With local governments dealing with pressing issues like high inflation as well as other issues such as mass shootings, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025’s Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America, as well as expert commentary.
To determine the effectiveness of local leadership, WalletHub compared 148 of the largest U.S. cities based on their operating efficiency. For each city, WalletHub constructed a “Quality of City Services” score – comprising 36 key performance indicators grouped into six service categories – that was then measured against the city’s total per-capita budget.
| Top 20 Best-Run Cities in America | ||
| 1. Provo, UT | 11. Mesa, AZ | |
| 2. Nampa, ID | 12. Oklahoma City, OK | |
| 3. Manchester, NH | 13. Las Cruces, NM | |
| 4. Boise, ID | 14. Warwick, RI | |
| 5. Nashua, NH | 15. Durham, NC | |
| 6. Dover, DE | 16. Missoula, MT | |
| 7. Sioux Falls, SD | 17. Chesapeake, VA | |
| 8. Lincoln, NE | 18. Tallahassee, FL | |
| 9. Virginia Beach, VA | 19. Jacksonville, FL | |
| 10. Fort Wayne, IN | 20. Columbus, GA | |
Best vs. Worst
- Casper, Wyoming, has the lowest long-term debt outstanding per capita, which is 88.8 times lower than in San Francisco, California, the city with the highest.
- Warwick, Rhode Island, has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), which is 51.3 times fewer than in Oakland, California, the city with the most.
- Rapid City, South Dakota, has the lowest unemployment rate, which is 8.6 times lower than in Flint, Michigan, the city with the highest.
- Fremont, California, has the lowest share of the population living in poverty, which is 6.7 times lower than in Flint, Michigan, the city with the highest.
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869