The number crunchers at WalletHub have published their 2025 version of the Best- and Worst-Run Cities in America, focusing on 148 of the nation’s largest municipalities.
The rankings for this study were determined with a “Quality of Services” score made up of 36 metrics grouped into six service categories – financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution – which was then measured against the city’s per-capita budget.
The result of that analysis resulted in Provo, Utah, being named as the best-run city. WalletHub cited the city’s 5.2% business growth rate, its 91% high school graduation rate, its low violent crime and property crime rates, its low unemployment rate – 2.8%, the eighth lowest in the nation – and a median household income growing at nearly 8.4%.
Nampa, Idaho, which topped last year’s list, came in second, followed by Manchester, New Hampshire; Boise, Idaho; and Nashua, New Hampshire. At the other end of the list, San Francisco held its bottom berth from last year as the nation’s worst-run city.
“The best-run cities in America use their budgets most effectively to provide high-quality financial security, education, health, safety and transportation to their residents,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “Many of the top cities also have a very low amount of outstanding government debt per capita, which can prevent financial troubles in the future.”
Photo: Javin Weaver / Wikimedia Commons
How did you miss Austin, Tx. as a worst run city in the U.S.?