Washington, D.C

Washington, DC Tops List Of 'America's Hardest-Working Cities'

Published

2 years ago

April 12, 2024

Washington, DC Tops List Of 'America's Hardest-Working Cities'

In a nation known for its strong work ethic, some cities stand out as shining examples of the American spirit. After all, work is the backbone of the American dream. A recent study by WalletHub set out to identify the hardest-working cities in the United States, comparing 116 of the most populated cities across 11 key metrics. Who came out on top? Results point to our nation’s capital, Washington, DC!

The study offers a fascinating insight into the work habits of Americans and the factors that contribute to a city’s overall work ethic. Conducted in February 2024, researchers looked at two main dimensions: “Direct Work Factors” and “Indirect Work Factors.” Direct Work Factors, which accounted for 80% of the total score, included metrics such as average workweek hours, employment rate, and the share of households where no adults work. Indirect Work Factors, which made up the remaining 20%, considered aspects like average commute time, the share of workers with multiple jobs, and annual volunteer hours per resident.

With that said, let’s take a look at the full list!

Hardest-Working Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Direct Work Factors Rank	Indirect Work Factors Rank
1	Washington, DC	76.97	4	9
2	Irving, TX	76.39	1	46
3	Cheyenne, WY	76.15	7	27
4	Virginia Beach, VA	75.79	8	11
5	Anchorage, AK	75.55	3	85
6	Norfolk, VA	75.27	9	14
7	Dallas, TX	75.21	5	32
8	San Francisco, CA	74.67	6	40
9	Denver, CO	73.93	12	22
10	Austin, TX	73.82	2	79
11	Sioux Falls, SD	73.56	11	74
12	Corpus Christi, TX	73.44	10	76
13	Plano, TX	72.84	14	38
14	Fort Worth, TX	72.14	16	30
15	Arlington, TX	72.12	15	31
16	Chesapeake, VA	71.85	30	7
17	Aurora, CO	71.68	24	16
18	Laredo, TX	70.98	23	62
19	Garland, TX	70.90	25	21
20	Nashville, TN	70.52	13	77
21	Manchester, NH	70.24	34	35
22	Omaha, NE	70.00	36	25
23	Raleigh, NC	69.92	29	29
24	Charlotte, NC	69.89	33	24
25	Chandler, AZ	69.74	20	64
26	Scottsdale, AZ	69.70	17	78
27	Houston, TX	69.24	26	51
28	Gilbert, AZ	68.75	31	50
29	Tampa, FL	68.55	19	97
30	Boston, MA	68.45	49	3
31	Fremont, CA	68.22	37	33
32	Seattle, WA	68.05	51	6
33	Atlanta, GA	67.86	32	69
34	Portland, ME	67.72	40	57
35	Colorado Springs, CO	67.43	52	17
36	Oklahoma City, OK	66.95	22	101
37	Indianapolis, IN	66.91	47	18
38	St. Petersburg, FL	66.78	28	100
39	Orlando, FL	66.71	21	107
40	Jacksonville, FL	66.42	18	109
41	Lubbock, TX	66.40	39	98
42	Baltimore, MD	66.38	71	2
43	San Antonio, TX	66.14	35	86
44	Salt Lake City, UT	66.02	66	5
45	Phoenix, AZ	65.90	41	54
46	Durham, NC	65.80	43	88
47	Fargo, ND	65.52	48	63
48	Little Rock, AR	65.32	38	115
49	Kansas City, MO	65.25	50	41
50	San Jose, CA	65.19	42	55
51	Miami, FL	64.91	27	114
52	Oakland, CA	64.67	53	42
53	Boise, ID	64.18	63	48
54	Portland, OR	64.17	83	1
55	El Paso, TX	64.13	64	43
56	Jersey City, NJ	63.89	58	37
57	Louisville, KY	63.82	57	34
58	Honolulu, HI	63.72	46	110
59	Tulsa, OK	63.57	45	111
60	Billings, MT	63.48	62	66
61	Minneapolis, MN	62.77	77	13
62	Des Moines, IA	62.75	69	67
63	Lexington-Fayette, KY	62.52	54	102
64	Wichita, KS	62.36	56	105
65	Glendale, AZ	62.34	70	47
66	Jackson, MS	62.11	60	106
67	San Diego, CA	61.95	59	80
68	Columbus, OH	61.94	65	59
69	Irvine, CA	61.62	55	89
70	Fort Wayne, IN	61.56	68	93
71	Hialeah, FL	61.44	44	112
72	Santa Ana, CA	61.29	61	87
73	Lincoln, NE	61.25	82	28
74	Mesa, AZ	61.13	72	61
75	Long Beach, CA	60.69	74	65
76	St. Louis, MO	60.65	81	36
77	St. Paul, MN	60.56	85	12
78	Anaheim, CA	60.49	73	75
79	Reno, NV	60.45	75	90
80	Los Angeles, CA	60.14	76	60
81	Chula Vista, CA	60.11	78	53
82	Winston-Salem, NC	59.59	79	92
83	Henderson, NV	59.19	80	71
84	Philadelphia, PA	58.52	98	8
85	Birmingham, AL	58.29	67	108
86	North Las Vegas, NV	58.14	84	49
87	Chicago, IL	57.71	89	39
88	Las Vegas, NV	57.28	88	58
89	Cincinnati, OH	57.23	97	20
90	Bakersfield, CA	56.29	93	72
91	Albuquerque, NM	56.16	92	84
92	Memphis, TN	55.91	91	73
93	Riverside, CA	55.36	94	68
94	New Orleans, LA	55.26	87	96
95	Greensboro, NC	55.08	96	94
96	Sacramento, CA	54.96	90	95
97	Wilmington, DE	54.60	95	81
98	Pittsburgh, PA	54.41	104	19
99	New York, NY	53.70	101	44
100	Baton Rouge, LA	53.43	100	91
101	Madison, WI	52.98	99	104
102	Milwaukee, WI	52.85	108	10
103	Charleston, WV	52.61	86	116
104	Stockton, CA	52.28	106	15
105	Tucson, AZ	51.94	102	99
106	Providence, RI	51.60	107	26
107	San Bernardino, CA	50.62	105	83
108	Columbia, SC	50.33	103	113
109	Cleveland, OH	50.00	110	23
110	Fresno, CA	48.86	109	82
111	Bridgeport, CT	48.31	112	4
112	Toledo, OH	47.50	111	52
113	Newark, NJ	43.19	113	45
114	Buffalo, NY	39.22	114	103
115	Detroit, MI	39.08	115	70
116	Burlington, VT	34.43	116	56

