2016's Most Fun Cities in America

Considering relocating for a new job or planning a much needed refresh from work? If so, here’s 2016’s Most Fun Cities.

Top 20 Most Fun Cities in America
1	Las Vegas, NV	11	Tampa, FL
2	Orlando, FL	12	Portland, OR
3	Miami, FL	13	Tempe, AZ
4	New Orleans, LA	14	Pittsburgh, PA
5	Salt Lake City, UT	15	San Francisco, CA
6	Cincinnati, OH	16	Honolulu, HI
7	Fort Lauderdale, FL	17	Knoxville, TN
8	St. Louis, MO	18	Reno, NV
9	Atlanta, GA	19	Denver, CO
10	Scottsdale, AZ	20	Minneapolis, MN

Best vs. Worst

Scottsdale, Ariz., has the most public golf courses per 100,000 residents, 12.97, which is 90 times more than in New York, the city with the fewest, 0.14.

Orlando, Fla., has the most restaurants per 1,000 residents, 12.56, which is 11 times more than in Santa Clarita, Calif., the city with the fewest, 1.18.

San Francisco has the highest percentage of the population with walkable park access, 98.0 percent, which is 3.5 times higher than in Charlotte, N.C., the city with the lowest, 27.8 percent.

Madison, Wis., has the most park playgrounds per 100,000 residents, 72.96, which is 155 times more than in San Bernardino, Calif., the city with the lowest, 0.47.

San Francisco has the most performing-arts theaters per 100,000 residents, 101.68, which is 26 times more than in Brownsville, Texas, the city with the fewest, 3.89.

Scottsdale, Ariz., has the most fitness centers per 100,000 residents, 228.17, which is 20 times more than in Newark, N.J., the city with the fewest, 11.48.

Honolulu has the most festivals per 100,000 residents, 41.72, which is 131 times more than in Corpus Christi, Texas, the city with the lowest, 0.32.

Orlando, Fla., has the most bars per 100,000 residents, 215.81, which is 31 times more than in Fontana, Calif., the city with the fewest, 6.95.

Las Vegas has the most clubs per 100,000 residents, 23.60, which is 70 times more than in Anchorage, Alaska, the city with the fewest, 0.34.

Albuquerque, N.M., has the lowest average beer price per six pack, $6.65, which is 2 times lower than in Chicago and Aurora, Ill., the cities with the highest, $14.04.

Corpus Christi, Texas, the lowest movie costs, $8.47, which is 2 times lower than in Vancouver, Wash., the city with the highest, $15.09.

Where’s the Fun? This heat map shows all the hot spots in the US.

Source: WalletHub

Looking for specific flavors of fun? Here’s the best and worst cities for things like Entertainment, Dining and more.

