As local governments continue to grapple with challenges like inflation and ongoing public safety concerns such as mass shootings, the personal-finance company WalletHub has released its report on 2026's Best and Worst run Cities in American, along with expert commentary.
To evaluate the effectiveness of city leadership, WalletHub analyzed 148 of the nation’s largest cities based on their operating efficiency. The study developed a “Quality of City Services” score for each city, using 36 key performance indicators across six service categories, and compared those results to each city’s total per-capita budget.
| Top 20 Best-Run Cities in America | ||
| 1. Provo, UT | 11. Las Cruces, NM | |
| 2. Nampa, ID | 12. Oklahoma City, OK | |
| 3. Manchester, NH | 13. Mobile, AL | |
| 4. Boise, ID | 14. Dover, DE | |
| 5. Nashua, NH | 15. Chesapeake, VA | |
| 6. Sioux Falls, SD | 16. Warwick, RI | |
| 7. Fort Wayne, IN | 17. Durham, NC | |
| 8. Virginia Beach, VA | 18. Jacksonville, FL | |
| 9. Lincoln, NE | 19. Lexington-Fayette, KY | |
| 10. Mesa, AZ | 20. Missoula, MT | |
Best vs. Worst
- Casper, Wyoming, has the lowest long-term debt outstanding per capita, which is 64.9 times lower than in Oakland, California, the city with the highest.
- Nampa, Idaho, has among the fewest property crimes (per 1,000 residents), which is 9.7 times fewer than in Oakland city, California, the city with the most.
- Rapid City, South Dakota, has the lowest unemployment rate, which is 8.8 times lower than in Flint, Michigan, the city with the highest.
- Fremont, California, has the lowest share of the population living in poverty, which is 6.6 times lower than in Flint, Michigan, the city with the highest.
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869