WalletHub study: 2022’s best- and worst-run cities in America

This post was originally published on this site

With local governments helping their cities transition out of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2022’s Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America, as well as accompanying videos and expert commentary.

To determine the effectiveness of local leadership, WalletHub compared 150 of the largest U.S. cities based on their operating efficiency. For each city, WalletHub constructed a “Quality of City Services” score – comprising 38 key performance indicators grouped into six service categories – that was then measured against the city’s total per-capita budget.

Top 20 Best-Run Cities in America
1. Nampa, ID 11. Virginia Beach, VA
2. Boise, ID 12. Rapid City, SD
3. Fort Wayne, IN 13. Raleigh, NC
4. Nashua, NH 14. Billings, MT
5. Lexington-Fayette, KY 15. Provo, UT
6. Lincoln, NE 16. Chesapeake, VA
7. Las Cruces, NM 17. Sioux Falls, SD
8. Oklahoma City, OK 18. Salem, OR
9. Missoula, MT 19. Manchester, NH
10. Durham, NC 20. Mesa, AZ

Best vs. Worst

  • Nampa, Idaho, has the lowest long-term debt outstanding per capita, $607, which is 36.5 times lower than in Washington, the city with the highest at $22,178.
  • Warwick, Rhode Island, has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), 0.82, which is 28.7 times fewer than in Memphis, the city with the most at 23.52.
  • Provo, Utah, has the lowest unemployment rate, 1.50 percent, which is 8.1 times lower than in Flint, Michigan, the city with the highest at 12.20 percent.
  • Fremont, California, has the lowest share of the population living in poverty, 4.50 percent, which is 8.3 times lower than in Flint, Michigan, the city with the highest at 37.30 percent.

To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869