Best & Worst Cities for Women (2026)

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Best & Worst Cities for Women

Best & Worst Cities for Women

Source: WalletHub

While women make up a higher percentage of the population than men in most areas, they are not always in the best location to maximize their potential. Women who work full-time only earn 82% of what men earn, on average, according to the Department of Labor. Women are also very underrepresented in leadership positions in business and politics.

Some locations are better poised to handle women’s economic, health and safety concerns than others. In order to determine the best places for women to thrive, WalletHub compared 182 cities across 15 key indicators of living standards for women. Our data set ranges from the median yearly wages and unemployment rate for women to the quality of women’s hospitals and access to preventative healthcare.

chip lupo

“Living in the right city can significantly improve a woman’s economic status, health, and safety. The best cities for women offer job security and high pay, enabling women to achieve greater financial independence. They also prioritize safety, including minimizing crime, and they provide easily accessible medical care at high-quality hospitals, contributing to the best possible physical and mental health for women.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Main Findings

Source: WalletHub

Best Cities for Women

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Women’s Economic & Social Well-Being Rank	Women’s Healthcare & Safety Rank
1	Columbia, MD	78.20	2	3
2	Seattle, WA	72.85	8	19
3	Fremont, CA	71.93	19	5
4	South Burlington, VT	71.38	33	1
5	Washington, DC	70.04	14	23
6	San Francisco, CA	67.90	42	9
7	Overland Park, KS	67.84	10	49
8	Raleigh, NC	67.19	6	64
9	Gilbert, AZ	67.07	5	68
10	Santa Clarita, CA	66.51	63	6
11	Scottsdale, AZ	66.19	4	78
12	Irvine, CA	65.71	78	4
13	Jersey City, NJ	65.68	39	18
14	Denver, CO	65.59	15	57
15	Huntington Beach, CA	65.41	73	7
16	Minneapolis, MN	65.03	26	34
17	Atlanta, GA	64.87	1	106
18	Portland, ME	64.75	31	33
19	Henderson, NV	64.60	11	75
20	Durham, NC	63.37	12	79
21	St. Paul, MN	63.04	35	40
22	Chandler, AZ	62.99	18	70
23	Oakland, CA	62.79	66	28
24	Bismarck, ND	62.42	9	98
25	Charlotte, NC	62.37	16	80
26	San Jose, CA	62.34	92	14
27	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	61.99	58	31
28	Virginia Beach, VA	61.98	20	74
29	Pembroke Pines, FL	61.27	21	82
30	Peoria, AZ	61.18	22	81
31	Austin, TX	61.15	3	133
32	San Diego, CA	61.15	98	20
33	Yonkers, NY	60.73	130	2
34	Plano, TX	60.65	13	110
35	Portland, OR	60.55	72	38
36	Madison, WI	60.43	46	53
37	Charleston, SC	59.92	7	114
38	Sacramento, CA	59.79	85	39
39	Moreno Valley, CA	59.44	97	26
40	Warwick, RI	59.16	96	29
41	Aurora, CO	59.05	61	59
42	Fontana, CA	58.91	87	41
43	Tacoma, WA	58.87	34	77
44	Oceanside, CA	58.85	120	15
45	Burlington, VT	58.74	135	13
46	Cape Coral, FL	58.73	25	88
47	Boston, MA	58.52	144	8
48	Glendale, CA	58.38	136	10
49	Albuquerque, NM	58.12	55	67
50	Chula Vista, CA	58.11	131	12
51	Chesapeake, VA	57.95	23	104
52	Riverside, CA	57.83	99	36
53	Baltimore, MD	57.69	62	69
54	Juneau, AK	57.60	50	76
55	Long Beach, CA	57.49	127	22
56	Nashua, NH	57.39	80	65
57	Anchorage, AK	57.33	27	96
58	Santa Ana, CA	57.10	125	21
59	Vancouver, WA	57.07	83	63
60	Garden Grove, CA	56.84	141	11
61	Tampa, FL	56.79	24	109
62	Colorado Springs, CO	56.54	47	84
63	Pearl City, HI	56.52	116	35
64	North Las Vegas, NV	56.47	40	91
65	Mesa, AZ	56.31	52	86
66	Ontario, CA	56.25	102	48
67	Billings, MT	55.59	38	95
68	Spokane, WA	55.58	89	73
69	Anaheim, CA	55.35	147	17
70	Aurora, IL	55.13	119	42
71	Las Vegas, NV	55.05	37	105
72	Missoula, MT	54.99	110	50
73	St. Petersburg, FL	54.71	32	122
