Everyone’s brand of fun is different. Some people like trying new restaurants, traveling, visiting bars and clubs, or playing outdoor sports. Others enjoy riding roller coasters, going to the movies or playing video games. But having fun can be expensive – the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average American spends over $3,400 on entertainment annually.
The decision of where to live could save or cost you a lot of money and fun, so it’s fair to wonder what makes a fun city. At WalletHub, we define such a place as one that offers a little bit of everything for everyone — except maybe people seeking the most extreme thrills. In a city with enough variety, you won’t have to compromise with your friends, family, or even yourself about the next fun activity to do alone or together.
To help Americans find the cities with the most significant number and variety of fun yet cost-effective options, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 65 key metrics. They range from fitness centers per capita to movie costs to the average business hours of breweries.
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Most Fun Cities in America
Overall Rank* |
City |
Total Score |
Entertainment & Recreation Rank |
Nightlife & Parties Rank |
Costs Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Las Vegas, NV | 71.38 | 1 | 1 | 78 |
2 | Orlando, FL | 62.42 | 3 | 3 | 66 |
3 | Miami, FL | 55.91 | 7 | 2 | 165 |
4 | Atlanta, GA | 55.73 | 9 | 6 | 104 |
5 | San Francisco, CA | 53.35 | 6 | 5 | 176 |
6 | New Orleans, LA | 52.49 | 18 | 4 | 129 |
7 | Austin, TX | 51.60 | 20 | 7 | 87 |
8 | Chicago, IL | 50.57 | 8 | 12 | 144 |
9 | Honolulu, HI | 49.98 | 2 | 22 | 162 |
10 | New York, NY | 49.35 | 5 | 10 | 182 |
11 | Cincinnati, OH | 49.22 | 14 | 20 | 35 |
12 | Denver, CO | 48.99 | 16 | 13 | 125 |
13 | Portland, OR | 48.86 | 17 | 8 | 158 |
14 | St. Louis, MO | 48.78 | 23 | 17 | 16 |
15 | Washington, DC | 48.67 | 11 | 9 | 175 |
16 | San Diego, CA | 48.33 | 4 | 21 | 168 |
17 | Tampa, FL | 47.83 | 10 | 30 | 96 |
18 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 47.40 | 15 | 15 | 150 |
19 | Houston, TX | 47.28 | 29 | 14 | 72 |
20 | Los Angeles, CA | 47.01 | 12 | 16 | 164 |
21 | Philadelphia, PA | 45.35 | 25 | 18 | 109 |
22 | Seattle, WA | 44.90 | 13 | 11 | 181 |
23 | Salt Lake City, UT | 44.25 | 21 | 26 | 110 |
24 | Pittsburgh, PA | 44.24 | 19 | 36 | 74 |
25 | San Antonio, TX | 44.12 | 30 | 23 | 68 |
26 | Richmond, VA | 43.35 | 33 | 27 | 86 |
27 | Tucson, AZ | 43.29 | 24 | 48 | 29 |
28 | Reno, NV | 42.80 | 51 | 25 | 30 |
29 | Charleston, SC | 42.31 | 22 | 56 | 85 |
30 | Phoenix, AZ | 41.97 | 35 | 35 | 79 |
31 | Dallas, TX | 41.60 | 42 | 24 | 102 |
32 | Knoxville, TN | 41.03 | 41 | 60 | 10 |
33 | Scottsdale, AZ | 41.00 | 36 | 44 | 71 |
34 | Sacramento, CA | 40.88 | 34 | 29 | 140 |
35 | Minneapolis, MN | 40.19 | 27 | 43 | 124 |
36 | Nashville, TN | 40.18 | 38 | 31 | 130 |
37 | Jacksonville, FL | 40.15 | 37 | 65 | 31 |
38 | St. Petersburg, FL | 40.13 | 32 | 50 | 89 |
39 | Birmingham, AL | 40.04 | 73 | 32 | 61 |
40 | Milwaukee, WI | 39.77 | 46 | 38 | 95 |
41 | Indianapolis, IN | 39.64 | 65 | 37 | 42 |
42 | Louisville, KY | 39.61 | 28 | 62 | 106 |
43 | Fort Worth, TX | 39.48 | 81 | 28 | 32 |
44 | Boston, MA | 39.34 | 26 | 19 | 180 |
45 | Omaha, NE | 39.22 | 45 | 64 | 24 |
46 | Chattanooga, TN | 39.19 | 61 | 47 | 56 |
47 | Oklahoma City, OK | 38.76 | 83 | 54 | 1 |
48 | Cleveland, OH | 38.73 | 57 | 45 | 53 |
49 | Kansas City, MO | 38.67 | 71 | 39 | 48 |
50 | Raleigh, NC | 38.64 | 69 | 33 | 90 |
51 | Charlotte, NC | 38.61 | 52 | 40 | 91 |
52 | Tulsa, OK | 38.54 | 68 | 71 | 5 |
53 | Buffalo, NY | 37.99 | 54 | 46 | 92 |
54 | Baton Rouge, LA | 37.94 | 63 | 52 | 62 |
55 | Columbus, OH | 37.92 | 43 | 67 | 60 |
56 | Albuquerque, NM | 37.80 | 31 | 97 | 55 |
57 | Rochester, NY | 37.48 | 47 | 58 | 115 |
58 | Portland, ME | 37.21 | 39 | 42 | 153 |
59 | El Paso, TX | 37.15 | 59 | 91 | 13 |
60 | Madison, WI | 37.14 | 44 | 79 | 64 |
61 | Columbia, SC | 36.98 | 58 | 72 | 77 |
62 | Tempe, AZ | 36.72 | 49 | 77 | 80 |
63 | Colorado Springs, CO | 36.38 | 50 | 86 | 58 |
