WalletHub Study Reveals Best and Worst U.S. Cities for Recreation in 2025

A recent study conducted by WalletHub has pinpointed the best and worst cities for recreation in the United States by 2025, showcasing Las Vegas, NV, as the top performer and Jersey City, NJ, at the opposite end of the spectrum. Released during National Parks and Recreation Month, this comprehensive analysis sheds light on the critical role that accessible recreational activities play in fostering health care savings and driving economic benefits.

The study meticulously compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 47 distinct indicators, ranging from the availability of entertainment and recreational facilities to park quality and weather conditions. The findings reveal significant disparities among cities. For instance, San Francisco and Boston boast the highest percentage of their populations with walkable access to parks, a figure that is 3.1 times greater than that of Indianapolis. Las Vegas distinguishes itself with the highest number of playgrounds per capita, surpassing Gilbert, Arizona, by a factor of 24.4.

Further illustrating the uneven landscape of recreational resources, Buffalo, New York, is noted for its substantial per capita spending on parks, which is 11.5 times higher than that of Chula Vista, California. On the other hand, San Francisco leads in the availability of bike rental facilities per capita, outnumbering Fresno, California, by 39.5 times. These rankings not only reflect the varying degrees of investment in recreational infrastructure across the nation but also underscore the potential implications for public health outcomes and urban planning strategies. For more details on the study, visit https://wallethub.com.