Study: Where does the Pacific Northwest rank among most, least stressed cities in the U.S.?

NEW MEXICO (KRQE/NEXSTAR) – A recently published study from the finance site WalletHub ranks 182 U.S. cities from most to least stressed.

The study determined its rankings through five different dimensions – work, financial, family, and health/safety stress. A higher number denotes a lower level of stress.

“Some stress is out of our control, due to issues with family, friends or employers,” Chip Lupo, an analyst with WalletHub, said in a statement. “However, where you live can play a big role in how stressed you are. Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents.”

When it comes to finances alone, 73 percent of Americans polled in an April 2025 survey by CNBC/SurveyMonkey admitted to feeling financially stressed.

“One of the biggest financial stressors in 2025 is rising grocery prices and incomes that are not keeping pace,” Marist University Professor of Management Joanne Gavin said in a statement. “According to the Economic Research Service division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. food prices rose 23.6 percent between 2020 and 2024. This significant increase has made providing the basics very difficult for many families.” 

Top 10 Most and Least Stressed Cities

Most	Least
#1 – Detroit, MI	#182 – South Burlington, VT
#2 – Cleveland, OH	#181 – Fremont, CA
#3 – Baltimore, MD	#180 – Sioux Falls, SD
#4 – Gulfport, MS	#179 – Irvine, CA
#5 – Memphis, TN	#178 – Burlington, VT
#6 – Shreveport, LA	#177 – Fargo, ND
#7 – Philadelphia, PA	#176 – Bismarck, ND
#8 – Toledo, OH	#175 – Lincoln, NE
#9 – Birmingham, AL	#174 – Overland Park, KS
#10 – Jackson, MS	#173 – Boise, ID

Data for the study came from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, INRIX, TransUnion, the Centers for Disease Prevention and more. See the full list on the WalletHub website, and the interactive map below.

Stress – and our varying levels of success in dealing with it – is increasingly part of the national conversation.

A year ago, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned parents and caregivers of the toll stress can play on them and their families.

“The stresses parents and caregivers have today are being passed to children in direct and indirect ways, impacting families and communities across America,” Murthy said. “The work of raising a child is work, no less valuable than the work performed in a paid job and of an extraordinary value when it comes to the impact on the future of society.”