Still undecided? Here’s a full list of the top 200 cities for fun, ranked for Entertainment/Recreation, Nightlife/Parties and Cost.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	‘Entertainment & Recreation’ Rank	‘Nightlife & Parties’ Rank	‘Costs’ Rank
1	Las Vegas, NV	68.40	3	1	103
2	Orlando, FL	68.17	1	4	19
3	Miami, FL	59.61	8	2	95
4	New Orleans, LA	57.47	19	3	74
5	Salt Lake City, UT	57.36	2	15	38
6	Cincinnati, OH	56.15	6	11	15
7	Fort Lauderdale, FL	55.85	9	6	75
8	St. Louis, MO	55.81	14	8	6
9	Atlanta, GA	54.72	11	7	86
10	Scottsdale, AZ	54.30	16	10	13
11	Tampa, FL	53.58	7	14	25
12	Portland, OR	53.13	17	5	108
13	Tempe, AZ	50.32	18	23	22
14	Pittsburgh, PA	49.90	10	22	84
15	San Francisco, CA	49.24	5	12	145
16	Honolulu, HI	48.97	4	19	136
17	Knoxville, TN	48.14	33	21	29
18	Reno, NV	48.05	27	18	44
19	Denver, CO	48.03	21	16	89
20	Minneapolis, MN	47.71	15	26	77
21	Washington, DC	45.57	22	13	127
22	Richmond, VA	45.30	25	36	47
23	Providence, RI	44.59	86	9	111
24	Sacramento, CA	44.19	30	25	88
25	Baton Rouge, LA	44.17	37	28	61
26	Buffalo, NY	44.02	29	38	40
27	Seattle, WA	43.80	12	27	141
28	Springfield, MO	43.61	56	53	1
29	Madison, WI	43.48	23	41	97
30	Spokane, WA	43.42	34	43	53
31	Kansas City, MO	43.29	74	20	36
32	Austin, TX	43.20	42	31	48
33	Birmingham, AL	42.81	62	30	43
34	Rochester, NY	42.65	20	40	107
35	San Diego, CA	42.04	13	72	109
36	Omaha, NE	42.02	39	66	8
37	Tucson, AZ	41.92	38	69	10
38	Boise, ID	41.82	28	83	39
39	St. Petersburg, FL	41.78	31	47	67
40	Virginia Beach, VA	41.57	44	50	56
41	Raleigh, NC	41.52	57	34	51
42	Cleveland, OH	41.33	50	33	71
43	Grand Rapids, MI	41.11	47	39	94
44	Mobile, AL	40.91	119	35	34
45	Henderson, NV	40.79	51	29	102
46	Norfolk, VA	40.73	43	57	70
47	Chattanooga, TN	40.50	40	51	93
48	Sioux Falls, SD	40.16	68	58	59
49	Oakland, CA	39.74	55	17	140
50	Tacoma, WA	39.37	73	24	114
51	Huntsville, AL	39.37	102	42	55
52	Milwaukee, WI	39.35	66	61	14
53	Tallahassee, FL	39.24	82	45	58
54	St. Paul, MN	39.06	35	80	91
55	Winston-Salem, NC	38.68	70	56	62
56	Albuquerque, NM	38.19	61	93	31
57	Durham, NC	38.11	84	65	28
58	Akron, OH	37.98	104	64	45
59	Greensboro, NC	37.89	75	63	35
60	Glendale, CA	37.76	48	46	123
61	Philadelphia, PA	37.52	60	52	90
62	Colorado Springs, CO	37.36	64	94	33
63	Tulsa, OK	37.36	80	106	7
64	Overland Park, KS	37.31	78	90	54
65	Plano, TX	37.30	59	75	73
66	Mesa, AZ	37.14	100	88	9
67	Anaheim, CA	37.07	63	32	120
68	Modesto, CA	37.05	85	85	66
69	Detroit, MI	36.95	101	68	27
69	Lexington-Fayette, KY	36.95	72	86	24
71	Lincoln, NE	36.84	53	103	80
72	Huntington Beach, CA	36.47	24	79	138
73	Boston, MA	36.37	36	37	147
74	Louisville, KY	36.14	96	98	17
75	Houston, TX	36.06	113	48	63
76	Shreveport, LA	35.98	138	92	26
77	Fayetteville, NC	35.98	87	91	87
78	Nashville, TN	35.97	94	62	79
79	Long Beach, CA	35.81	58	49	124
80	Baltimore, MD	35.75	67	81	76
81	Chicago, IL	35.71	49	59	130
82	Glendale, AZ	35.70	77	95	49
83	Wichita, KS	35.51	125	102	16
84	Memphis, TN	35.48	142	54	23
85	Chandler, AZ	35.45	106	77	60
86	Des Moines, IA	35.44	128	101	42
87	Jacksonville, FL	35.34	93	105	21
88	Indianapolis, IN	35.27	110	107	3
89	Columbus, OH	35.19	120	89	11
90	Worcester, MA	35.12	137	44	106
91	Dallas, TX	34.94	118	67	65
92	San Bernardino, CA	34.91	109	70	105
93	Pembroke Pines, FL	34.77	114	73	104
94	Amarillo, TX	34.76	121	142	30
95	Stockton, CA	34.63	79	111	83
96	Newport News, VA	34.08	146	99	64
97	Irvine, CA	34.01	32	115	143
98	Peoria, AZ	33.90	90	122	69
99	Oceanside, CA	33.80	46	112	117
100	Columbus, GA	33.72	71	148	68
101	Cape Coral, FL	33.72	45	123	96
102	Vancouver, WA	33.65	52	78	135
103	Fort Wayne, IN	33.60	89	138	18
104	Oklahoma City, OK	33.55	133	109	20
105	Corpus Christi, TX	33.39	83	136	46
106	Santa Rosa, CA	33.28	26	97	146
107	Little Rock, AR	32.89	136	121	57
108	Lubbock, TX	32.83	81	129	78
109	Charlotte, NC	32.76	132	84	72
110	Los Angeles, CA	32.73	69	76	126
111	Jackson, MS	32.70	122	147	52
112	Garden Grove, CA	32.68	65	71	142
113	Phoenix, AZ	32.59	124	132	4
114	San Antonio, TX	32.52	131	87	82
115	Augusta, GA	32.51	129	130	81
116	Santa Ana, CA	32.45	88	82	125
117	Toledo, OH	32.35	130	117	37
118	El Paso, TX	32.28	127	140	12
119	Garland, TX	31.83	112	131	92
120	Santa Clarita, CA	31.78	76	96	137
121	New York, NY	31.58	54	55	150
122	North Las Vegas, NV	31.42	140	60	116
123	Bakersfield, CA	31.19	123	126	85
124	Hialeah, FL	31.04	107	114	112
125	Arlington, TX	30.98	97	108	118
126	Riverside, CA	30.82	108	113	113
127	Anchorage, AK	30.66	41	145	139
128	Port St. Lucie, FL	30.29	105	133	99
129	Irving, TX	29.97	116	143	100
130	Chesapeake, VA	29.80	141	116	101
131	Newark, NJ	29.73	126	110	121
132	Gilbert, AZ	29.71	145	127	32
133	Montgomery, AL	29.65	147	146	41
134	Aurora, CO	29.64	111	118	110
135	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	29.63	91	120	128
136	San Jose, CA	29.30	99	119	122
137	Grand Prairie, TX	29.03	115	144	115
138	Brownsville, TX	29.03	149	150	5
139	Aurora, IL	28.71	117	124	131
140	Jersey City, NJ	28.40	135	100	129
141	Fresno, CA	28.36	144	141	50
142	Fort Worth, TX	28.33	139	134	98
143	Moreno Valley, CA	28.16	103	125	132
144	Laredo, TX	27.69	148	149	2
145	Ontario, CA	27.54	95	139	134
146	Fontana, CA	27.42	134	137	119
147	Chula Vista, CA	27.21	143	104	133
148	Fremont, CA	27.15	98	128	144
149	Yonkers, NY	26.19	150	74	148
150	Oxnard, CA	24.61	92	135	149

