Adam McCann, Financial Writer

Jun 29, 2020

The first half of 2020 has been a true test of the effectiveness of local leadership. City leaders have been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic for months, and now many are tasked with keeping the peace while respecting people’s rights to demonstrate as protests against police brutality surge across the nation. People in local positions of power will undoubtedly feel extra pressure to please the public this year, as the November election will determine whether many of them keep their seats.

Even when the U.S. isn’t in a time of crisis, running a city is a tall order. The larger the city, the more complex it becomes to manage. In addition to representing the residents, local leaders must balance the public’s diverse interests with the city’s limited resources. That often means not everyone’s needs can or will be met. Leaders must carefully consider which services are most essential, which agencies’ budgets to cut or boost and whether and how much to raise taxes, among other decisions.

But how do we measure the effectiveness of local leadership? One way is by determining a city’s operating efficiency. In other words, we can learn how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget.

Using that approach, WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 150 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal which among them are managed best. We constructed a “Quality of Services” score made up of 38 metrics grouped into six service categories, which we then measured against the city’s per-capita budget. Read on for our findings, expert insight and a full description of our methodology.

Main Findings

Best-Run Cities in America

Overall Rank (1=Best) City ‘Quality of City Services’ Rank ‘Total Budget per Capita’ Rank 1 Nampa, ID 74 1 2 Boise, ID 5 2 3 Provo, UT 4 3 4 Las Cruces, NM 30 9 5 Durham, NC 37 10 6 Lexington-Fayette, KY 69 4 7 Missoula, MT 55 6 8 Fort Wayne, IN 46 12 9 Virginia Beach, VA 2 40 10 Nashua, NH 15 30 11 Sioux Falls, SD 20 28 12 Greensboro, NC 65 16 13 Lewiston, ME 56 18 14 Cedar Rapids, IA 29 26 15 Billings, MT 93 11 16 Chesapeake, VA 11 36 17 Columbus, GA 109 7 18 Huntington Beach, CA 1 59 19 Rapid City, SD 87 13 20 Oklahoma City, OK 82 14 21 Louisville, KY 78 17 22 Raleigh, NC 33 32 23 Fargo, ND 26 34 24 Mesa, AZ 67 22 25 Albuquerque, NM 117 5 26 Lincoln, NE 14 51 27 Salt Lake City, UT 25 41 28 Arlington, TX 49 33 29 Salem, OR 75 27 30 Madison, WI 21 54 31 Aurora, IL 40 39 32 Bismarck, ND 8 65 33 Portland, ME 9 64 34 Phoenix, AZ 63 38 35 Warren, MI 88 29 36 Grand Rapids, MI 31 53 37 Tulsa, OK 113 19 38 Tucson, AZ 111 20 39 Manchester, NH 44 48 40 El Paso, TX 66 42 41 Topeka, KS 107 23 42 Warwick, RI 57 46 43 Corpus Christi, TX 83 37 44 St. Petersburg, FL 62 47 45 Reno, NV 68 48 46 Las Vegas, NV 39 58 47 Charleston, SC 23 67 48 Huntington, WV 131 15 49 Worcester, MA 45 61 50 Aurora, CO 36 69 51 Fort Worth, TX 80 57 52 Wichita, KS 125 24 53 Spokane, WA 58 63 54 Dover, DE 101 45 55 Fairbanks, AK 92 55 56 Colorado Springs, CO 64 66 57 Springfield, MA 99 50 58 Des Moines, IA 59 68 59 Fort Smith, AR 122 31 60 Eugene, OR 41 73 61 Baton Rouge, LA 139 21 62 Mobile, AL 123 35 63 Portland, OR 12 96 64 Rutland, VT 50 78 65 Boston, MA 3 104 66 Dayton, OH 95 62 67 Santa Ana, CA 47 79 68 St. Paul, MN 24 84 69 Gary, IN 141 25 70 Hialeah, FL 48 80 71 Little Rock, AR 128 43 72 Houston, TX 89 71 73 Omaha, NE 42 87 74 San Diego, CA 17 107 75 Anchorage, AK 90 75 76 Fremont, CA 6 117 77 Akron, OH 106 70 78 Austin, TX 16 110 79 Frederick, MD 7 119 80 Tallahassee, FL 81 83 81 Charleston, WV 134 52 82 Jackson, MS 148 8 83 Miami, FL 38 100 84 Casper, WY 79 85 85 Burlington, VT 18 113 86 Montgomery, AL 142 44 87 Toledo, OH 130 60 88 Tampa, FL 35 109 89 Minneapolis, MN 28 111 90 Columbia, SC 120 72 91 San Jose, CA 13 123 92 Orlando, FL 54 102 93 Providence, RI 116 77 94 Columbus, OH 86 92 95 Norfolk, VA 97 89 96 San Antonio, TX 73 103 97 Bridgeport, CT 103 91 98 Richmond, VA 71 108 99 Dallas, TX 104 93 100 Bakersfield, CA 102 97 101 Indianapolis, IN 110 90 102 Garland, TX 84 105 103 Jacksonville, FL 129 74 104 Fort Lauderdale, FL 61 116 105 Anaheim, CA 32 124 106 Nashville, TN 115 94 107 Shreveport, LA 147 56 108 Cincinnati, OH 77 113 109 Lubbock, TX 112 101 110 Kansas City, MO 119 98 111 Milwaukee, WI 126 86 112 New Orleans, LA 137 81 113 Charlotte, NC 52 126 114 Seattle, WA 10 139 115 Pittsburgh, PA 60 127 116 Fresno, CA 132 88 117 Buffalo, NY 91 121 118 Stockton, CA 144 76 119 Wilmington, DE 108 118 120 Denver, CO 53 132 121 Knoxville, TN 76 128 122 Birmingham, AL 138 95 123 Syracuse, NY 93 125 124 Sacramento, CA 72 133 125 Modesto, CA 114 122 126 Long Beach, CA 27 141 127 New Haven, CT 118 120 128 Baltimore, MD 127 111 129 Riverside, CA 98 134 130 Rochester, NY 96 136 131 Yonkers, NY 51 142 132 Atlanta, GA 100 135 133 Kansas City, KS 145 106 134 Los Angeles, CA 43 144 135 Philadelphia, PA 121 130 136 Cheyenne, WY 105 140 137 Tacoma, WA 85 143 138 Memphis, TN 146 115 139 Cleveland, OH 133 131 140 St. Louis, MO 150 82 141 Flint, MI 140 129 142 Chicago, IL 136 137 143 Detroit, MI 149 99 144 Oakland, CA 70 147 145 Hartford, CT 143 138 146 New York, NY 19 148 147 Chattanooga, TN 124 145 148 Gulfport, MS 135 146 149 San Francisco, CA 22 149 150 Washington, DC 34 150





