What makes Sacramento one of best US cities for an active lifestyle? New study explains
Hitting the gym?
Sacramento is one of the top 20 cities in the nation for those seeking an active lifestyle, according to WalletHub.
The personal finance website ranked the Best and Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle in 2025, based on factors including fitness club fees, the number of swimming pools per capita and local Google searches for “at-home workouts.”
“The top cities for staying active offer opportunities for all types of people, from those who prefer team sports to people who simply want to get their daily exercise by walking or biking to work,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo wrote in a Jan. 6 article. “They also tend to be large cities that still have a close proximity to beautiful natural areas for hiking and swimming.”
Honolulu was the No. 1 city for active people, the new WalletHub study found, thanks in part to the Hawaiian city’s island climate, proximity to the ocean and high number of baseball fields, skate parks and volleyball courts per capita.
New York City came in second place among the top cities for fitness fans, and San Francisco claimed the No. 3 spot.
Why is Sacramento one of best California cities for fitness?
Sacramento was No. 18 on WalletHub’s list of the best cities for people seeking an active lifestyle in 2025.
The capital city had an overall active lifestyle score of 51.75 points out of 100.
In the Budget and Participation category, which looked at sportswear costs, sports clubs per capita and other factors, Sacramento ranked No. 49 out of 100 cities.
The city was No. 11 in the Sports and Outdoors category, which considered factors including weather, walkability and parks, playgrounds and soccer fields per capita.
Sacramento also boasts a fair number of fitness centers, including the newly renovated Capital YMCA.
Which other California cities made the list?
San Francisco was the highest ranking California city on WalletHub’s list of top spots for fitness lovers.
Hailed by WalletHub as “the most walkable city in the nation,” San Francisco boasts a bike-sharing program and high numbers of soccer fields, dance schools and sports clubs per capita.
“The Golden Gate City also has a very high number of hiking trails per capita, and it’s right next to the bay,” WalletHub said.
Los Angeles was No. 6 on WalletHub’s list, while San Diego was No. 8.
Where are the best US cities for an active lifestyle?
These were the top 10 cities in the United States for those seeking an active lifestyle, according to WalletHub:
- Honolulu
- New York
- San Francisco
- Las Vegas
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Denver
- San Diego
- Philadelphia
- Cincinnati
How did WalletHub come up with rankings?
WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across two key dimensions: Budget and Participation and Sports and Outdoors.
Those dimensions were then evaluated using a total of 35 metrics, including:
- Average monthly fitness club fee
- Sporting goods stores per capita
- Share of physically inactive adults
- Google searches for “at-home fitness equipment”
- Fitness centers per capita
- Golf courses per capita
- Tennis courts per capita
- Presence of bike-sharing programs
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing “the most favorable conditions for a physically active population,” the site said.
WalletHub then calculated the overall score for each city to complete its rankings.
Data came from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as AreaVibes, GolfLink, Walk Score and Yelp.
This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM.