The Olympics decathlon champion Ashton Eaton once remarked, “My key to dealing with stress is simple: just stay cool and stay focused.” However, not every is able to follow Eaton’s example. And with financial stress costing employers $250 billion per year, the number crunchers at WalletHub considered the impact of stress on Americans and brought out their latest report: 2026’s Most & Least Stressed Cities in America.
For this study, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 39 key metrics, which included real estate-related issues including housing affordability, the share of underwater mortgages, median credit score, and foreclosure rate.
The most stressed city turned out to be Detroit, which has the nation’s highest unemployment rate at 10.4% and the lowest median household income after adjusting for the cost of living at slightly under $40,000. Detroit also has the highest poverty rate in the country at 32.7%, a median credit at 618, and one of the highest violent crime rates in the country.
Baltimore, Cleveland, Memphis, and Shreveport, Louisiana, rounded out the top five cities as being among the most stressed localities. At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest stressed city was Fremont, California.
“Some stress is out of our control, due to issues with family, friends or employers,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “However, where you live can play a big role in how stressed you are. Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents. When moving, it’s important to consider how a certain city may impact your mental health – not just your financial opportunities.”
0 Comments