64 | Memphis, TN | 36.00 | 99 | 49 | 28 |
65 | Henderson, NV | 35.84 | 74 | 51 | 100 |
66 | Grand Rapids, MI | 35.78 | 80 | 68 | 47 |
67 | Mobile, AL | 35.59 | 101 | 57 | 63 |
68 | Virginia Beach, VA | 35.17 | 40 | 110 | 83 |
69 | Wichita, KS | 35.13 | 108 | 75 | 8 |
70 | Boise, ID | 35.09 | 60 | 87 | 73 |
71 | Plano, TX | 35.02 | 66 | 84 | 88 |
72 | Baltimore, MD | 35.00 | 53 | 61 | 141 |
73 | Springfield, MO | 34.85 | 114 | 85 | 9 |
74 | Lincoln, NE | 34.84 | 77 | 73 | 76 |
75 | Arlington, TX | 34.72 | 102 | 53 | 59 |
76 | Oakland, CA | 34.32 | 75 | 34 | 166 |
77 | Huntsville, AL | 34.29 | 128 | 69 | 40 |
78 | Providence, RI | 34.27 | 78 | 41 | 146 |
79 | Rapid City, SD | 34.16 | 90 | 96 | 19 |
80 | Durham, NC | 34.09 | 110 | 66 | 34 |
81 | Detroit, MI | 33.91 | 85 | 55 | 112 |
82 | Tallahassee, FL | 33.60 | 94 | 101 | 38 |
83 | Missoula, MT | 33.57 | 84 | 82 | 75 |
84 | Long Beach, CA | 33.17 | 64 | 59 | 167 |
85 | Norfolk, VA | 33.15 | 62 | 106 | 116 |
86 | Gulfport, MS | 32.87 | 140 | 63 | 54 |
87 | Akron, OH | 32.61 | 126 | 92 | 33 |
88 | St. Paul, MN | 32.42 | 56 | 119 | 99 |
89 | Garden Grove, CA | 32.23 | 98 | 78 | 121 |
90 | Greensboro, NC | 32.17 | 89 | 102 | 25 |
91 | Anaheim, CA | 32.04 | 82 | 74 | 128 |
92 | Corpus Christi, TX | 32.04 | 88 | 121 | 23 |
93 | Glendale, AZ | 32.01 | 106 | 122 | 11 |
94 | Fort Smith, AR | 31.84 | 160 | 98 | 20 |
95 | Overland Park, KS | 31.82 | 134 | 133 | 14 |
96 | Bakersfield, CA | 31.78 | 119 | 90 | 41 |
97 | Toledo, OH | 31.68 | 103 | 143 | 6 |
98 | Billings, MT | 31.62 | 116 | 89 | 69 |
99 | Sioux Falls, SD | 31.52 | 152 | 94 | 26 |
100 | Cape Coral, FL | 31.49 | 72 | 155 | 81 |
101 | Chandler, AZ | 31.20 | 92 | 137 | 36 |
102 | Huntington Beach, CA | 31.14 | 79 | 70 | 161 |
103 | Montgomery, AL | 31.06 | 168 | 144 | 3 |
104 | Fargo, ND | 31.04 | 138 | 146 | 4 |
105 | Mesa, AZ | 31.01 | 91 | 138 | 37 |
106 | Anchorage, AK | 30.97 | 48 | 166 | 147 |
107 | Lubbock, TX | 30.90 | 112 | 134 | 22 |
108 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 30.90 | 87 | 114 | 45 |
109 | Irvine, CA | 30.79 | 55 | 117 | 163 |
110 | Des Moines, IA | 30.64 | 124 | 113 | 21 |
111 | Huntington, WV | 30.58 | 144 | 136 | 46 |
112 | San Jose, CA | 30.52 | 67 | 76 | 169 |
113 | Winston-Salem, NC | 30.35 | 97 | 103 | 111 |
114 | Fayetteville, NC | 30.35 | 139 | 116 | 27 |
115 | Chesapeake, VA | 30.29 | 95 | 140 | 113 |
116 | Shreveport, LA | 30.28 | 153 | 99 | 52 |
117 | Spokane, WA | 30.19 | 76 | 139 | 107 |
118 | Amarillo, TX | 29.98 | 146 | 169 | 2 |
119 | Tacoma, WA | 29.86 | 120 | 81 | 133 |
120 | Modesto, CA | 29.85 | 137 | 100 | 94 |
121 | Salem, OR | 29.66 | 149 | 83 | 97 |
122 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 29.50 | 161 | 111 | 49 |
123 | Jackson, MS | 29.45 | 170 | 127 | 43 |
124 | Wilmington, DE | 29.17 | 132 | 80 | 145 |
125 | Fort Wayne, IN | 29.05 | 118 | 150 | 18 |
126 | Augusta, GA | 28.99 | 166 | 145 | 12 |
127 | Little Rock, AR | 28.95 | 147 | 135 | 50 |
128 | Newport News, VA | 28.92 | 157 | 109 | 84 |
129 | Fresno, CA | 28.78 | 109 | 142 | 51 |
130 | Aurora, CO | 28.55 | 129 | 118 | 93 |
131 | Jersey City, NJ | 28.55 | 104 | 108 | 136 |
132 | Newark, NJ | 28.51 | 107 | 120 | 131 |
133 | Columbus, GA | 28.44 | 162 | 163 | 17 |
134 | Worcester, MA | 28.42 | 151 | 107 | 108 |
135 | Hialeah, FL | 28.33 | 111 | 104 | 149 |
136 | Irving, TX | 28.31 | 142 | 158 | 39 |
137 | Charleston, WV | 28.27 | 169 | 162 | 57 |
138 | New Haven, CT | 28.14 | 158 | 126 | 101 |
139 | Riverside, CA | 27.98 | 100 | 129 | 118 |
140 | North Las Vegas, NV | 27.98 | 125 | 105 | 98 |
141 | Glendale, CA | 27.92 | 86 | 130 | 152 |
142 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 27.84 | 93 | 156 | 135 |
143 | Casper, WY | 27.75 | 135 | 174 | 70 |
144 | San Bernardino, CA | 27.74 | 173 | 88 | 105 |
145 | Gilbert, AZ | 27.72 | 131 | 148 | 65 |
146 | Las Cruces, NM | 27.63 | 136 | 170 | 44 |
147 | Santa Ana, CA | 27.45 | 121 | 93 | 137 |
148 | Vancouver, WA | 27.25 | 96 | 154 | 127 |
149 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 27.21 | 133 | 167 | 67 |