Detailed Breakdown by City

‘Quality of City Services’ Rank*

(Score) City ‘Financial Stability’ Rank ‘Education’ Rank ‘Health’ Rank ‘Safety’ Rank ‘Economy’ Rank ‘Infrastructure & Pollution’ Rank 1

(65.89) Huntington Beach, CA 35 2 10 11 37 123 2

(64.52) Virginia Beach, VA 9 3 91 12 43 74 3

(63.47) Boston, MA 4 147 2 9 57 4 4

(63.09) Provo, UT 20 149 43 10 1 14 5

(62.98) Boise, ID 17 29 26 16 13 53 6

(62.82) Fremont, CA 111 1 12 13 2 130 7

(62.31) Frederick, MD 42 4 37 19 39 88 8

(62.11) Bismarck, ND 30 101 15 4 16 61 9

(61.55) Portland, ME 40 28 23 20 34 34 10

(60.50) Seattle, WA 36 19 13 83 20 32 11

(60.18) Chesapeake, VA 3 6 112 24 8 122 12

(60.17) Portland, OR 21 26 16 86 85 5 13

(60.12) San Jose, CA 61 11 1 33 4 133 14

(60.05) Lincoln, NE 13 35 99 17 22 71 15

(60.05) Nashua, NH 50 91 56 2 25 41 16

(59.87) Austin, TX 28 20 28 60 30 50 17

(59.80) San Diego, CA 88 12 21 25 32 43 18

(59.48) Burlington, VT 104 74 6 5 70 11 19

(59.35) New York, NY 83 85 11 3 110 29 20

(58.60) Sioux Falls, SD 25 33 82 36 21 73 21

(58.46) Madison, WI 8 72 47 26 79 91 22

(58.39) San Francisco, CA 47 75 3 81 17 46 23

(57.34) Charleston, SC 18 43 59 75 74 28 24

(57.32) St. Paul, MN 26 141 61 27 48 25 25

(57.31) Salt Lake City, UT 11 145 70 93 44 2 26

(57.25) Fargo, ND 80 87 19 29 40 23 27

(57.16) Long Beach, CA 77 8 14 52 35 115 28

(57.15) Minneapolis, MN 54 137 18 55 52 9 29

(56.76) Cedar Rapids, IA 31 92 66 35 28 83 30

(56.64) Las Cruces, NM 49 44 22 41 111 76 31

(56.62) Grand Rapids, MI 71 59 39 43 63 26 32

(56.34) Anaheim, CA 96 52 4 23 41 135 33

(56.31) Raleigh, NC 14 60 58 38 97 64 34

(56.05) Washington, DC 47 84 74 67 72 8 35

(56.03) Tampa, FL 39 69 90 53 65 40 36

(55.95) Aurora, CO 19 113 20 59 11 142 37

(55.72) Durham, NC 6 68 48 68 77 120 38

(55.65) Miami, FL 92 30 24 84 106 10 39

(54.87) Las Vegas, NV 95 64 68 72 31 13 40

(54.83) Aurora, IL 64 45 46 6 88 94 41

(54.76) Eugene, OR 27 98 44 90 123 3 42

(54.69) Omaha, NE 82 37 87 49 54 69 43

(54.61) Los Angeles, CA 100 81 17 58 49 81 44

(54.54) Manchester, NH 98 109 52 32 60 18 45

(54.47) Worcester, MA 93 95 36 37 73 44 46

(54.44) Fort Wayne, IN 23 36 131 40 59 119 47

(54.44) Santa Ana, CA 117 41 5 22 24 141 48

(54.44) Hialeah, FL 135 5 30 34 76 99 49

(54.30) Arlington, TX 60 24 98 44 38 131 50

(54.29) Rutland, VT 12 58 55 21 87 6 51

(54.19) Yonkers, NY 134 80 7 1 122 101 52

(54.07) Charlotte, NC 16 61 72 91 71 112 53

(53.82) Denver, CO 46 142 27 69 51 77 54

(53.65) Orlando, FL 51 50 54 119 61 36 55

(53.61) Missoula, MT 114 7 83 66 99 35 56

(53.59) Lewiston, ME 99 144 65 7 68 62 57

(53.56) Warwick, RI 110 54 42 8 80 137 58

(53.55) Spokane, WA 63 46 50 118 15 45 59

(53.47) Des Moines, IA 62 106 51 64 66 70 60

(53.44) Pittsburgh, PA 127 13 64 30 93 38 61

(53.38) Fort Lauderdale, FL 43 100 34 112 62 20 62

(53.37) St. Petersburg, FL 58 99 80 95 33 42 63

(53.35) Phoenix, AZ 44 86 75 96 23 79 64

(53.29) Colorado Springs, CO 86 56 40 80 10 118 65

(53.03) Greensboro, NC 5 27 138 73 124 106 66

(52.97) El Paso, TX 94 10 29 28 89 124 67

(52.91) Mesa, AZ 68 78 76 48 26 136 68

(52.90) Reno, NV 122 23 79 51 3 95 69

(52.80) Lexington-Fayette, KY 56 16 49 45 140 138 70

(52.69) Oakland, CA 70 77 9 115 18 126 71

(52.51) Richmond, VA 41 122 100 54 100 39 72

(52.46) Sacramento, CA 102 102 45 74 5 104 73

(52.34) San Antonio, TX 38 51 104 87 101 80 74

(52.19) Nampa, ID 73 119 97 57 29 52 75

(51.75) Salem, OR 103 88 53 94 84 7 76

(51.55) Knoxville, TN 32 17 114 117 114 47 77

(51.44) Cincinnati, OH 85 25 130 76 128 24 78

(51.43) Louisville, KY 37 93 94 85 92 107 79

(51.41) Casper, WY 1 146 92 15 19 75 80

(51.36) Fort Worth, TX 113 48 73 46 45 132 81

(51.29) Tallahassee, FL 78 18 126 98 96 16 82

(51.08) Oklahoma City, OK 7 82 108 103 53 148 83

(50.95) Corpus Christi, TX 76 15 113 109 27 114 84

(50.66) Garland, TX 116 49 78 39 46 145 85

(50.60) Tacoma, WA 106 71 85 106 9 78 86

(50.38) Columbus, OH 87 70 111 47 118 86 87

