These Are The 10 Best Cities In America To Achieve Work-Life Balance

Top 10 Cities in America for Achieving Work-Life Balance in 2026

In today’s fast-paced world, achieving a healthy work-life balance is essential for overall happiness and well-being. The right job should not only provide financial stability but also allow individuals to enjoy life’s finer moments beyond the workplace. As we move into 2026, it’s more crucial than ever to find cities that support this balance, especially considering the evolving landscape of remote and hybrid work.

While some professionals thrive on dedicating themselves to their careers, many prefer to explore their personal interests and socialize after hours. This article highlights cities that excel in providing a fulfilling work-life balance, where residents can pursue happiness outside of their jobs.

We analyzed data from the latest American Community Survey and Yelp to determine which of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. excel in promoting a healthy work-life balance. Our findings reveal the top ten cities where people can enjoy fulfilling careers while still having time for family, friends, and leisure activities.

Leading the charge in work-life balance for 2026 is San Diego, a city that seamlessly blends career and leisure opportunities.

For more insights on how we compiled this report and details on the top ten cities, keep reading. For a complete dataset, scroll to the end of the article.

How We Determined the Best Cities for Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance evokes images of individuals who enjoy fulfilling careers while having time for personal pursuits, whether that’s family, hobbies, or other passions. To evaluate this balance, we established the following criteria using data from the American Community Survey and Yelp:

Commute Time (Shorter is better)
Hours Worked per Week (Shorter is better)
Household Size (Higher is better)
Unemployment Rate (Lower is better)
Poverty Rate (Lower is better)
Recreational Opportunities per Capita (Higher is better)

In essence, if you can minimize commute time, enjoy various local activities, and have a supportive community, you’re likely on the path to a balanced life. Moreover, having access to well-paying jobs above the poverty line is crucial, as work is a significant component of this equilibrium.

We ranked each of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. based on these criteria, with the lowest average scores identifying the cities that provide the best work-life balance.

Discover the details of the ten cities that manage to balance work and relaxation effectively.

1. San Diego, CA

Population: 1,322,838
Average Hours Worked: 38.1
Commute Time: 23 minutes

San Diego shines as a leader in work-life balance, offering a vibrant lifestyle complemented by its beautiful beaches. With a population exceeding 1.3 million, San Diego ranks above average in most categories, particularly in recreational activities per capita, placing fifth overall.

One area for improvement lies in reducing average work hours, where it has a slightly above-average ranking.

2. Honolulu, HI

Population: 340,639
Average Hours Worked: 38.5
Commute Time: 22 minutes

Honolulu ranks second for work-life balance, not primarily due to recreational opportunities but rather its impressively low unemployment and poverty rates. The average work hours are also commendable, allowing residents to enjoy the island’s natural beauty without sacrificing their professional lives.

3. Omaha, NE

Population: 422,499
Average Hours Worked: 38
Commute Time: 18 minutes

Omaha stands out for its short commute time, securing the second position in this category and a solid 15th in unemployment rates. While it may not boast the amenities of larger cities, its recreational offerings still meet residents’ needs.

4. San Jose, CA

Population: 968,903
Average Hours Worked: 38
Commute Time: 26 minutes

San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, ranks fourth, benefiting from a low poverty rate and ample family time. However, the city could enhance its work-life balance by improving commute times, currently ranking 68th in that aspect.

5. Lincoln, NE

Population: 262,365
Average Hours Worked: 37.1
Commute Time: 18 minutes

Lincoln joins the list as a top city for work-life balance, with impressive scores in commute times and low unemployment. However, it could benefit from more recreational activities to enhance its ranking further.

6. Albuquerque, NM

Population: 549,812
Average Hours Worked: 37.7
Commute Time: 21 minutes

Albuquerque makes the list with balanced scores across various categories, although it faces challenges with smaller household sizes, impacting its overall work-life balance.

6. Anchorage, AK

Population: 295,237
Average Hours Worked: 40.8
Commute Time: 19 minutes

Anchorage ranks well in job availability and poverty rates but scores lower in hours worked, indicating a need for better work-life integration.

8. Oklahoma City, OK

Population: 590,995
Average Hours Worked: 39.4
Commute Time: 20 minutes

Oklahoma City thrives due to its low unemployment rate and shorter commutes, contributing to a balanced lifestyle for its residents.

