spectrum, San Bernardino came in at number 29, making the top 30 of ‘most stressed’ cities across the country, and Modesto was rated at number 33.
In order to determine where Americans cope best with their stress, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 39 key metrics. The data set ranges from average weekly work hours to the unemployment rate to divorce and suicide rates.
Most Stressed Cities
Taking the top spot as the most stressed city in the country was Detroit, Michigan, followed by Cleveland, OH at number two; Baltimore, MD; Gulfport, MS; Memphis, TN; Shreveport, LA; Philadelphia, PA; Toledo, OH; Birmingham, AL and, rounding out the top 10 most stressed cities was Jackson, MS.
Least Stressed Cities
Boise, Idaho came in at number 173 on the list, followed by Overland Park, KS; Lincoln, NE; Bismarck, ND; Fargo, ND; Burlington, VT; Irvine, CA; Sioux Falls, SD; Fremont, CA; and at number 182, South Burlington, VT.
Best vs. Worst
Rapid City, South Dakota, has the lowest unemployment rate, which is 6.3 times lower than in Detroit, Michigan, the city with the highest.
Fremont, California, has the lowest divorce rate, which is 4.4 times lower than in Cleveland, Ohio, the city with the highest.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, has the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health, which is 3.1 times lower than in San Antonio, Texas, the city with the highest.
Columbia, Maryland, has the highest median annual household income (adjusted by cost of living), which is 3.4 times higher than in Detroit, the city with the lowest.
“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,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo.
To view the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/most-least-stressed-cities/22759
Expert Commentary
How can employers reduce work-related stress?
“I think flexibility in the workplace is one important aspect for reducing work-related stress. Personal issues often require flexibility in remote options or time off. As long as the work gets done at some other point, the employers could allow more flexibility to help employees. In addition, not placing too much burden on a single employee would also be good, as well as providing the appropriate resources for employees to succeed. For example, if they need to learn how to use a new piece of software, there should be appropriate training and transition time. For good employees, micromanaging also creates unnecessary work-related stress. Finally, an appropriate pay structure can alleviate some stress if it aligns with the company’s overall mission, regular increases/bonuses are attainable by employees, and is distributed fairly.”
Rachel Wu, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, University of California - Riverside
What tips do you have for a person who finds managing finances to be stressful?
“If the source of the stress is that your income is not keeping pace with your expenses, then make a budget. See what you can cut from your expenses. If this seems too overwhelming, get help doing this. There are many free tools on the internet to help you tackle your finances. If the problem is bigger than financial tools to manage, there is also free financial counseling in most areas. The most important issue is to make a plan that will move you into a better financial situation and stick to it.”
Joanne H. Gavin, Ph.D. – Professor, Marist College
“If managing finances seems stressful, reframe the process to make it less threatening. One way to do that is to tell yourself it’s going to be an adventure that will help you get what you want in life. Think first about what matters to you so you have a visual of what you want your life and finances to look like. You can even make a Pinterest board so you can visualize the life you want. Often, we want less chaos and more control in our lives, so follow pages that inspire you like ‘Becoming Minimalist’ on social media. Visualizing the life you want gives you the motivation to look at your finances and come up with a plan to get you to the life you are envisioning.”
Suzie Duff, PhD, LMHC – Professor; Department Co-Chair, Human Services, Palm Beach State College
What tips do you have for a person who wants to relax on a budget?
“The beauty of relaxing is that most options for relaxation operate on a spectrum of free (for instance, the library might have a lending program for some hobbies, like a seed bank for those who want to start gardening, or free services, such as a free DVD/movie services); to affordable (perhaps you can buy used or second-hand materials or take a staycation instead); to quite costly (the ‘dream vacation’ or ‘Cadillac’ of experiences). There will be times when you will splurge but, other times, you can be very cost efficient so you can be judicious about how much you want to invest each time. To make your choices, balance and budget. When doing so, keep in mind that a lot of times we emphasize saving money to do recreational activities but also do not forget about earning extra income. A trip to the craft store, for instance, is a great reward after earning the needed amount by filling out paid surveys online. Or, maybe your hobby might even be something that could earn money, such as furniture restoration. I also want to encourage researching free events in your local area (for instance, Facebook has an Events page) because there are a lot of great organizations hosting community events where you can make social connections (e.g., festivals, book clubs, talks, volunteer days). Healthy social connections can improve well-being and are valuable for stress-coping.”
Alisia (Giac-Thao) Tran – Associate Professor, Arizona State University
“Sit down and make a list of what makes you feel relaxed and at peace. Maybe it’s being in nature, or being on the water, or reading, or spending time with friends and family. All it takes now is creativity. How can I do these things that bring me peace for little money? If you love being in nature, maybe check out local state or regional parks close by. If you live near a beach – that’s a great option because usually they are free. If you love reading, create a book exchange with friends or go to the library. If you love having company over but feel like entertaining is expensive, have a Sunday afternoon ice cream get-together instead of a fancy dinner party. Being smart with money involves being intentional. For example, I live in Florida and love to paddle board. Investing in a board is expensive at first but provides endless free hours on the water. That’s a great way to relax on a budget.”
Suzie Duff, PhD, LMHC – Professor; Department Co-Chair, Human Services, Palm Beach State College
