If you’re looking for a fun city in the United States, look to the desert or just head south.
That is according to a new study released by WalletHub that attempts to determine the best American cities for having a good time in a cost-effective way.
Las Vegas, Nev., topped the list while the next four cities can all be found in the South.
Bet on good times in Sin City
Vegas beat all comers thanks to ranking No. 1 in two of the three overall categories: Entertainment/recreation and nightlife/parties.
It was also a respectable 15th in the third category: cost.
That includes being the cheapest place for finding a nice hamburger, but the high number of music festivals, music venues, dance clubs, and comedy clubs was a bigger factor.
Fun in the Sunshine State
Orlando is No. 2 on the list, followed by Miami.
Being home to Disney World obviously boosted Orlando’s ranking, but WalletHub notes the city has relatively inexpensive accommodations and outside of the Mouse’s House and a large number of sports stadiums per capita.
Orlando also ranks as one of the top cities for spas, performing arts theaters, arcades, pool halls, and lounges.
Miami leads the nation in fishing facilities, marinas, boat tours and water sports opportunities per capita, and 89% of its residents live within a mile of a park.
Vegas, Miami, and Orlando tied (with San Francisco and Houston) for the most restaurants per capita.
Here are the top 10 overall:
- Las Vegas, Nev.
- Orlando, Fla.
- Miami, Fla.
- Atlanta, Ga.
- New Orleans, La.
- Houston, Texas
- San Francisco, Calif.
- Austin, Texas
- Portland, Ore.
- Cincinnati, Ohio
Other takeaways
Six of the top eight are found in the South or Texas, and seven of the top 30 are on the West Coast.
Cincinnati was the only city in the Midwest to crack the top 10 and one of only three from the region to make the top 30: The Queen City is joined by No. 11 Chicago and No. 13 St. Louis.
New York City checked in at No. 14 overall, a ranking dragged down by affordability (181st out of 182).
“The most fun cities naturally include some of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., like Las Vegas, Orlando and Miami, but these cities are far more than tourist traps,” Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo said in a news release.
“They provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities for all types of interests, from sports to theaters to arcades, and they have plenty of diverse restaurants to try. The top cities offer affordable options for year-round fun for their residents, which is good for residents’ wallets and their mental health.”
More on the methodology
WalletHub evaluated the top 150 most populous cities in the United States and added the top two most populous cities in each state if they were not in the top 180.
Then they evaluated the cities using 65 metrics listed below with their corresponding weights.
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the greatest number and variety of fun and cost-effective activities.