Note: *No. 1 = Hardest Working
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

A Closer Look At The Top 3

So why did Washington, D.C. emerge as the hardest-working city? This is due, in part, to the city having the highest share of workers who leave vacation time unused at 64%. Residents of D.C. also work the third-most hours per week on average and are willing to take relatively long commutes to work, adding over 30 minutes to their workday. Additionally, more than 30% of the District’s residents are members of local volunteer groups or organizations, showcasing their dedication to their community.

Irving, TX, secured the second spot on the list, largely because it has the lowest share of households where no adults work, at only 11%. Irving also ranks ninth in the country for the mean number of hours worked per week. However, this hard work comes at a cost, with Irving residents having significantly less leisure time compared to people in most other cities.

Cheyenne, WY, rounded out the top three, with residents putting in the third-most hours per week, on average. The city boasts one of the highest employment rates in the country, at over 97%, meaning nearly all working-age residents are employed. Cheyenne also has the seventh-highest rate of workers with multiple jobs, at nearly 7%. As a result, people in Cheyenne have the third-lowest amount of leisure time, on average.

Methodology

The WalletHub study employed a comprehensive methodology to determine the hardest-working cities in America. The research team evaluated 116 of the most populated cities using two key dimensions: “Direct Work Factors” and “Indirect Work Factors.” These dimensions were assessed using 11 key metrics, each graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the “hardest-working.”

The Direct Work Factors dimension, which accounted for 80% of the total score, included six metrics. The average workweek hours were given the highest weight (triple weight, ~36.92 points), as this metric directly measures the time spent working. The employment rate and the share of households where no adults work were both given full weight (~12.31 points each), as they provide insight into the overall employment situation in each city. The share of workers leaving vacation time unused and the share of engaged workers (a state-level metric) were assigned half weight (~6.15 points each), as they relate to work dedication and engagement. Finally, the idle youth (16-24) rate was also given half weight, as it indicates the proportion of young people not engaged in work or education.

