New York City Ranked No. 2 Best U.S. City for an Active Lifestyle

A new study has ranked New York City as the second-best city in the United States for an active lifestyle. The ranking highlights the city’s strong fitness culture, walkability, and wide access to recreation spaces.

The study, conducted by WalletHub, compared the 100 largest U.S. cities using dozens of health and activity indicators.

Top Cities for an Active Lifestyle

The report looked at 35 different factors, including sports facilities, outdoor activities, gym costs, and how many residents stay physically active.

Top 5 U.S. Cities for Active Living

Rank	City	State
1	Honolulu	Hawaii
2	New York	New York
3	San Francisco	California
4	Chicago	Illinois
5	Los Angeles	California

According to the study, these cities offer many opportunities for exercise, whether through sports, walking, cycling, or outdoor recreation.

Why New York City Ranked So High

New York City earned its high ranking because of several key factors:

• Highly walkable neighborhoods
• Extensive public parks and recreation areas
• Easy access to gyms and fitness centers
• Large number of sports facilities and playgrounds
• Strong public interest in fitness activities

Many residents also stay active simply by walking or biking to work, something that is less common in car-dependent cities.

Outdoor Spaces and Fitness Culture

New York’s many green spaces help support an active lifestyle. Parks such as Central Park, waterfront trails, and neighborhood playgrounds give residents places to run, cycle, or exercise outdoors.

The city also has:

• Hundreds of community recreation centers
• Sports leagues and fitness programs
• Popular running routes and bike paths

Experts say these features make it easier for people to stay healthy.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo noted that the top cities in the study offer opportunities for both organized sports and everyday physical activity like walking or biking.

Why Location Matters for Health

Where people live can have a big impact on their ability to stay active.

Cities that rank highly for active lifestyles usually provide:

• Safe walking and biking infrastructure
• Affordable fitness options
• Access to parks and outdoor recreation
• Communities where residents value physical activity

These factors make it easier for people to maintain healthy habits.

Growing Focus on Healthy Living

Interest in active lifestyles has increased across the U.S., especially as many people set fitness goals at the start of each year.

Studies like this highlight how urban planning — including parks, bike lanes, and recreation spaces — can encourage healthier living.

In Short

• New York City ranked No. 2 in the U.S. for an active lifestyle.
• The ranking was based on 35 health and recreation indicators.
• NYC scored high for walkability, parks, and fitness culture.
• Honolulu took the top spot in the study.