Americans are stressed; that much is clear. But a new study from WalletHub shows that stress levels vary widely depending on where people live.
The study compared 182 U.S. cities across 39 key metrics to determine where Americans are coping best and worst with stress in 2025. The study evaluated factors such as average work hours, unemployment rates, divorce rates, crime rates and health statistics.
“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,” Chip Lupo, an analyst with WalletHub, said in a statement. “Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health, and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents.”
When it came to California cities, San Bernardino was considered the most stressed, ranking 29th nationally. It was followed by Modesto at 33rd and Moreno Valley at 48th. Fresno came next at 52nd, then Los Angeles at 59th.
Cities like San Diego, Anaheim and Huntington Beach ranked low on the list.
According to the report, the least stressed city in California is Fremont.
These are the top 10 most stressed cities
- Detroit, Michigan
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Gulfport, Mississippi
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Toledo, Ohio
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Jackson, Mississippi
These are the top 10 least stressed cities
- South Burlington, Vermont
- Fremont, California
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Irvine, California
- Burlington, Vermont
- Fargo, North Dakota
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Boise, Idaho
The complete study can be found here.