150 | Juneau, AK | 26.77 | 70 | 165 | 171 |
151 | Burlington, VT | 26.72 | 113 | 115 | 159 |
152 | Columbia, MD | 26.70 | 127 | 124 | 155 |
153 | Santa Clarita, CA | 26.39 | 122 | 132 | 148 |
154 | Stockton, CA | 26.32 | 115 | 160 | 119 |
155 | Peoria, AZ | 26.24 | 155 | 128 | 134 |
156 | Garland, TX | 26.19 | 143 | 151 | 103 |
157 | Bismarck, ND | 26.09 | 159 | 176 | 82 |
158 | Oceanside, CA | 26.08 | 105 | 152 | 138 |
159 | Laredo, TX | 25.42 | 154 | 181 | 7 |
160 | Moreno Valley, CA | 24.82 | 179 | 123 | 123 |
161 | Ontario, CA | 24.34 | 164 | 147 | 122 |
162 | Aurora, IL | 24.21 | 165 | 168 | 126 |
163 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 24.09 | 156 | 159 | 132 |
164 | Chula Vista, CA | 23.90 | 148 | 131 | 154 |
165 | Fontana, CA | 23.77 | 180 | 164 | 143 |
166 | Grand Prairie, TX | 23.77 | 163 | 173 | 114 |
167 | Lewiston, ME | 23.70 | 175 | 177 | 120 |
168 | Warwick, RI | 23.61 | 130 | 112 | 172 |
169 | Manchester, NH | 23.60 | 149 | 95 | 177 |
170 | West Valley City, UT | 23.53 | 172 | 161 | 139 |
171 | Brownsville, TX | 23.01 | 182 | 182 | 15 |
172 | Nampa, ID | 22.98 | 176 | 149 | 156 |
173 | Bridgeport, CT | 22.75 | 177 | 157 | 151 |
174 | Cheyenne, WY | 22.73 | 181 | 175 | 117 |
175 | Fremont, CA | 22.58 | 123 | 172 | 157 |
176 | Dover, DE | 22.42 | 178 | 180 | 142 |
177 | Santa Rosa, CA | 21.80 | 117 | 141 | 179 |
178 | Yonkers, NY | 21.41 | 145 | 153 | 173 |
179 | Nashua, NH | 20.76 | 174 | 125 | 178 |
180 | Oxnard, CA | 20.20 | 167 | 171 | 160 |
181 | South Burlington, VT | 20.11 | 141 | 179 | 170 |
182 | Pearl City, HI | 18.51 | 171 | 178 | 174 |
Note: *No. 1 = Most Fun
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
In-Depth Look at the Most Fun Cities
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas is a flashy tourist destination for a fun weekend out, but it’s also the most fun city overall, boasting a large number of attractions and 4.5-star or higher restaurants.
Sin City is known for partying, and it’s one of the only cities in our study where public drinking is allowed in most or all places – whether that’s a plus or not will depend on your personality, though. When it comes to activities, Vegas unsurprisingly has the largest number of casinos in the country. But it’s also renowned for its performers, especially when it comes to music. The city has a very high number of music festivals and music venues relative to others.
Las Vegas certainly isn’t the cheapest city to have fun in, but it’s at least in the middle of the pack when it comes to the costs of activities and food.
Orlando, FL
The second-most fun city in the U.S. is Orlando, FL, which leads the nation in amusement parks, like the iconic Disney World and Universal Studios. While you might expect to pay high prices for a stay in Orlando, the amusement-park markup doesn’t necessarily extend to the rest of the city. For example, Orlando actually has one of the lowest nightly rates for a 3-star hotel room, and relatively low average prices for staple foods like pizza and burgers.
If you’re into sports, Orlando ranks as one of the best cities for soccer fans (4th). And if you want to get in shape yourself, the city has one of the highest numbers of fitness centers relative to its population.
Miami, FL
Miami, FL is the third most fun city in the U.S., and it has some of the best beaches in the country, which are an especially popular destination for spring-breakers. Miami ranks as the best city in the U.S. when it comes to boat tours and water sports, too. The city is perfect for outdoorsy individuals, and is in close proximity to unique natural features like the Everglades. In fact, over 88% of the city’s residents live within half a mile of a park.
You also can’t talk about Miami without mentioning its famous sports teams, like the Miami Dolphins, which have helped the city rank as the 6th best for football fans.
- Most
- T-1. Honolulu, HI
- T-1. Las Vegas, NV
- T-1. Miami, FL
- T-1. New Orleans, LA
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- Fewest
- 169. Billings, MT
- 170. Fargo, ND