8. San Antonio, TX

Population: 1,359,033
Average Hours Worked: 39
Commute Time: 23 minutes

As Texas’s only representative on this list, San Antonio ties with Oklahoma City. It offers a good range of activities, although reducing work hours could boost its ranking.

10. Virginia Beach, VA

Population: 442,151
Average Hours Worked: 40
Commute Time: 23 minutes

Virginia Beach wraps up the list as “The Zen of the South,” known for its low unemployment and poverty rates, making it an appealing place for a balanced lifestyle.

Full List of Cities with Best Work-Life Balance

For the complete dataset, click here.

City	Population	Work-Life Score	Rank
San Diego	1,322,838	30.5	1
Honolulu	340,639	30.83	2
Omaha	422,499	32	3
San Jose	968,903	34	4
Lincoln	262,365	35.17	5
Albuquerque	549,812	36.33	6
Anchorage	295,237	36.33	6
Oklahoma City	590,995	37.5	8
San Antonio	1,359,033	37.5	8
Virginia Beach	442,151	39.17	10
Wichita	383,703	39.83	11
Lubbock	233,162	40.17	12
Madison	237,395	40.83	13
Anaheim	340,081	40.83	13
Corpus Christi	308,993	41.17	15
Austin	836,800	41.5	16
Raleigh	414,530	41.67	17
Des Moines	205,415	42.17	18
Portland	594,687	42.33	19
Seattle	624,681	42.33	19
Mesa	447,002	42.83	21
Las Vegas	591,496	43.17	22
El Paso	660,795	43.17	22
Fremont	218,172	43.17	22
Chandler	241,096	43.5	25
Minneapolis	389,112	43.83	26
Phoenix	1,473,639	43.83	26
Boise City	209,726	44	28
Chesapeake	225,597	44	28
Plano	266,740	44	28
Los Angeles	3,827,261	44.33	31
Tulsa	393,709	44.5	32
Baton Rouge	229,400	44.83	33
Reno	228,442	45	34
Columbus	800,594	45.17	35
Gilbert Town	215,683	45.17	35
Fort Wayne	254,435	45.33	37
Chula Vista	248,048	45.83	38
Scottsdale	221,283	46	39
Tucson	523,278	46.5	40
Fort Worth	761,092	46.83	41
Richmond	207,878	47.67	42
Pittsburgh	306,062	48.17	43
Fresno	500,819	48.33	44
Houston	2,134,707	48.33	44
Indianapolis	828,841	48.5	46
Charlotte	757,278	48.5	46
Milwaukee	596,459	48.67	48
Arlington	371,267	48.67	48
Sacramento	471,477	49.33	50
Riverside	309,150	49.33	50
St. Paul	288,802	49.5	52
San Francisco	817,501	49.67	53
Memphis	650,932	49.83	54
Dallas	1,222,167	49.83	54
Kansas City	462,378	50	56
Bakersfield	352,918	50	56
Hialeah	228,943	50.17	58
Aurora	198,726	50.17	58
Denver	619,297	51.5	60
Orlando	244,931	52.17	61
Rochester	210,624	52.67	62
New York	8,268,999	53.17	63
Durham	234,922	53.33	64
North Las Vegas	219,725	53.33	64
Yonkers	197,493	53.5	66
Paradise	221,638	53.67	67
Long Beach	465,424	53.67	67
Tampa	343,768	54.33	69
Modesto	202,629	54.33	69
Aurora	332,820	54.33	69
Fontana	198,692	54.5	72
Garland	230,177	54.83	73
Boston	629,182	55	74
Oakland	397,011	55	74
Buffalo	260,568	55.67	76
Cincinnati	297,150	56	77
Miami	407,526	56	77
Winston-Salem	232,219	56.5	79
Norfolk	244,090	56.5	79
Toledo	285,459	57	81
St. Petersburg	246,642	57.83	82
Glendale	230,047	58	83
Stockton	294,406	58.17	84
Arlington	214,861	58.33	85
Chicago	2,706,101	58.67	86
Detroit	706,663	59.17	87
San Bernardino	211,528	61.17	88
Philadelphia	1,536,704	61.33	89
Akron	199,038	61.67	90
Fayetteville	201,755	62.17	91
Cleveland	394,335	63.17	92
Washington	619,371	63.5	93
Birmingham	212,295	63.83	94
Atlanta	432,589	63.83	94
New Orleans	357,013	65	96
Baltimore	621,445	65.5	97
Jersey City	251,717	65.5	97
Newark	277,357	67	99
St. Louis	318,955	75.33	100

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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