30 U.S. Cities With the Highest Stress Levels

The United States is under a lot of stress.

Poor diets, limited exercise and uneven access to basic social safety nets—especially healthcare—contribute to widespread strain. Many Americans work long hours for relatively low pay, and the U.S. provides far less paid time off than many other developed nations. The rise of the gig economy means fewer workers receive stable benefits, and residents often get less value for rising tax contributions than counterparts abroad.

Within this national context, certain cities face especially acute pressures. Based on Wallethub’s 2020 analysis of 182 cities across 42 metrics—covering health and safety, family life, finances and work—these 30 municipalities ranked among the most stressed in the nation. Below is a concise, updated overview of each city’s ranking and the key factors driving stress there.

30. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 12
Family Stress Rank: 73
Financial Stress Rank: 61
Work Stress Rank: 39
Total Score: 54.85

As Louisiana’s capital, Baton Rouge faces pandemic-related pressures and the recurring threat of hurricanes. These hazards, combined with local economic strains, have pushed residents’ stress levels higher.

29. San Bernardino, California

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 59
Family Stress Rank: 2
Financial Stress Rank: 47
Work Stress Rank: 121
Total Score: 55.12

San Bernardino is still recovering from a 2012 bankruptcy. Long commutes—some residents travel as much as 120 miles round trip to Los Angeles—take a heavy toll on families and daily life.

28. Indianapolis, Indiana

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 24
Family Stress Rank: 130
Financial Stress Rank: 23
Work Stress Rank: 28
Total Score: 55.13

Indianapolis faces high crime rates and notable poverty—roughly 15 percent of residents live in poverty—factors that raise concerns about health, safety and family stability.

27. Newport News, Virginia

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 72
Family Stress Rank: 112
Financial Stress Rank: 10
Work Stress Rank: 20
Total Score: 55.54

Newport News shares a media market and economic ties with nearby Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Elevated unemployment and poverty—about 15 percent—contribute to heightened stress among residents.

26. New York, New York

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 129
Family Stress Rank: 52
Financial Stress Rank: 29
Work Stress Rank: 4
Total Score: 55.66

New York’s fast pace, high housing costs and high-pressure industries—like finance and media—make it a natural candidate for elevated stress, especially around work-life balance.

25. Chicago, Illinois

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 85
Family Stress Rank: 49
Financial Stress Rank: 41
Work Stress Rank: 7
Total Score: 55.89

Chicago struggles with significant public-safety concerns and a demanding work culture. Still, some indicators show improvement compared with earlier years.

24. Columbus, Georgia

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 18
Family Stress Rank: 85
Financial Stress Rank: 13
Work Stress Rank: 90
Total Score: 56.00

Columbus experiences above-average rates of violent and property crime and a poverty rate north of 21 percent, factors that raise financial and family-related stress.

23. Augusta, Georgia

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 40
Family Stress Rank: 54
Financial Stress Rank: 12
Work Stress Rank: 88
Total Score: 56.04

Augusta’s financial pressures stem from a poverty rate exceeding 23 percent. That economic strain feeds into broader community stress.

22. Wilmington, Delaware

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 21
Family Stress Rank: 18
Financial Stress Rank: 40
Work Stress Rank: 62
Total Score: 56.26

Wilmington faces high divorce rates and long-standing public-safety challenges that contribute to family and health-related stress despite Delaware’s relatively lower statewide stress ranking.

21. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 64
Family Stress Rank: 15
Financial Stress Rank: 30
Work Stress Rank: 36
Total Score: 56.46

Milwaukee struggles with low job security, higher poverty and health issues like limited access to care and poor sleep—factors that drive financial and family stress.

20. Huntington, West Virginia

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 20
Family Stress Rank: 103
Financial Stress Rank: 9
Work Stress Rank: 64
Total Score: 56.56

Huntington endures deep economic distress and a severe opioid crisis. It ranks among the worst in the nation for poor or fair health and has one of the highest poverty rates.

19. Cincinnati, Ohio

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 7
Family Stress Rank: 69
Financial Stress Rank: 26
Work Stress Rank: 52
Total Score: 57.20

Cincinnati’s high crime rate, widespread obesity and significant poverty levels—roughly one in three residents—explain its elevated stress profile across multiple categories.

18. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 28
Family Stress Rank: 47
Financial Stress Rank: 31
Work Stress Rank: 14
Total Score: 57.57

Philadelphia’s cost of living, traffic and long work hours contribute to resident stress, alongside familiar urban challenges.

17. Memphis, Tennessee

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 23
Family Stress Rank: 39
Financial Stress Rank: 8
Work Stress Rank: 92
Total Score: 57.97

Memphis faces severe financial strain and the nation’s highest crime rate, an interconnected set of problems that raise family and health-related stress.

