Best and Worst U.S. Cities to Be Stuck at Home

Frisco Heritage Center (Frisco Heritage Museum)

Being stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic means fewer vacations, strangers delivering meals and groceries, and a greater reliance on Wi-Fi for all those work-from-home video calls or job interviews.

The majority of us aren’t fortunate enough to be “stuck” at a beach bungalow. So, if you’re truly staying safe at home here in the USA, where’s the best place to be?

LawnStarter crunched the data and statistics for the 150 most populated U.S. cities and compared them using 29 metrics, ranging from property crime rate and pedestrian fatalities to suicide rate and food insecurity. We also considered data associated with being stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

And the winner is… The safest, best U.S. city to be stuck at home is Frisco, Texas.

This fast-growing suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth tops our ranking of America’s Best Cities to Be Stuck at Home, thanks largely to its extremely high marks for quality of life and financial security.

While Frisco grabbed the No. 1 spot, two of its Dallas-Fort Worth neighbors — McKinney at No. 3 and Plano at No. 8 — also finished in the top 10.

Four California cities also landed on our top 10 list.

As far as the worst city for being stuck at home? Detroit. More on that in just a moment.

America’s 10 Best Cities to Be Stuck at Home

With Frisco in the No. 1 position, here are the 10 best cities to be stuck at home, followed by their overall scores (with 100 being the highest possible score).

Frisco, Texas (79.491)
Elk Grove, California (79.489)
McKinney, Texas (77.076)
Overland Park, Kansas (73.444)
Fremont, California (71.984)
Des Moines, Iowa (70.625)
Santa Clarita, California (70.266)
Plano, Texas (70.160)
Virginia Beach, Virginia (69.893)
Irvine, California (68.564)

Why Frisco gets high marks

Frisco is quickly becoming the country’s worst-kept secret. It’s the fastest-growing large U.S. city from 2010 to 2019. You can credit Money.com, which ranked Frisco the best place to live in the U.S. In 2019. SmartAsset.com also gets credit for declaring Frisco the second safest city in the country.

“We’ve created a product that is appealing to the market,” Tony Felker, president and CEO of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce said in May 2020. “We’ve created a culture and environment that is good for families, it’s good for business, [and] it’s good for safety and community.”

America’s 10 Worst Cities to Be Stuck at Home

Led by Detroit, here are the 10 worst cities to be stuck at home, followed by their overall scores (with 100 being the highest possible score).

Detroit, Michigan (36.234)
Memphis, Tennessee (40.856)
New Orleans, Louisiana (41.132)
St. Louis, Missouri (41.181)
Shreveport, Louisiana (41.236)
Mobile, Alabama (43.630)
Cleveland, Ohio (44.036)
Birmingham, Alabama (45.072)
San Bernardino, California (45.581)
Albuquerque, New Mexico (46.074)

Why Detroit gets low marks

Detroit gets little love in livability rankings. Niche.com puts it at No. 207 among the 228 best U.S. cities for young professionals, while U.S. News & World Report ranks it as the 92nd best place to live in the country. Detroit sits at the bottom of data website Numbeo’s latest quality-of-life index for North American cities.

However, as the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. points out, the Motor City boasts some of the most affordable housing in the U.S.

“It’s time to erase the preconceptions you may have about working, living, and playing in Detroit. Buoyed with enthusiasm, Detroit is ascending to its rightful place on the world stage,” the economic development group says.

Still, our study shows there’s little reason to be enthusiastic about Detroit as a place to be stuck at home. The city receives a rock-bottom score in the health and wellness category. It also picks up a low score in the community security and financial security columns.

