If you live in South Burlington, VT, chances are that you work fewer hours per week and sleep more hours per night than most of the rest of the nation.
That’s according to a new study of the most- and least-stressed cities in the U.S. The study, conducted by WalletHub, examined more than 180 cities across 37 metrics, each one graded on a 100-point scale — with a score of 100 representing the highest stress levels.
Fremont, CA, with total score of just 25.93, was ranked the least-stressed city, while also having the lowest “financial stress.” Bismarck, ND came in second at 26.60. By contrast, Detroit, MI, was ranked as the most-stressed city with an overall score of 63.53. It also ranked highest in “health and safety stress” and 24th in “work stress.” Newark, NJ, followed closely at 62.80, ranking highest in “work stress” and “family stress.”
There’s no doubt that stress has become a global epidemic. A 2017 Gallup study found that 79 percent of Americans experienced stress frequently or sometimes throughout the day, crediting family and work as the biggest factors. For organizations, the epidemic along can cost them as much as $300 billion a year.
Top 5 Least-Stressed Cities
- Fremont, CA
- Bismarck, ND
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Overland Park, KS
- South Burlington, VT
Top 5 Most-Stressed Cities:
- Detroit, MI
- Newark, NJ
- Cleveland, OH
- Birmingham, AL
- Toledo, OH
Sleep played a particularly interesting role in the rankings; four of the five cities with the least average hours of sleep per night were within the top five of the most-stressed cities. South Burlington, where the majority slept more than seven hours per night, ranked healthiest in sleep, and was the fifth least-stressed city.
Top 5 Cities With the Highest Average Hours of Sleep Per Day
- Burlington, VT
- Rapid City, SD
- Denver, CO
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Overland Park, KS
Top 5 Cities With the Lowest Average Hours of Sleep Per Day
- Detroit, MI
- Honolulu, HI
- Newark, NJ
- Birmingham, AL
- Cleveland, OH