Life can be exhausting these days, with reports of more than three-quarters of Americans feeling stressed out about the future of the country and nearly as many anxious about the economy.
But if you happen to live in cities like Burlington or South Burlington, Vt.; Fremont or Irvine, Calif.; or Sioux Falls, S.D., you might be feeling a little less stressed — especially compared to residents in Detroit; Cleveland; Baltimore; Gulfport, Miss.; and Memphis, Tenn.
Personal finance company WalletHub compared 182 U.S. cities across 39 key metrics — from average weekly work hours, unemployment rates, and divorce and suicide rates to food insecurity, house affordability, and mental and physical health rates — and determined the “most and least stressed cities in America” for 2025. Detroit is the most, and South Burlington is the least.
The survey includes the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state.
“Some stress is out of our control, due to issues with family, friends, or employers,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “However, where you live can play a big role in how stressed you are. Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, less effective public health, and congested transportation systems naturally lead to elevated stress levels for residents. When moving, it’s important to consider how a certain city may impact your mental health — not just your financial opportunities.”
Lupo noted that Detroit is America’s most stressed city in part because it has the lowest median household income in the country and the highest unemployment rate, at 11.4%. Detroit also has the highest poverty rate in the country and the sixth-highest obesity rate. It also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country.
Here are some other best-worst comparisons:
- Rapid City, S.D., has the lowest unemployment rate, which is 6.3 times lower than in Detroit (the city with the highest).
- Fremont, Calif., has the lowest divorce rate, which is 4.4 times lower than in Cleveland (the city with the highest).
- Cheyenne, Wyo., has the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health, which is 3.1 times lower than in San Antonio (the city with the highest).
- Columbia, Md., has the highest median annual household income (adjusted by cost of living), which is 3.4 times higher than in Detroit (the city with the lowest).
Deloitte’s recent “2025 Well-Being at Work” survey suggests that many employers are not aware of their employees’ anxiety about finances — with nearly three-quarters of C-suite executives believing their workforce’s financial state is excellent or good.
“As leaders responsible for the wellbeing of their people at work, we need to have the awareness and flexibility to adapt to the needs of the moment — and right now, people are focused on how to be financially resilient,” Deloitte US wellbeing leader Amy Smith said upon the survey’s publication in June. “Financial literacy, financial planning, and support with managing our relationship with money aren’t typically the first things that come to mind when you think of wellbeing programs, but the data suggests that it’s time to refocus attention and resources on professionals’ need for stability and financial wellbeing.”
“I think flexibility in the workplace is one important aspect for reducing work-related stress,” added Rachel Wu, an associate professor at the University of California-Riverside, referring to how employers can respond to the latest WalletHub report. “Personal issues often require flexibility in remote options or time off. As long as the work gets done at some other point, the employers could allow more flexibility to help employees.”
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