Talk about a tale of two cities.
New report names New York as one of best cities in the country for an active lifestyle – while a place just across the Hudson River is one of the worst.
Search by WalletHub places the brawling Big Apple second in the nation behind beautiful Honolulu — based on metrics like walkability and access to sports facilities, fields and hiking trails.
“You can get a lot of exercise just by walking to work, restaurants, and other destinations,” the report said of New York’s high score. The city also has the second-most playgrounds per capita in the country, according to the survey.
“It is one of the best cities when it comes to the availability of dance schools, swimming lessons, bicycle rental services, basketball courts, soccer fields and ice rinks,” rejoice the authors of the survey.
Beyond that, New Yorkers themselves “express great interest in remaining active.” This was demonstrated by city dwellers searching online for relevant terms for workouts and exercise equipment in greater volumes than in any other city.
“This means that if you want to stay active, you will likely be able to find many like-minded people who you could potentially train with.”
The same can’t be said for neighboring Newark, New Jersey, who took place 93 out of 100 just a PATH ride away. Jersey City, the only other New Jersey area listed, also didn’t fare well at 84.
Newark has been held back the most in its access to sports and other outdoor activities. The same was true for JC – even though the riverside village was named one of the most expensive places in the country to live over the last few years.
Also in the general vicinity, Philadelphia ranked 9th among all U.S. cities for many of the same reasons as New York. Buffalo, the only other entrance to the Empire State, landed at an average 45th.
Another cold region, Minneapolis, also topped the top 20 at 17th place. Its sister city, Saint Paul, was 25th, one spot ahead of 26th-place San Jose.
North Las Vegas fared worst with 100 – once again, demonstrating a deep divide within a metropolitan area. The real Sin City, right next door, ranked fourth luckiest on the list.
Top 10 cities for an active lifestyle
- Honolulu, HI
- New York City
- San Francisco, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, California
- Denver, Colorado
- San Diego, California
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cincinnati, Ohio