- 171. Amarillo, TX
- 172. Garland, TX
- 173. Laredo, TX
- Most
- T-1. Miami, FL
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- T-1. Las Vegas, NV
- T-1. Los Angeles, CA
- T-1. Orlando, FL
- Fewest
- 178. Fontana, CA
- 179. Lewiston, ME
- 180. South Burlington, VT
- 181. West Valley City, UT
- 182. Pearl City, HI
- Most
- T-1. New York, NY
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. Charlotte, NC
- 4. Detroit, MI
- 5. San Antonio, TX
- Fewest
- 98. Jersey City, NJ
- 99. Santa Ana, CA
- 100. Newark, NJ
- 101. Gilbert, AZ
- 102. Hialeah, FL
- Most
- 1. Anchorage, AK
- 2. Chesapeake, VA
- 3. Honolulu, HI
- 4. Jacksonville, FL
- 5. Scottsdale, AZ
- Fewest
- 98. Stockton, CA
- 99. Jersey City, NJ
- 100. Newark, NJ
- 101. Santa Ana, CA
- 102. Hialeah, FL
- Most
- 1. Scottsdale, AZ
- 2. Orlando, FL
- 3. Honolulu, HI
- 4. Huntington Beach, CA
- 5. Tampa, FL
- Fewest
- 178. Huntington, WV
- 179. Lewiston, ME
- 180. Bridgeport, CT
- 181. Pearl City, HI
- 182. West Valley City, UT
- Most
- 1. Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 2. Rochester, NY
- 3. Providence, RI
- 4. Buffalo, NY
- 5. Richmond, VA
- Fewest
- 178. Fremont, CA
- 179. Garland, TX
- 180. South Burlington, VT
- 181. West Valley City, UT
- 182. Moreno Valley, CA
- Most
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- T-1. Houston, TX
- T-1. Las Vegas, NV
- 4. New York, NY
- 5. Orlando, FL
- Fewest
- 155. Cape Coral, FL
- 156. Yonkers, NY
- 157. Fremont, CA
- 158. Chandler, AZ
- 159. Henderson, NV
- Lowest
- 1. Milwaukee, WI
- 2. Brownsville, TX
- T-3. Chicago, IL
- T-3. Aurora, IL
- 5. Gulfport, MS
- Highest
- 178. Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 179. Pembroke Pines, FL
- 180. Seattle, WA
- T-181. Miami, FL
- T-181. Hialeah, FL
- Lowest
- 1. Fargo, ND
- 2. Montgomery, AL
- 3. Corpus Christi, TX
- 4. Port St. Lucie, FL
- 5. Oklahoma City, OK
- Highest
- T-176. San Diego, CA
- T-176. Chula Vista, CA
- T-176. Oceanside, CA
- 179. New York, NY
- T-180. Los Angeles, CA
- T-180. Long Beach, CA
- 182. Oxnard, CA
Ask the Experts
Having fun doesn’t have to break the bank. For money-saving ideas and advice to city leaders on attracting fun lovers to their cities, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:
- What tips do you have for having fun while on a budget?
- What should people be looking for when choosing a fun & affordable city?
- Will rising inflation have an impact on visitors to U.S. cities?
- Should cities allow drinking in public--either during certain times or in special designated “Entertainment Districts”--to make their cities more fun?
- What can local authorities do to make their city a more fun destination to visit?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the most fun cities in the U.S., WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Entertainment & Recreation, 2) Nightlife & Parties and 3) Costs.
We evaluated those dimensions using 65 relevant metrics listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the greatest number and variety of fun and cost-effective activities. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes the surrounding metro area.
Entertainment & Recreation - Total Points: 40
- Number of Attractions: Double Weight (~2.00 Points)
- “TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards Top 25 Destinations” Ranking: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Diversity of Restaurants: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Ice-Cream & Frozen-Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Bowling Alleys per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Baseball & Softball Diamonds per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Basketball Hoops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Public & Municipal Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Public Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Public Beaches per Capita: Half Weight (~0.50 Points)
- Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” List: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Fishing Facilities per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Marinas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Water & Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Hiking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Scenic and Sightseeing Establishments per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Spas & Wellness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Share of Population with Walkable Park Access: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Share of Designed Parkland Areas: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Parks” List: Half Weight (~0.50 Points)
- Playgrounds per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Parkland as Share of City Area: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Acres of Parkland per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Sports Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Fitness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Recreational Sports Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Sports Fan-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Sports Cities” ranking, which includes football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer. - Movie Theaters per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Performing-Arts Theaters per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Arcades per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement & Water Parks” List: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
- Ideal Weather: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
Nightlife & Parties - Total Points: 40
- Bar Accessibility: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This grade is a combination of bars per capita* (measures availability) and bars per square mile (measures proximity). - Pool Halls per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Lounges per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Beer Gardens per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Legality of Public Drinking: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Time of Last Call: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Average Open Hours of Breweries: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Presence of Music Festivals: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: The cities that have music festivals will receive 1, the others 0. In case a city has more than one music festival, it will receive the exact number of music festivals. - Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Dance Clubs per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Dance Party Index: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Arts & Crafts-Supplies Establishments per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Casinos per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Comedy Clubs per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Costs - Total Points: 20
- Average Price of Party Ticket: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Average Beer Price: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the price of a six-pack of 12-ounce Heineken containers, excluding any deposit. - Average Wine Price: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Average Food Price (Pizza & Burger): Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Prevalence of Affordable Restaurants Rated 4.5+ Stars: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Movie Costs: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Bowling Costs: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Average Fitness-Club Fee: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Price for Three-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Cost of Living: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Trust for Public Land, Council for Community and Economic Research, Numbeo, Kayak, GolfLink, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Thumbtack, Eventbrite, TheHuffingtonPost.com, AreaVibes, Music Festival Wizard and WalletHub research.
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