Top 10 Healthiest Cities in the United States for 2026
Last updated: January 8, 2026
Every year, Mindbody looks at the nation's largest metropolitan areas to understand how people across the United States are supporting their health and wellbeing.
For 2026, we surveyed 2,557 adults ages 18–65 across the 25 most populous cities in the country, examining everything from exercise and sleep habits to stress, community connection, and self-care. Using a proprietary scoring algorithm, we analyzed responses from each participant to identify and rank the nation's largest cities from healthiest to least healthy.
Based on trends across physical and mental health, sleep, nutrition, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and preventative care, these are the U.S. cities leading the way in healthy living.
10. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA
The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area earns a spot in the top 10 this year with some of the strongest sleep habits in the nation. More than a third of respondents (35%) report getting eight hours or more each night, well above the national average and the highest of any city surveyed.
Residents here report the lowest alcohol consumption in the country, with nearly all respondents (95%) reporting three drinks or fewer per week.
Exercise also remains an important tool for mental wellbeing in the Bay Area, with 65% of respondents saying they exercise to support their mental health.
9. Chicago, IL
Chicago residents stand out this year for their consistent sleep habits and strong personal relationships.
Chicagoans are the most likely in the country (41%) to get a solid seven hours each night and also report some of the strongest interpersonal connections cited in our survey, with 68% saying they have strong relationships with friends and family.
The Windy City's balance of rest and connection help secure its place as the ninth healthiest city in the United States.
8. Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix climbs the list with its standout hydration habits and deeply rooted personal relationships.
More than half (51%) of respondents drink six or more glasses of water per day, which is the highest of any city surveyed and likely reflective of the region's climate.
Phoenix also leads the nation in interpersonal connection. 41% of residents say they have strong personal relationships they can rely on, and 72% say they connect with loved ones specifically to support their mental wellbeing.
7. Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. continues to be one of the most active cities in the United States. More than a third (36%) of respondents exercise five or more days a week, and only 5% of respondents (the lowest of any city surveyed) indicated that they skip exercise altogether.
Community connection is also strong in the nation's capital. D.C. reports some of the lowest levels of residents who feel detached from their community, with only 18% indicating they hardly or don't feel connected to their neighborhood.
Additionally, 78% of respondents say they exercise to support their mental wellbeing, the highest rate of any city surveyed.
6. Boston, MA
Boston rises in the rankings this year with a strong commitment to preventative care and mental health.
Residents are the most likely of any city (82%) to see a healthcare provider at least once a year or every few years.
Boston also leads the nation in therapy and counseling utilization. Nearly a third of residents (30%) report pursuing professional mental health support, the highest of any city surveyed.
5. Atlanta, GA
Atlanta earns its position as the fifth healthiest city in the country with high activity levels and some of the strongest mindfulness practices in the country.
Most residents exercise at least three to four days a week (61%), and 69% of respondents indicated that they exercise to support mental wellbeing.
And although Atlanta reports the largest share of restless sleepers (59% get fewer than six hours), many locals still describe themselves as almost never or rarely stressed (26%).
4. Houston, TX
Residents in Houston are the most likely in the country to say they exercise specifically to support their mental wellbeing (76%), and 25% report rarely or never feeling stressed.
Houston also stands out for having zero respondents who say they sleep fewer than five hours per night.
3. Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles takes third place with an impressive balance of movement, nutrition, and low stress. LA leads all cities in daily exercise, with 21% of residents saying they work out seven days a week.
LA also leads the nation in fruit and vegetable consumption, with 31% eating three or more servings per day.
The city is also one of the least stressed in the nation, with 28% of residents saying they rarely or never feel stressed.
2. New York, NY
New York distinguishes itself through strong stress management and community connection. With 32% of residents reporting they rarely or almost never feel stressed, the Big Apple defies its stereotype as the United States' most fast-paced city.
Residents also report the highest levels of meditation or mindfulness for mental health (43%), reflecting a growing culture of intentional reset in urban life.
Nutrition and hydration habits run strong in NYC as well, with only 13% drinking zero to two glasses of water per day, the lowest of any city surveyed.
Finally, personal ties remain a defining strength. 36% of residents feel extremely or very connected to their communities; a figure surpassed by only one city...
1. Orlando, FL
Orlando claims the number one spot as the healthiest city in the United States this year with a uniquely balanced approach to health and wellness. 38% of Orlando respondents report feeling extremely or very connected to their local communities.
Only 2% of residents say they don't exercise, the lowest of any city surveyed.
29% of residents eat three or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and 54% report no weekly alcohol intake.
Orlando also excels in emotional wellbeing activities. 72% exercise to support their mental health, 67% spend time outdoors, and 57% engage in creative activities.
Interested in seeing where your city ranks? View the full list below, from healthiest to unhealthiest city:
- Orlando, FL
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Houston, TX
- Atlanta, GA
- Boston, MA
- Washington, D.C.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Chicago, IL
- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA
- Seattle-Tacoma, WA
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
- Riverside, CA
- Austin, TX
- Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
- Denver, CO
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Antonio, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
- San Diego, CA
- Detroit, MI
- St. Louis, MO
- Portland-Vancouver, OR
- Baltimore, MD