74	Worcester, MA	54.58	154	30
75	Los Angeles, CA	54.48	155	24
76	Tempe, AZ	54.44	70	90
77	Richmond, VA	54.43	56	97
78	Chicago, IL	54.34	128	45
79	Grand Rapids, MI	54.14	122	51
80	Orlando, FL	54.05	28	125
81	San Bernardino, CA	54.02	114	56
82	Lewiston, ME	53.79	113	62
83	Manchester, NH	53.59	112	66
84	Jacksonville, FL	53.52	17	154
85	Santa Rosa, CA	53.46	146	37
86	Honolulu, HI	53.43	138	47
87	Phoenix, AZ	52.86	64	107
88	Cedar Rapids, IA	52.65	74	101
89	New York, NY	52.53	173	16
90	Oxnard, CA	52.50	165	25
91	Bakersfield, CA	52.23	137	52
92	Omaha, NE	51.92	53	120
93	Fort Lauderdale, FL	51.80	88	102
94	Glendale, AZ	51.71	94	99
95	Reno, NV	51.63	107	87
96	Grand Prairie, TX	51.48	43	139
97	Nashville, TN	51.32	44	135
98	Indianapolis, IN	51.23	30	150
99	Lincoln, NE	51.21	76	116
100	Rochester, NY	51.00	171	32
101	Hialeah, FL	50.99	106	92
102	Dover, DE	50.96	103	94
103	Kansas City, MO	50.91	48	136
104	Sioux Falls, SD	50.89	49	130
105	Fort Worth, TX	50.87	29	155
106	Salem, OR	50.83	149	58
107	Port St. Lucie, FL	50.80	82	117
108	Columbus, OH	50.71	90	113
109	Huntsville, AL	50.40	36	142
110	Norfolk, VA	50.38	95	115
111	Boise, ID	50.34	57	128
112	Newport News, VA	50.14	79	126
113	Wilmington, DE	50.12	148	55
114	Bridgeport, CT	50.08	176	27
115	Lexington-Fayette, KY	50.06	81	124
116	Buffalo, NY	49.90	163	44
117	Las Cruces, NM	49.85	156	60
118	Irving, TX	49.81	41	158
119	Cheyenne, WY	49.78	67	137
120	Dallas, TX	49.73	54	143
121	Winston-Salem, NC	49.65	117	93
122	Modesto, CA	49.63	142	72
123	Miami, FL	49.53	101	108
124	Fargo, ND	49.22	86	129
125	Greensboro, NC	49.13	115	100
126	Des Moines, IA	48.88	60	140
127	Stockton, CA	48.55	170	46
128	Salt Lake City, UT	48.47	69	145
129	Pittsburgh, PA	48.27	132	89
130	New Haven, CT	48.04	172	54
131	San Antonio, TX	48.01	51	163
132	Mobile, AL	47.83	71	149
133	Casper, WY	47.66	84	144
134	Garland, TX	46.87	91	152
135	Tucson, AZ	46.55	129	111
136	Arlington, TX	46.24	65	167
137	Fresno, CA	46.01	174	71
138	Fayetteville, NC	45.82	121	123
139	Oklahoma City, OK	45.55	68	170
140	Cincinnati, OH	45.52	161	85
141	West Valley City, UT	45.04	108	146
142	Newark, NJ	44.91	179	43
143	Wichita, KS	44.79	100	148
144	Louisville, KY	44.75	126	127
145	Philadelphia, PA	44.57	151	103
146	El Paso, TX	44.27	123	132
147	Little Rock, AR	44.17	77	169
148	Charleston, WV	43.95	59	173
149	Amarillo, TX	43.63	45	178
150	Rapid City, SD	43.57	93	168
151	Nampa, ID	43.50	75	174
152	Providence, RI	43.36	181	61
153	Corpus Christi, TX	43.08	104	165
154	Birmingham, AL	43.07	150	121
155	Chattanooga, TN	42.83	111	157
156	Springfield, MO	42.76	105	164
157	Knoxville, TN	42.70	109	162
158	Cleveland, OH	42.49	158	119
159	St. Louis, MO	42.47	124	151
160	Detroit, MI	41.77	177	83
161	Columbus, GA	40.82	133	160
162	Columbia, SC	40.81	153	138
163	New Orleans, LA	40.64	169	112
164	Fort Wayne, IN	40.48	139	153
165	Milwaukee, WI	40.43	167	118
166	Houston, TX	39.90	143	156
167	Tallahassee, FL	39.77	152	147
168	Memphis, TN	39.64	140	161
169	Akron, OH	39.52	164	131
170	Lubbock, TX	39.30	134	166
171	Toledo, OH	38.68	162	141
172	Montgomery, AL	37.95	159	159
173	Tulsa, OK	37.80	118	180
174	Augusta, GA	36.05	145	176
175	Laredo, TX	35.10	157	175
176	Baton Rouge, LA	35.04	180	134
177	Fort Smith, AR	33.67	160	181
178	Brownsville, TX	33.04	168	172
179	Gulfport, MS	32.32	166	177
180	Shreveport, LA	30.83	178	171
181	Huntington, WV	29.28	175	182
182	Jackson, MS	24.17	182	179

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Median Earnings for Female Workers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

Median Earnings for Female Workers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

Highest

Highest
1. Columbia, MD
2. Washington, DC
3. Atlanta, GA
4. Charleston, WV
5. Scottsdale, AZ