Methodology

In order to identify the most fun cities in America, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 150 most populated U.S. cities across three key categories: 1) Entertainment & Recreation, 2) Nightlife & Parties and 3) Costs.

We evaluated these categories using 51 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 indicating the greatest number and variety of fun and cost-effective options.

We then calculated overall scores for each city using the weighted average across all metrics, which we then used to construct our final ranking.

Entertainment & Recreation – Total Points: 40

Number of Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Public Beaches per Capita: Half Weight (~0.65 Points)
Number of Tennis Courts per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Public Golf Courses per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Public Swimming Pools per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Ball Diamonds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Basketball Hoops per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Fishing Spots per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Hiking Trails per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Water Parks per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Restaurants per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Ice Cream & Frozen-Yogurt Shops per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Movie Theaters per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Attractions: Double Weight (~2.58 Points)
WalletHub “Sports Fans” Ranking: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Note: Includes football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer.
Percentage of the Population with Walkable Park Access: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Percentage of Designed Parkland Areas: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Parks” List: Half Weight (~0.65 Points)
Number of Park Playgrounds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Parkland as Percentage of City Area: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Acres of Parkland per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
WalletHub “Weather” Ranking: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Arcades per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Amusement Parks per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Performing-Arts Theaters per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Sport Venues per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Fitness Centers per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Recreational-Sport Centers per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)
Number of Festivals per Capita: Full Weight (~1.29 Points)

Nightlife & Parties – Total Points: 40

“Access to Bars” Grade: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This grade is a combination of bars per capita and bars per square mile, a measure of both availability (per capita) and proximity (per square mile).
Number of Dance Clubs per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Number of Casinos per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Number of Beer Gardens per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Number of Music Venues per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Dance Party Index: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Number of Arts & Crafts-Supplies Establishments per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Public Drinking Allowed: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Time of Last Call: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Average Open Hours of Breweries: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)

Costs – Total Points: 20

Average Price of Party Ticket: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Average Beer Price: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Average Wine Price: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Average Food Price (Pizza & Burger): Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Prevalence of Affordable Restaurants Rated at Least 4.5 Stars: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Movie Costs: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Bowling Costs: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Average Fitness-Club Fee: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Price for a 3-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Cost of Living: Double Weight (~3.64 Points)

2016’s Most Fun Cities in America

Tagged on: best cities

Best vs. Worst

Methodology

Entertainment & Recreation – Total Points: 40

Nightlife & Parties – Total Points: 40

Costs – Total Points: 20

Elizabeth Becker