Texas Has 3 Of The 10 Least Laid-Back Cities In America
Americans only get about 40 minutes of relaxation each day, according to a new survey. A recent study looked at the most laid-back cities in the U.S., and three cities in Texas are among the ten least relaxed. The study checked factors like stress levels and the lack of a laid-back lifestyle.
These cities have fewer leisure activities and people working longer hours than usual. This shows how tough and demanding city life can be in these areas. Here’s a closer look at the ten least laid-back cities in America.
Houston, Texas
Houston ranks as the number one least laid-back city. The city has a serious lack of leisure activities, with low numbers of theme parks, golf courses, yoga studios, and concert venues per capita. Additionally, Houston workers average 40 hours per week on the job, more than any other city. It’s also often ranked in the top 3 worst cities for traffic. Houston also has the worst cockroach problem of any big city.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis has one of the lowest well-being scores, attributed to several factors. Only 10.7% of residents work from home, and 19.6% report poor mental health, both of which are among the worst in the nation.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio scores lowest in leisure activities, indicating a lack of relaxing outlets. The city ranks at the bottom for many amenities, including golf courses, yoga studios, farmers markets, sushi restaurants, performing arts centers, and concert venues per capita.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit comes in as the 4th least laid-back city. It struggles the most with well-being, having the lowest score in this category. Only 54% of residents sleep seven or more hours per night, and 20.5% report poor mental health, both of which are the worst rates in the country.
Dallas, Texas
Anyone who’s spent a lot of time in Dallas knows it has a crazy “hustle” culture. Dallas also lacks leisure activities relative to its population size. It ranks in the bottom 15 for parks per capita, and workers average 39.9 hours per week, the second-highest in the nation.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis has few parks per capita (26.3 per 100,000 people) and the third lowest walk score. These factors negatively impact its livability, alongside low numbers of coffee shops and sushi restaurants per capita.
New York City, New York
New York has the third-highest noise pollution level, making it difficult to relax. The high cost of living adds to financial stress, with only San Francisco and San Jose being more expensive.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is stressful to navigate without a car, having the second-lowest walk score and one of the 10 lowest bike scores. It also has the lowest number of farmers markets and has the third-fewest concert venues per capita.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus reports that over 18% of its population has poor mental health, ranking among the top 15 highest rates in the country. Residents have also searched for “stress relief” at one of the 10 highest rates over the past five years.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles comes in number 10 as the least laid-back city. It has the highest traffic index score, making driving stressful. It also has the second-lowest rate of parks per capita and the fourth-highest cost of living.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is ranked the most laid-back city in America. It excels in multiple categories, particularly in well-being and livability. The city boasts the highest percentage of remote workers in the country, with 36% of its workforce working from home. Additionally, Seattle ranks fifth in parks per capita and is among the top ten cities for walkability and bikeability.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis is ranked the second most laid-back city in America. Residents enjoy good sleep, with 73% getting at least seven hours of rest each night. The city also has one of the highest rates of yoga studios per capita in the U.S. Moreover, workers in Minneapolis average 38.1 hours per week, tied for the ninth-lowest rate among U.S. cities.