Median Earnings for Female Workers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

Lowest

Lowest
178. Anaheim, CA
179. Honolulu, HI
180. Oxnard, CA
181. Garden Grove, CA
182. Santa Ana, CA

Unemployment Rate for Women

Unemployment Rate for Women

Lowest

Lowest
1. Bismarck, ND
2. Billings, MT
3. Madison, WI
4. Sioux Falls, SD
5. Rapid City, SD

Unemployment Rate for Women

Highest

Highest
178. Cleveland, OH
179. Gulfport, MS
180. Jackson, MS
T-181. Newark, NJ
T-181. Detroit, MI

% of Women in Poverty

% of Women in Poverty

Lowest

Lowest
1. Gilbert, AZ
2. Fremont, CA
3. Overland Park, KS
4. Pearl City, HI
5. South Burlington, VT

% of Women in Poverty

Highest

Highest
178. Cincinnati, OH
179. Rochester, NY
180. Jackson, MS
181. Cleveland, OH
182. Detroit, MI

% of Women-Owned Businesses

% of Women-Owned Businesses

Highest

Highest
T-1. Virginia Beach, VA
T-1. Norfolk, VA
T-1. Chesapeake, VA
T-1. Newport News, VA
5. Washington, DC

% of Women-Owned Businesses

Lowest

Lowest
177. Fort Wayne, IN
178. Casper, WY
T-179. Manchester, NH
T-179. Nashua, NH
181. Sioux Falls, SD

Female Uninsured Rate

Female Uninsured Rate

Lowest

Lowest
T-1. Boston, MA
T-1. Fremont, CA
T-1. Pearl City, HI
4. Lewiston, ME
5. San Francisco, CA

Female Uninsured Rate

Highest

Highest
T-178. Houston, TX
T-178. Irving, TX
180. Garland, TX
T-181. Brownsville, TX
T-181. Laredo, TX

Women's Life Expectancy at Birth

Women's Life Expectancy at Birth

Highest

Highest
1. San Jose, CA
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Yonkers, NY
4. New York, NY
5. Bridgeport, CT

Women's Life Expectancy at Birth

Lowest

Lowest
178. Baltimore, MD
179. Augusta, GA
180. Columbus, GA
181. Charleston, WV
182. Huntington, WV

Show More

In-Depth Look at the Best Cities for Women

Columbia, MD

Columbia, MD, is the best city for women in 2026, in part because it has the highest median annual wages for women after adjusting for the cost of living, at $63,920. In addition, the poverty rate for women is only 8.2%, the eighth-lowest in the country.

The job market is also good for women in Columbia. The unemployment rate for women is just over 3%, the 17th-lowest in the country. For comparison, the unemployment rate for women is as high as 13% in other cities. In addition, around 23% of businesses in Columbia are owned by women, the 31st-highest percentage.

Finally, women tend to have good health in Columbia. The city has the 10th-best life expectancy for women at birth. It also has the 12th-highest share of women over age 21 who have received a cervical cancer screening within the recommended time frame and the 3rd-highest share who have received a mammogram in the past two years. On top of that, nearly 86% of women are physically active, the ninth-highest percentage in the country.

Seattle, WA

Seattle, WA, is the second-best city for women, with nearly 11% of women living in poverty, the 25th-lowest percentage in the nation. In addition, women in Seattle have the 18th-highest median yearly wages after adjusting for the cost of living, at $50,138. The city has the seventh-highest percentage of women-owned businesses, too.

When it comes to health, only 3.4% of women in Seattle lack health insurance, the ninth-lowest percentage in the country. The city has the 11th-highest life expectancy at birth for women, too, along with the second-highest percentage of physically active women.

To top things off, Seattle has the 10th-lowest obesity rate among women, highlighting the city’s strong environment for women’s health and well-being.

Fremont, CA

Fremont, CA, is the third-best city for women, in part because it has one of the highest life expectancies for women at birth, at nearly 85 years. The city also has the lowest share of women without health insurance, and the fourth-lowest obesity rate in women. This shows that women are able to receive quality medical care when they need it while also supporting their overall health and well-being.

On top of that, the job market for women is very strong in Fremont. Women have the 10th-highest median annual wages after adjusting for the cost of living, along with the second-lowest poverty rate.

Ask the Experts

Emily C. Tanner
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Marketing, Department of Marketing, John Chambers College of Business and Economics
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Marybeth Gasman
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education & Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
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Cecilia (Cecy) Brooks
Ph.D. – MBA, Certified Family Life Educator, Associate Professor, Family Science, Acting Chair, Department of Psychology and Family Science, Mississippi University for Women
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Angela Hattery
Ph.D., Professor and co-Director, Women & Gender Studies/Center for the Study & Prevention of Gender-Based Violence - University of Delaware
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Cecilia Rio
Ph.D., Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, Women’s and Gender Studies - Towson University
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Catherine Borshuk
Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Member, Women’s & Gender Studies Governing Board - Indiana University South Bend
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More Experts

The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.

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