You can call us unfriendly if you so please, but one thing you cannot call New Yorkers is inactive. Did you know New Yorkers walk up to three times more than the average American? And a new study from WalletHub only confirms our sheer amount of activity by deeming NYC the second best U.S. city for an active lifestyle.
The study analyzed 100 of the country’s biggest cities based on 35 key indicators of an active lifestyle, including sports clubs per capita, share of physically inactive adults, bike score and so on. Each indicator was assigned a given weight to make up a 100-point scale determining the greatest conditions for a physically active population. NYC received a 62.90 active lifestyle score. This placed NYC as the second best U.S. city for an active lifestyle.
The results were no surprise to us, as we often use walking as our primary mode of transportation. New Yorkers have demonstrated a strong interest in staying active, as proven by their Google searches for workout and exercise equipment surpassing those of residents in any other U.S. city.
NYC specifically dominated a few key active lifestyle indicators by having the most amount of dance schools per capita and basketball hoops per capita.
WalletHub Analyst, Chip Lupo said
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. They also tend to be large cities that still have a close proximity to beautiful natural areas for hiking and swimming. Finally, the top cities for an active lifestyle have populations that are highly interested in exercise, which helps people find workout partners and stay motivated.
NYC was just shy of first place by 2.65 points, achieved by Honolulu, HI, with an active lifestyle score of 65.55. With a place as beautiful as Hawaii, it’s now wonder outdoor recreation is popular. Moreover, the ocean’s proximity makes swimming and surfing an easily accessible activity.
You can explore the full ranking on WalletHub.