(50.09) Rapid City, SD 91 112 84 71 69 109 88

(50.02) Warren, MI 69 120 95 14 91 66 89

(49.91) Houston, TX 119 14 71 101 81 93 90

(49.89) Anchorage, AK 79 34 38 116 56 60 91

(49.60) Buffalo, NY 120 103 77 63 133 19 92

(49.56) Fairbanks, AK 15 57 88 79 36 125 93

(49.30) Billings, MT 52 94 110 124 55 57 93

(49.30) Syracuse, NY 126 129 41 50 109 15 95

(49.25) Dayton, OH 67 73 117 102 132 30 96

(49.11) Rochester, NY 129 105 67 56 136 1 97

(48.82) Norfolk, VA 72 114 139 42 102 108 98

(48.62) Riverside, CA 125 63 32 88 12 147 99

(48.29) Springfield, MA 124 126 35 70 141 12 100

(48.23) Atlanta, GA 83 96 106 121 82 63 101

(48.21) Dover, DE 90 21 96 131 108 85 102

(48.19) Bakersfield, CA 81 53 86 125 7 149 103

(48.14) Bridgeport, CT 145 116 8 18 131 65 104

(47.96) Dallas, TX 133 38 57 77 113 84 105

(47.87) Cheyenne, WY 10 124 69 89 14 98 106

(47.63) Akron, OH 108 65 122 65 137 96 107

(47.46) Topeka, KS 105 46 125 108 119 51 108

(47.37) Wilmington, DE 75 79 63 139 86 87 109

(47.31) Columbus, GA 53 32 150 105 105 37 110

(47.26) Indianapolis, IN 22 136 137 123 104 68 111

(47.14) Tucson, AZ 107 97 89 113 98 92 112

(46.99) Lubbock, TX 74 42 127 107 95 143 113

(46.88) Tulsa, OK 33 76 107 132 83 144 114

(46.53) Modesto, CA 123 83 62 129 6 113 115

(46.50) Nashville, TN 112 118 123 114 42 59 116

(45.83) Providence, RI 143 128 31 31 107 72 117

(45.36) Albuquerque, NM 97 108 60 146 103 54 118

(44.91) New Haven, CT 144 135 33 100 50 17 119

(44.84) Kansas City, MO 89 55 105 145 116 117 120

(44.51) Columbia, SC 65 138 116 133 115 55 121

(44.34) Philadelphia, PA 136 132 133 62 90 49 122

(43.67) Fort Smith, AR 137 9 135 120 58 89 123

(43.53) Mobile, AL 59 107 145 136 125 48 124

(43.30) Chattanooga, TN 109 66 102 135 67 58 125

(43.29) Wichita, KS 57 133 129 140 78 127 126

(43.08) Milwaukee, WI 118 131 119 92 146 100 127

(42.77) Baltimore, MD 45 148 149 126 126 90 128

(42.76) Little Rock, AR 34 90 115 149 117 97 129

(42.57) Jacksonville, FL 140 67 148 111 64 56 130

(42.48) Toledo, OH 131 110 132 78 112 129 131

(42.20) Huntington, WV 2 62 136 122 150 33 132

(42.10) Fresno, CA 138 89 101 99 75 146 133

(41.89) Cleveland, OH 130 104 121 104 145 103 134

(41.81) Charleston, WV 101 40 140 142 139 110 135

(41.68) Gulfport, MS 128 22 103 138 144 111 136

(41.67) Chicago, IL 150 39 81 61 129 31 137

(40.90) New Orleans, LA 132 143 109 127 147 27 138

(40.48) Birmingham, AL 121 31 118 147 94 105 139

(40.33) Baton Rouge, LA 55 123 146 144 142 134 140

(39.94) Flint, MI 24 140 120 128 127 67 141

(39.60) Gary, IN 29 111 134 82 148 139 142

(39.33) Montgomery, AL 115 125 142 130 143 82 143

(39.19) Hartford, CT 149 127 25 97 138 21 144

(38.02) Stockton, CA 141 117 93 143 47 150 145

(37.24) Kansas City, KS 139 139 141 110 120 116 146

(36.83) Memphis, TN 66 130 143 150 130 140 147

(35.70) Shreveport, LA 142 115 124 141 134 102 148

(30.75) Jackson, MS 147 121 128 134 149 128 149

(30.51) Detroit, MI 148 134 144 137 121 121 150

(30.14) St. Louis, MO 146 150 147 148 135 22

*No. 1 = Best-Run



Ask the Experts

A well-run city isn’t just the product of efficient budgeting or lots of resources. It is the fruit of countless other decisions, too. For more insight into why some cities perform better than others, we turned to a panel of local-government, economic and diversity experts. Click on the panelists’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing U.S. cities today? Why are some cities better run than others? What can citizens do to increase the transparency and accountability of local government? Are some forms of city government — a strong mayor versus a strong city council, for instance — more effective than others? What are the most useful resources offered to citizens by local governments during the pandemic? In evaluating how well a city is run, what are the top five indicators? How can local policymakers reduce racial tensions in the wake of recent movements?

