Best U.S. cities for an active lifestyle

January 26, 2024 Queer Forty Staff 4 min read

Thinking about retiring or making some healthier choices this year? Here are the cities where the lifestyle will be on your side.

As we move into the new year, staying fit and losing weight are among the most common resolutions – and being in the right city can help you keep those resolutions. Honolulu is the best city for an active lifestyle in 2024, according to a new report by the personal-finance website WalletHub, with New York, Chicago, San Francisco and San Diego close behind. WalletHub’s report analyzed 35 key indicators that collectively speak to the cost and ease of staying active in the 100 largest cities.

“Honolulu is the best city for an active lifestyle, in large part because it promotes certain community sporting activities more than any other city, ranking first for the availability of baseball diamonds, skate parks, volleyball courts and tennis courts,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst. “Honolulu has a beautiful tropical environment with lots of green space, allowing tons of options for swimming, surfing and hiking – with the added benefit of some of the cleanest air in the nation, so you can breathe easy during your recreation.”

Top 10 Best and Worst Cities

Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle		Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle
1. Honolulu, HI		91. Fresno, CA
2. New York, NY		92. Greensboro, NC
3. Chicago, IL		93. Fort Wayne, IN
4. San Francisco, CA		94. Hialeah, FL
5. San Diego, CA		95. Aurora, CO
6. Las Vegas, NV		96. Corpus Christi, TX
7. Cincinnati, OH		97. Irving, TX
8. Madison, WI		98. Gilbert, AZ
9. Denver, CO		99. Winston-Salem, NC
10. Atlanta, GA		100. North Las Vegas, NV

Different cities cater to different types of physical activity. For example, New York is the second-best city for an active lifestyle, with residents benefitting from an extremely walkable layout, meaning they can exercise just by traveling to their day-to-day responsibilities and activities. Chicago is especially good for helping children stay active, with the highest availability of playgrounds in the nation relative to the population. San Francisco has one of highest shares of workers who bike or walk to work, and San Diego ranks as one of the best cities for sports clubs and hiking trails.

“It can be difficult to get motivated to stay fit, especially when people are busy with work, but living in a city that promotes physical activity can make things a lot easier,” noted Happe. “The best cities are easy to traverse by walking or biking, have a lot of athletic fields that are open to the public, and are in close proximity to natural hiking trails and swimming areas. In addition, the more people stay active in a city, the easier it becomes to find others to group up with for working out.”

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to staying active, there are a few key tips you can follow.

Tips for Staying Active

Find activities you enjoy: Having an active lifestyle doesn’t mean you need to have a monotonous gym routine. Try to discover activities that you genuinely enjoy, whether it’s hiking, dancing, swimming, playing a sport or simply walking around your neighborhood. Engaging in activities you love makes it more likely that you’ll stick with them.
Incorporate exercise into your routine: Make physical activity a regular part of your daily routine. This could be as simple as taking a short walk during your lunch break, cycling to work, or doing a quick home workout. Consistency is key, so find a schedule that fits your lifestyle.
Set realistic goals: Keep yourself motivated by setting goals that are achievable with a little bit of effort. Whether it’s walking a certain number of steps per day, increasing your weekly running distance, or mastering a new yoga pose, setting and reaching realistic goals can provide a sense of accomplishment and encourage ongoing activity.
Stay active with a group: Turn physical activity into a social experience by exercising with friends, taking group classes or joining a community sports team. This not only makes the activity more enjoyable but also provides social accountability, making it more likely that you’ll stick to your fitness routine.
Mix it up: Avoid boredom by incorporating variety into your workouts. Try different exercises, sports, or classes to keep things interesting. This not only challenges your body in different ways but also prevents monotony.