With local governments helping their cities transition back to normalcy as COVID-19 cases decline, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America, as well as accompanying videos and expert commentary.
To determine the effectiveness of local leadership, WalletHub compared 150 of the largest U.S. cities based on their operating efficiency. For each city, WalletHub constructed a “Quality of City Services” score – comprising 38 key performance indicators grouped into six service categories – that was then measured against the city’s total per-capita budget.
| Top 20 Best-Run Cities in America | |
| 1. Nampa, ID | 11. Raleigh, NC |
| 2. Boise, ID | 12. Missoula, MT |
| 3. Fort Wayne, IN | 13. Oklahoma City, OK |
| 4. Nashua, NH | 14. Manchester, NH |
| 5. Lexington-Fayette, KY | 15. Provo, UT |
| 6. Lincoln, NE | 16. Sioux Falls, SD |
| 7. Durham, NC | 17. Billings, MT |
| 8. Rapid City, SD | 18. Madison, WI |
| 9. Las Cruces, NM | 19. Chesapeake, VA |
| 10. Virginia Beach, VA | 20. Huntington Beach, CA |
Best vs. Worst
Nampa, Idaho, has the lowest long-term debt outstanding per capita, $607, which is 36.5 times lower than in Washington, the city with the highest at $22,178.
Warwick, Rhode Island, has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), 0.94, which is 20.9 times fewer than in Detroit, the city with the most at 19.65.
Provo, Utah, has the lowest unemployment rate, 2.10 percent, which is 6.6 times lower than in Hartford, Connecticut, the city with the highest at 13.90 percent.
Fremont, California, has the lowest share of the population living in poverty, 4.30 percent, which is nine times lower than in Flint, Michigan, the city with the highest at 38.80 percent.
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869