Methodology

In order to determine the best- and worst-run cities in America, WalletHub compared 150 of the most populated cities across six key categories: 1) Financial Stability, 2) Education, 3) Health, 4) Safety, 5) Economy and 6) Infrastructure & Pollution.

We evaluated those dimensions using 38 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest quality of service.

Next, we calculated an overall “Quality of City Services” score for each city based on its weighted average across all the metrics. Finally, for each city, we divided the Quality of City Services score by the “Total Budget per Capita” (dollar amount) in order to construct a “Score per Dollar Spent” index — displayed as “Overall Rank” in the Main Findings table above — which we then used to rank-order the cities in our sample.

The metrics used do not create a disadvantage for DC, despite its unusual status as a city/state, with the exception of the Long-Term Debt Outstanding per Capita metric. However, even with that metric removed, DC still ranks last. Thus, the District was included in this report.

Financial Stability – Total Points: 16.67

Moody’s City Credit Rating: Quadruple Weight (~13.33 Points)

Outstanding Long-Term Debt per Capita: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

Education – Total Points: 16.67

K–12 School-System Quality: Double Weight (~11.11 Points)

Note: This metric measures the share of public schools rated by GreatSchools.org with above average score.

High School Graduation Rate: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)

Health – Total Points: 16.67

Infant Mortality Rate: Quadruple Weight (~5.13 Points)

Average Life Expectancy (in Years): Quadruple Weight (~5.13 Points)

Hospital Beds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)

Quality of Public Hospital System: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)

Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems.

WalletHub “States Offering the Most Coronavirus Support” Score: Triple Weight (~3.85 Points)

Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “ States Offering the Most Coronavirus Support ” ranking.

Safety – Total Points: 16.67

Violent Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)

Property Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)

Motor Vehicle Fatalities per Capita: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)

Share of Sheltered Homeless Persons: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)

Perception of Safety (Safety walking alone during daylight/night): Full Weight (~1.19 Points)

Note: These data are based on perceptions of visitors of numbeo.com website in the past 3 years. If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.



Economy – Total Points: 16.67

Unemployment Rate: Triple Weight (~2.63 Points)

Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)

Median Annual Household Income (Adjusted for Cost of Living): Double Weight (~1.75 Points)

Median Annual Income Growth Rate: Double Weight (~1.75 Points)

Note: Growth compares the income level in 2018 versus in 2017.

Annual Job Growth Rate (Adjusted for Population Growth): Double Weight (~1.75 Points)

Note: Growth compares the number of employed civilian population in 2018 versus in 2017.

Share of Population Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~1.75 Points)

Economic Mobility: Triple Weight (~2.63 Points)

Growth in Number of Businesses: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)

Note: Growth compares the number of businesses in 2017 versus in 2016.

Change in Housing Prices: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)

Note: Change compares the price in 2019 versus in 2012.

Zillow Home Value 1-year Forecast: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)

Note: The Zillow Home Value Forecast is Zillow's prediction of what the Zillow Home Value Index will be one year from now.

Building-Permit Growth: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)

Note: Growth spans 2017 to 2019.

Infrastructure & Pollution – Total Points: 16.67

Quality of Roads: Quadruple Weight (~3.03 Points)

Note: This metric measures the share of pavements in poor condition.

Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Full Weight (~0.76 Points)

Transit Access Shed: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)

Note: “Transit Access Shed” is the total area of land that is easily accessible from any point via public transportation.

Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)

Walk Score: Triple Weight (~2.27 Points)

Note: “Walk Score” measures pedestrian friendliness by analyzing population density and road metrics such as block length and intersection density.

Bike Score: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)

Note: “Bike Score” measures whether an area is good for biking. The Bike Score is calculated by measuring bike infrastructure (lanes, trails, etc.), hills, destinations and road connectivity, and the number of bike commuters.

Transit Score: Half Weight (~0.38 Points)

Note: “Transit Score” is a patented measure of how well a location is served by public transit.

Recreation-Friendliness: Quadruple Weight (~3.03 Points)

Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “ Best & Worst Cities for Recreation ” ranking.

Share of Residents with Access to Internet: Half Weight (~0.38 Points)

Water Quality: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)

Air Pollution: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)

Greenhouse-Gas Emissions per Capita: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)

Share of Parkland: Triple Weight (~2.27 Points)



Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Moody's Investors Service, GreatSchools.org, County Health Rankings, Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Zillow, The Equality of Opportunity Project, The Road Information Program, Center for Neighborhood Technology, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Walk Score, The Trust for Public Land, INRIX, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Numbeo and WalletHub research.

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