Chicago has been ranked as one of the worst-run cities in the United States according to a recent study by WalletHub. The study evaluated 148 of the most populated cities across six key categories: financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution. The aim was to determine how effectively city leaders manage and spend public funds, reflected in a “Quality of City Services” score that compares the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget.
Here’s how Chicago and some of its counterparts fared in the study:
Top 30 Best-Run Cities in America:
1. Nampa, ID
2. Lexington-Fayette, KY
3. Boise, ID
4. Nashua, NH
5. Oklahoma City, OK
6. Durham, NC
7. Provo, UT
8. Fort Wayne, IN
9. Sioux Falls, SD
10. Wichita, KS
11. Raleigh, NC
12. Columbus, GA
13. Warwick, RI
14. Las Cruces, NM
15. Missoula, MT
16. Billings, MT
17. Huntington, WV
18. Manchester, NH
19. Bismarck, ND
20. Baton Rouge, LA
21. Madison, WI
22. Virginia Beach, VA
23. Grand Rapids, MI
24. Lincoln, NE
25. Mesa, AZ
26. Rapid City, SD
27. Greensboro, NC
28. Aurora, IL
29. Tulsa, OK
30. Warren, MI
Bottom of the List:
137. Chicago, IL
138. Philadelphia, PA
139. Los Angeles, CA
140. Detroit, MI
141. Denver, CO
142. Tacoma, WA
143. Cleveland, OH
144. Flint, MI
145. New York, NY
146. Gulfport, MS
147. Oakland, CA
148. San Francisco, CA
Chicago’s 137th position underscores challenges in areas such as financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure. The study placed San Francisco at the bottom of the list, indicating significant concerns across similar categories. Conversely, Nampa, Idaho, ranked as the best-run city in the United States according to the study’s metrics.
To compile its findings, WalletHub drew from a range of data sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, and various health and safety organizations. The results provide insight into the varying levels of effectiveness in city management across the country.
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