ORLANDO, Fla. – WalletHub has released a new report examining which cities in the U.S. are being managed the most effectively — and which places may need some work.
The study examines factors like financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, infrastructure and pollution to determine how the largest metros placed on this year’s list.
“The best-run cities in America use their budget most effectively to provide high-quality financial security, education, health, safety and transportation to their residents,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “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.”
Nationally, the top 10 cities were listed as follows:
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No. 1: Provo, UT
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No. 2: Nampa, ID
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No. 3: Manchester, NH
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No. 4: Boise, ID
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No. 5: Nashua, NH
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No. 6: Sioux Falls, SD
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No. 7: Fort Wayne, IN
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No. 8: Virginia Beach, VA
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No. 9: Lincoln, NE
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No. 10: Mesa, AZ
“Provo, UT, is the best-run city, and the reasons for that are that the city is experiencing business growth of around 3.1%, alongside a high school graduation rate of nearly 91%, a combination that signals a strong foundation for the future.
Provo is also a city that is safe and keeps its infrastructure well-maintained. It has the seventh-lowest violent crime rate in the country, the eighth-lowest property crime rate, and the 24th-best road quality in the country.
Finally, with relatively short average commute times and low traffic congestion, Provo’s ease of getting around adds to its growing appeal and reflects effective city planning and infrastructure management.”
WalletHub, “Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America”
But in the Sunshine State, the top pick turned out to be Jacksonville at No. 18.
The River City fared especially well when it came to its total budget per capita, though it lagged in terms of the quality of its services.
By contrast, the worst-run Florida city — Ft. Lauderdale at No. 108 — middled in its quality of services, but its total budget per capita fared extremely poorly.
The full list of Florida cities on this year’s ranking is as follows:
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