The Indirect Work Factors dimension, which made up the remaining 20% of the total score, included five metrics, each given full weight (~4.00 points). The average commute time was included as it can significantly impact the total time spent on work-related activities. The share of workers with multiple jobs (a state-level metric) was considered as it reflects the need for some individuals to work more than one job. Annual volunteer hours per resident and the share of residents who participate in local groups or organizations were included to account for community engagement and additional time commitments outside of paid work. Lastly, the average leisure time spent per day (a state-level metric) was considered as it relates to work-life balance.

To calculate the overall score for each city, the researchers determined the weighted average across all 11 metrics. The resulting scores were then used to rank-order the cities from hardest-working to least hard-working. To ensure a geographically diverse sample, the study included at least one city from each of the 50 states. It is important to note that the term “city” in this study refers specifically to the city proper and does not include the surrounding metropolitan area.

By employing this multi-faceted approach, the WalletHub study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the work ethic in American cities. The methodology takes into account both direct measures of work, such as hours worked and employment rates, as well as indirect factors that can impact work-life balance and overall quality of life. This detailed analysis allows for a nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to a city’s overall work ethic and provides valuable insights for policymakers, employers, and residents alike.

Source link

Related Topics:america Featured washington work ethic

Click to comment

Washington, D.C

DC nonprofit making millions of meals for the sick is set to expand – WTOP News

Published

33 minutes ago

July 13, 2026

Press Room

DC nonprofit making millions of meals for the sick is set to expand – WTOP News

Food and Friends expects to double its impact with a $30 million addition and renovation.

This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker.
In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.

Nonprofit donating two million meals each year is now set to expand

Food and Friends prepares over two million meals each year for people in the D.C. region who are battling serious illnesses. The organization expects to double its impact with a $30 million addition and renovation.

The first shovels went into the ground Monday at Food and Friends’ headquarters in Northeast D.C.

The 17,000-square-foot expansion will dramatically impact how many people the organization can serve on a daily basis, the nonprofit said.

“The demand has been so high, and so we need more room. And we’re really, really excited to be kicking that off,” Food and Friends CEO Carrie Stoltzfus said. “We’re going to be able to more than double what we do.”

Food and Friends currently packages roughly 7,100 meals per day and delivers throughout the D.C. region in an area approximately the size of Connecticut.

Staff described the current building as bursting at the seams, with many rooms doubling as food storage.

“Most of the expansion space will be for food production and food storage because that’s really what drives everything else that we do and why we’re all here,” Stoltzfus said.

The new building, set to be completed in May, will include a state-of-the-art kitchen. The current kitchen will be transformed into a chilled food packing room.

This site plan for the Food and Friends’ facility includes its 17,000-square-foot addition. (Click to expand)

The expansion also adds private nutrition counseling rooms for clients who are battling diseases such as cancer, AIDS, renal failure and other illnesses.

All clients of Food and Friends are referred to the program by healthcare providers. Dietitians and chefs have developed 11 meal types tailored to specific health needs.

Rebecca Kahn, director of nutrition services at Food and Friends, said its food is medicine, leading to better health outcomes.

“Hospital visits are going down as compared to before getting our services. Clients are saving money on healthcare costs,” she told WTOP.

Loris Adams is a volunteer and a former client who received meals from Food and Friends while she battled ovarian cancer. She’s thrilled with the expansion.

“People like me, people like your neighbors have an opportunity to be fed and nourished — body, soul and spirit — while they’re going through really hard and difficult times,” she said after the groundbreaking.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

Source link

Washington, D.C

Trump’s DC beautification push navigates troubled waters – WTOP News

Published

13 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Press Room

Trump’s DC beautification push navigates troubled waters – WTOP News

Two weeks after White House officials touted President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the city “safe and beautiful,” the water in the 13-basin fountain at Meridian Hill Park has turned into a murky, rust-orange hue.

