A new study by the Tuck sleep foundation is throwing shade on NYC’s “City that never sleeps” title. Think the noise and partying is keeping New Yorkers awake… you might need to rethink that.
Most New Yorkers aren’t strangers to sleep deprivation. Whether it’s the sound of traffic or construction, the temperature (both hot and cold), or just the endless list of evening activities enticing us from our slumber, sleep isn’t easy in the city. You might be forgiven for thinking that NYC is the worst city in the country for getting a good nights sleep. You might be surprised to hear that it isn’t, it’s not even in the top ten.
A recent study by the Tuck sleep foundation ranked 150 cities in the U.S based on which had the hardest time getting a good night’s sleep. The criteria for the rankings were split into seven contributing factors for a bad rest:
- Sleep deprivation – whether family or work obligations contribute to a population getting the 7-8 hours sleep recommended for an adult.
- Obesity rates – Obesity is is related to sleep disorders like sleep apnea and snoring which interfere with sleep
- Unemployment rate – “Just like physical health, being emotionally healthy can significantly impact your ability to sleep well. Depression is linked with insomnia and disturbed sleep. Workaholics tend to suffer from sleep disorders. Alternately, having job security and ties to your community can reduce anxiety associated with insomnia.” – tuck.com
- Commute time – Shorter commute time, more time in bed.
- Air quality – Asthma and other lung problems are associated with increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep problems.
- Light pollution – Too much light can interfere with the body’s natural sleep patterns.
- Ongoing construction – Noise. All that noise.
A study by the CDC back in 2014 found that 35.2% of adults in the U.S. get less than the recommended hours sleep a night. Here’s their data laid out on a map:
How does New York City fair in the rankings? Well, despite being one of the “most polluted” cities on the list, undergoing constant construction, and with a sleep deprivation rate of 41 (26.4 is the lowest on the list and 50.8 the highest), we didn’t even break the top 10.
The dubious honor of the REAL city that never sleeps is Detroit. Here’s the top 20 list:
20. New York, NY
19. Yonkers, NY
18. Montgomery
17. Newport News, VA
16. Mobile, AL
15. Rochester, NY
14. Providence, RI
13. Columbus, GA
12. Jackson, MS
11. Buffalo, NY
10. Jersey City, NJ
9. Augusta, GA
8. Akron, OH
7. Philadelphia, PA
6. Baltimore, MD
5. Cleveland, OH
4. Birmingham, AL
3. Newark, NJ
2. Honolulu, HI
1. Detroit, MI
Featured image source [Max Pixel]