Having fun can seem pretty subjective, because there are so many different ways to do it. Some people like to bar hop or ride roller coasters while others like to curl up with a bookor watch a good movie. But it turns out, there actually is a metric for measuring how fun a city can be.
Data researchers at WalletHub conducted a study to figure out the most fun cities in America in 2017, comparing 150 of the largest U.S. cities based on 58 key metrics, such as fitness centers per capita, movie costs, and average open hours of breweries. A full list of the metrics can be found on WalletHub’s website.
Overall, the analysts behind the study evaluated three key dimensions: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and costs of activities. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the greatest number and variety of fun, cost-effective things to do.
In some cases, the population size was also taken into account to avoid over compensating in certain areas, like “tea and coffee shops per capita” — a metric that would differ greatly in a populated place like New York City versus a less crowded one like Denver or Cincinnati.
Finally, they determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank the cities in the sample. Naturally, the cities that rose to the top are the largest and most desirable vacation cities in the U.S., including Las Vegas, New York City, Miami, and New Orleans.
According to the study, here are the top 5 most fun cities in America.
Las Vegas, Nevada
With casinos, nightclubs, and plenty of shows to see, it’s no wonder Las Vegas took the number one spot on the list.
Orlando, Florida
You can take your pick of Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, or the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.
New York City
See a Broadway show, visit a museum, or dine at a five-star restaurant in New York City.
