Jacksonville became the city with the highest stress level in Florida and ranks 37th among the most stressful cities in the country, according to the annual ranking by WalletHub, published this month after evaluating 182 U.S. cities.
The study analyzed four dimensions with equal weight: work-related stress, financial stress, family stress, and health and safety stress, using a total of 39 metrics.
Jacksonville received a score of 48.77 out of 100 —where a higher score indicates greater stress— with its lowest results in health and safety (ranked 36th nationally) and in financial stress (ranked 39th).
One of the most concerning factors is job security: the city ranks among the five with the least employment stability in the entire country, which represents a constant source of distress for its residents.
This result is not entirely surprising. A previous study by WalletHub, from February 2025, had already placed Jacksonville in third place nationally among the cities with the highest number of residents facing financial difficulties, with nearly 16% of its residents having accounts in arrears.
Florida places multiple cities in the top half of the national ranking, meaning they are among the most stressful in the country.
After Jacksonville, we have Miami (ranked 50th, with 46.87 points), Hialeah (54th, with 46.39), Port St. Lucie (67th, with 45.44), and Tampa (73rd, with 44.87).
They are followed by Cape Coral (77), Fort Lauderdale (83), Tallahassee (84), St. Petersburg (91), and Orlando (97).
The city in the state with the lowest stress level in the study is Pembroke Pines, ranked 117th nationally with 41.24 points.
The WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo summarized the importance of one's living location on mental well-being as follows: "Cities with high crime rates, weak economies, ineffective public health systems, and congested transportation systems naturally generate elevated levels of stress among their residents. When moving, it is important to consider how a particular city may affect your mental health, not just your financial opportunities."
At the national level, Detroit ranks as the most stressful city in the U.S., with a score of 62.78.
The city of Míchigan records the highest unemployment rate in the country —10.4%—, the lowest median household income adjusted for the cost of living —less than $40,000—, and the highest poverty rate, at 32.7%.
Baltimore, Maryland, ranks second (59.73 points), where the average annual rent for a two-bedroom apartment accounts for nearly 38% of the median household income.
On its part, Cleveland, Ohio, comes in third place (59.35 points) with the highest separation and divorce rate in the country —almost 41%— and 45% of its adults sleeping less than seven hours per night.
At the opposite end, Fremont, California, is the least stressful city in the entire country, with just 26.16 points, followed by South Burlington, Vermont (26.22) and Bismarck, North Dakota (29.17).
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