You’d be mistaken to think that access to health and fitness amenities is an equal opportunity for all. Some cities, for instance, lack sidewalks or neighborhood parks, making it difficult for communities to spend time outdoors, while other areas welcome fitness centers that offer neighborhood discounts. Which is why each year the personal finance website WalletHub produces a study on the best and worst cities for living an active lifestyle.
According to the study, there are 38 key indicators of an active lifestyle, ranging from average monthly fitness-club fees to bike scores to share of physically inactive adults. Based on these factors, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest cities in the U.S. to determine the best and worst cities for living an active lifestyle. As it turns out, health conscious people might want to head to Honolulu, HI, the best city for an active lifestyle, while others might retire to Hialeah, FL, which ranked as the worst city.
Check out more of the survey results below—are you surprised by the results?
| Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle | Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle | ||||
|
1 |
Honolulu, HI |
|
91 |
Memphis, TN |
|
2 |
Chicago, IL |
|
92 |
Garland, TX |
|
3 |
San Francisco, CA |
|
93 |
Toledo, OH |
|
4 |
Portland, OR |
|
94 |
Wichita, KS |
|
5 |
Seattle, WA |
|
95 |
Arlington, TX |
|
6 |
Minneapolis, MN |
|
96 |
Fresno, CA |
|
7 |
Washington, DC |
|
97 |
Irving, TX |
|
8 |
Denver, CO |
|
98 |
Bakersfield, CA |
|
9 |
San Diego, CA |
|
99 |
North Las Vegas, NV |
|
10 |
Madison, WI |
|
100 |
Hialeah, FL |
Best vs. Worst Cities
- New York has the most sporting-goods stores (per square root of population), 0.4395, which is 12.5 times more than in North Las Vegas, Nevada, the city with the fewest at 0.0351.
- Gilbert, AZ, has the most public golf courses (per square root of population), 0.0809, which is 40.5 times more than in Laredo, TX, the city with the fewest at 0.0020.
- Lincoln, NE, has the most fitness trainers and aerobics instructors per 100,000 residents, 223, which is 7.7 times more than in Corpus Christi, TX, the city with the fewest at 29.
- New York has the most playgrounds (per square root of population), 0.6607, which is 18.9 times more than in Hialeah, FL, the city with the fewest at 0.0349.
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