Best and Worst U.S. Cities to Be Stuck at Home

CITY	RANK	TOTAL SCORE	COMMUNITY SAFETY RANK	HEALTH AND WELLNESS RANK	QUALITY OF LIFE RANK	FINANCIAL SAFETY RANK	DIGITAL SECURITY RANK
Frisco, TX	1	79.49	8	27	2	3	131
Elk Grove, CA	2	79.49	2	50	39	13	81
McKinney, TX	3	77.0	19	24	1	24	131
Overland Park, KS	4	73.44	15	7	9	6	44
Fremont, CA	5	71.98	20	6	34	1	73
Des Moines, IA	6	70.62	36	41	19	49	10
Santa Clarita, CA	7	70.27	1	10	147	8	123
Plano, TX	8	70.16	11	23	11	25	131
Virginia Beach, VA	9	69.89	21	46	6	11	87
Irvine, CA	10	68.56	10	111	81	5	123
Lincoln, NE	11	67.79	55	12	4	53	2
Chesapeake, VA	12	67.17	24	82	7	15	87
Peoria, AZ	13	66.77	12	84	98	22	94
Huntington Beach, CA	14	65.94	27	19	94	4	123
San Jose, CA	15	65.72	43	4	127	2	47
St. Paul, MN	16	65.56	35	15	31	58	27
Grand Prairie, TX	17	65.55	4	64	84	100	131
San Francisco, CA	18	65.34	79	3	45	9	73
Madison, WI	19	64.69	88	9	20	30	12
Vancouver, WA	20	64.41	48	87	3	34	51
Gilbert, AZ	21	64.34	13	72	99	10	94
Sioux Falls, SD	22	64.04	107	2	37	26	3
Aurora, IL	23	64.02	26	37	115	16	79
Anaheim, CA	24	63.32	28	14	119	39	123
Honolulu, HI	25	63.25	129	13	35	14	5
Boston, MA	26	63.12	72	5	55	52	32
Oceanside, CA	27	62.99	5	48	135	31	83
Omaha, NE	28	62.97	62	29	24	60	19
Yonkers, NY	29	62.82	18	35	134	27	102
Augusta, GA	30	62.56	77	39	27	144	50
Minneapolis, MN	31	62.29	81	1	117	48	27
Chandler, AZ	32	62.21	25	71	103	21	94
Winston-Salem, NC	33	62.18	99	53	26	120	49
Henderson, NV	34	62.18	99	53	26	120	49
Rancho Cucamonga, CA	35	62.08	17	78	136	7	58
Lexington, KY	36	61.89	92	31	8	77	20
Huntsville, AL	37	61.88	63	148	5	78	67
Raleigh, NC	38	61.56	101	40	66	56	92
Santa Rosa, CA	39	61.50	30	59	121	19	25
Santa Ana, CA	40	61.08	34	20	120	64	123
New York, NY	41	60.95	31	45	104	66	102
Anchorage, AK	42	60.89	128	21	57	28	11
Garland, TX	43	60.84	9	70	75	124	131
Scottsdale, AZ	44	60.71	42	62	113	17	94
Chula Vista, CA	45	60.68	29	43	139	20	83
Charlotte, NC	46	60.43	75	61	15	79	118
Aurora, CO	47	60.42	65	44	71	32	56
Louisville, KY	48	60.39	110	118	16	67	33
Jersey City, NJ	49	60.38	40	56	86	59	102
Salem, OR	50	60.29	38	119	41	47	18
Cape Coral, FL	51	60.19	22	120	87	55	66
Durham, NC	52	60.18	57	28	64	81	55
Boise City, ID	53	60.04	68	52	53	46	31
Port St. Lucie, FL	54	60.03	6	137	76	65	117
Irving, TX	55	59.89	3	99	102	121	131
Fort Wayne, IN	56	59.87	60	112	18	80	13
Newport News, VA	57	59.85	66	81	14	94	87
Ontario, CA	58	59.77	7	88	144	43	58
Columbus, OH	59	59.49	74	85	10	95	71
Columbus, GA	60	59.35	67	135	17	134	142
Oxnard, CA	61	59.34	33	58	130	41	47
Austin, TX	62	59.28	59	38	88	69	68
Glendale, CA	63	59.23	16	26	148	40	123
Portland, OR	64	59.22	64	67	68	35	51
Denver, CO	65	59.14	82	54	46	45	56
San Diego, CA	66	58.90	46	32	142	29	83
El Paso, TX	67	58.40	49	86	62	97	4
Pittsburgh, PA	68	58.37	80	8	128	75	77
Mesa, AZ	69	58.32	32	94	107	83	94
Oakland, CA	70	58.30	104	17	67	50	73
Moreno Valley, CA	71	57.86	23	116	138	42	58
Sacramento, CA	72	57.35	86	83	40	63	81
Worcester, MA	73	57.35	70	60	124	36	14