The Meridian Hill Park fountain with murky water in Washington, D.C., on July 11.
(Courtesy CNN)

Courtesy CNN

Meridian Hill Park fountain waters in Washington, DC, on July 11. — Meridian Hill Park fountain waters in Washington, D.C., on July 11.
(Courtesy CNN)

National Guard soldiers wait for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's arrival at a D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force ceremony at Meridian Hill Park in Northwest D.C. on July 2. — National Guard soldiers wait for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s arrival at a D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force ceremony at Meridian Hill Park in Northwest D.C. on July 2.
(Courtesy CNN)

(CNN) — At a ceremony in front of the iconic cascading fountain at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top US officials touted President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the city “safe and beautiful.”

But less than two weeks later, the historic park that served as Hegseth’s backdrop has become the latest hurdle President Donald Trump is facing in his mission to give the nation’s capital a facelift, as the water in the 13-basin fountain has turned into a murky, rust-orange hue.

The fountain had been devoid of water for seven years before the Trump administration repaired and reopened it in May in a $4 million renovation that delighted residents. After the renovation, residents flocked to the park in the evenings, sitting on the steps bordering the fountain, having picnics, and reading books.

But this week, parkgoers observed a brown color overtaking the reservoirs.

“It looks like mud,” said James Langan, a New York resident visiting DC.

The fixture at Meridian Hill Park is one of nine fountains being returned to service under Trump’s March 2025 executive order calling to make DC “safe and beautiful” coinciding with preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. When CNN visited the nine fountains scattered across DC this week, only one appeared to still be inoperable, and two had brown-colored water.

Some residents and visitors said they welcomed running water at Meridian Hill Park, despite the coloring.

“Whenever I’d like come here before, I was kind of disappointed that the water was never on, and it was kind of like overrun with trash,” Washington, DC, resident Jedi Sworobuk told CNN. “I think it’s nice to have, especially in the heat in the summer.”

The Interior Department told CNN on Tuesday evening that the brown water at Meridian Hill Park is “sediment as a result of the reopening of two water lines that had been out of service for some time,” noting it expected the water to run clean in the next 24 to 36 hours.

A CNN crew observed workers cleaning the cascading basins on Wednesday, following social media buzz about the browning water.

On Saturday, the pools of water were still murky, but less orange.

The Interior Department did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday on the state of the Meridian Hill fountain, and on the fountains at the General Philip Sheridan statue in Sheridan Circle, which were inactive.

The fountain at Meridian Hill Park caught the attention of Alexandra McKenna, a London resident who traveled to DC and made the park a stop on her trip.

“It looks pretty gross,” McKenna said, laughing.

McKenna pointed to the water at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has also generated headlines in recent weeks, adding, “It’s kind of a thing going on in Washington at the moment.”

The Meridian Hill Park scramble comes after the Reflecting Pool saga dominated conversations in Washington. After Trump called for the pool’s renovation in April, the more than $14 million project has taken on a lifecycle of draining, painting, filling and peeling.

Trump alleged vandals gashed the pool’s lining. In recent weeks, at least three people were charged with destruction of property after allegedly removing pieces of blue paint from the pool, and a former Olympian was indicted on that allegation. The canoeist, David Hearn, pleaded not guilty.

During a May Cabinet meeting, Trump said most of the fountains were in final stages or fixed.

In his recent July Fourth address on the National Mall, Trump declared the city “safe, gleaming, and beautiful again,” though some beautification projects, like the Reflecting Pool, appear to be in progress.

The National Park Service said work to restore and rehabilitate historic landscapes will occur in phases, noting that the public may experience closures or limited access at certain sites.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Source link

Washington, D.C

Sen. Graham’s death shocked Washington. What will be his legacy? : Consider This from NPR

Published

1 day ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

Sen. Graham’s death shocked Washington. What will be his legacy? : Consider This from NPR

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at a hearing to examine the 2027 budget for the Department of Defense on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2026.

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

hide caption

toggle caption

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The nation continues to react to the unexpected death of South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham was a veteran politician, a dealmaker and military hawk. He was also one of President Trump’s staunchest critics before his election, only to become one of Trump’s close allies on Capitol Hill after his victory.

Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake served alongside Graham from 2013-2019, and said he and Graham were “friends to the end,” despite moments of tension and disagreement. Flake weighs in on what will be Sen. Graham’s legacy.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Henry Larson, with audio engineering by Peter Ellena.
It was edited by Michael Levitt.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

Source link