16. Shreveport, Louisiana

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 10
Family Stress Rank: 65
Financial Stress Rank: 19
Work Stress Rank: 45
Total Score: 58.13

Shreveport ranks near the bottom nationally for job security and saw pandemic-related health impacts that contributed to its elevated ranking.

15. Houston, Texas

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 52
Family Stress Rank: 11
Financial Stress Rank: 28
Work Stress Rank: 17
Total Score: 58.46

Houstonians face the challenges of living in a sprawling, fast-growing city that is vulnerable to hurricanes. The area also ranks very high for overwork, which affects family life.

14. Charleston, West Virginia

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 2
Family Stress Rank: 120
Financial Stress Rank: 38
Work Stress Rank: 8
Total Score: 58.57

Charleston is tied for one of the highest rates of residents in poor health. West Virginia overall shows high levels of stress related to health and finances, and Charleston reflects that reality.

13. Toledo, Ohio

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 6
Family Stress Rank: 36
Financial Stress Rank: 17
Work Stress Rank: 87
Total Score: 58.65

Toledo has one of the lowest average sleep durations in the study, which contributes to its high health-related stress. Despite some shifts since 2018, the city still faces notable economic and work-related pressures.

12. Akron, Ohio

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 11
Family Stress Rank: 37
Financial Stress Rank: 11
Work Stress Rank: 63
Total Score: 59.16

Akron benefits from relatively affordable housing, but low average sleep, limited returns on housing investments and job insecurity increase financial and health-related stress.

11. Montgomery, Alabama

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 17
Family Stress Rank: 61
Financial Stress Rank: 3
Work Stress Rank: 86
Total Score: 59.26

Montgomery faces low median credit scores and persistent low-wage work and poverty—common statewide challenges that translate into high financial stress locally.

10. Jackson, Mississippi

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 13
Family Stress Rank: 7
Financial Stress Rank: 20
Work Stress Rank: 81
Total Score: 59.27

Jackson faces low median credit scores, pandemic impacts and the annual threat of Gulf Coast hurricanes—factors that combine to raise stress.

9. Mobile, Alabama

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 9
Family Stress Rank: 90
Financial Stress Rank: 6
Work Stress Rank: 53
Total Score: 59.75

Annual hurricanes and tropical storms, coupled with a poverty rate approaching 25 percent, place significant emotional and economic strain on Mobile residents.

8. St. Louis, Missouri

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 41
Family Stress Rank: 43
Financial Stress Rank: 2
Work Stress Rank: 48
Total Score: 59.78

St. Louis consistently ranks among the nation’s most dangerous cities. High childhood poverty—nearly 40 percent—creates long-term stress for families and communities.

7. New Orleans, Louisiana

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 8
Family Stress Rank: 40
Financial Stress Rank: 16
Work Stress Rank: 24
Total Score: 60.44

Hurricane vulnerability, higher crime, elevated smoking rates and dietary patterns tied to a rich food culture all contribute to New Orleans’ high stress levels.

6. Baltimore, Maryland

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 45
Family Stress Rank: 12
Financial Stress Rank: 7
Work Stress Rank: 9
Total Score: 62.03

Baltimore’s economic and health pressures have intensified during the pandemic, leading to higher stress across multiple dimensions despite ongoing revitalization efforts in some neighborhoods.

5. Newark, New Jersey

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 43
Family Stress Rank: 30
Financial Stress Rank: 4
Work Stress Rank: 6
Total Score: 62.37

Close to New York’s expensive housing market but without the same economic opportunities, Newark struggles with crime, low credit scores and poor sleep—key contributors to community stress.

4. Gulfport, Mississippi

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 5
Family Stress Rank: 20
Financial Stress Rank: 18
Work Stress Rank: 10
Total Score: 62.39

Gulfport’s location on the Gulf exposes it to frequent hurricane damage and recovery cycles that weigh heavily on residents’ mental and financial well-being.

3. Birmingham, Alabama

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 4
Family Stress Rank: 1
Financial Stress Rank: 15
Work Stress Rank: 71
Total Score: 62.40

Birmingham has seen cultural and economic revitalization, yet persistent family and health challenges keep stress levels high for many residents.

2. Detroit, Michigan

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 1
Family Stress Rank: 3
Financial Stress Rank: 5
Work Stress Rank: 97
Total Score: 64.96

Detroit experiences some of the nation’s most severe indicators of distress: high crime, low median credit scores, minimal sleep and elevated poverty. These factors combine with a high divorce rate to amplify community stress.

1. Cleveland, Ohio

Health & Safety Stress Rank: 3
Family Stress Rank: 4
Financial Stress Rank: 1
Work Stress Rank: 35
Total Score: 66.93

Northeast Ohio has faced prolonged economic decline as industry left the region. Cleveland in particular shows very high poverty and divorce rates, and those economic and family pressures place it at the top of the most-stressed cities list.

* All data referenced in this overview is based on Wallethub’s city stress analysis.