Hialeah, FL	74	57.34	37	66	63	128	148
Wichita, KS	75	57.28	105	91	13	86	23
Nashville, TN	76	57.08	116	57	21	88	64
Fontana, CA	77	57.03	39	93	140	33	58
Tempe, AZ	78	56.84	56	79	110	89	94
Glendale, AZ	79	56.72	54	89	107	91	94
Fayetteville, NC	80	56.68	53	145	69	123	116
Seattle, WA	81	56.63	135	18	105	12	40
Washington, DC	82	56.52	132	16	90	18	113
North Las Vegas, NV	83	56.14	45	140	51	70	143
San Antonio, TX	84	55.97	90	75	56	93	37
Arlington, TX	85	55.64	51	108	83	111	131
Riverside, CA	86	55.40	41	103	145	38	58
Providence, RI	87	55.38	52	77	133	101	21
Grand Rapids, MI	88	55.35	108	55	73	73	7
Chicago, IL	89	55.24	89	34	132	62	79
Salt Lake City, UT	90	55.24	119	47	58	76	69
Rochester, NY	91	55.19	100	65	43	119	53
Greensboro, NC	92	55.07	61	105	91	109	93
Long Beach, CA	93	54.99	50	22	150	54	123
Laredo, TX	94	54.78	44	129	93	141	1
Buffalo, NY	95	54.75	84	69	111	107	33
Tallahassee, FL	96	54.44	91	96	30	138	141
Brownsville, TX	97	54.35	47	107	80	150	6
Corpus Christi, TX	98	54.25	96	104	74	85	17
Tampa, FL	99	54.23	83	98	82	92	119
Colorado Springs, CO	100	54.17	109	113	52	37	72
Reno, NV	101	54.10	98	76	125	51	107
Chattanooga, TN	102	54.06	125	100	28	90	39
Amarillo, TX	103	53.75	78	133	65	102	8
Fort Worth, TX	104	53.69	85	95	85	108	131
Lubbock, TX	105	53.54	130	73	32	118	9
Norfolk, VA	106	53.32	123	80	33	126	87
Richmond, VA	107	53.25	120	30	59	142	86
Montgomery, AL	108	53.16	69	147	22	135	109
Los Angeles, CA	109	53.11	58	33	149	68	123
Oklahoma City, OK	110	52.97	71	142	92	99	16
Atlanta, GA	111	52.96	106	42	106	116	147
Little Rock, AR	112	52.82	140	25	23	114	110
Kansas City, MO	113	52.65	133	117	25	87	44
St. Petersburg, FL	114	52.57	115	132	36	82	119
Houston, TX	115	52.45	102	49	114	139	121
Spokane, WA	116	52.44	111	102	95	71	46
Indianapolis, IN	117	52.41	121	124	29	117	38
Modesto, CA	118	52.39	93	130	129	44	22
Tacoma, WA	119	52.35	94	126	123	57	40
Orlando, FL	120	52.25	127	36	116	105	122
Jacksonville, FL	121	52.06	113	125	38	104	140
Dallas, TX	122	51.83	103	68	89	140	131
Stockton, CA	123	51.78	134	109	126	74	35
Toledo, OH	124	51.54	95	127	96	127	24
Miami, FL	125	51.30	122	51	97	125	148
Tucson, AZ	126	51.23	112	111	79	112	65
Bakersfield, CA	127	51.13	87	131	141	61	30
Akron, OH	128	51.00	97	138	101	113	36
Fresno, CA	129	50.70	73	115	143	110	76
Knoxville, TN	130	50.64	141	106	12	115	26
Phoenix, AZ	131	50.49	124	92	118	98	94
Newark, NJ	132	50.48	76	90	137	146	102
Baton Rouge, LA	133	50.43	118	136	44	132	42
Tulsa, OK	134	49.85	117	134	77	122	15
Milwaukee, WI	135	49.57	142	63	112	103	54
Philadelphia, PA	136	48.62	114	139	70	136	108
Cincinnati, OH	137	47.54	139	114	49	130	29
Fort Lauderdale, FL	138	47.32	143	74	60	96	148
Baltimore, MD	139	47.05	137	110	61	129	111
Las Vegas, NV	140	46.13	146	123	54	72	143
Albuquerque, NM	141	46.07	136	144	78	84	43
San Bernardino, CA	142	45.58	131	121	146	106	58
Birmingham, AL	143	45.07	147	101	42	137	91
Cleveland, OH	144	44.04	144	122	48	148	112
Mobile, AL	145	43.63	126	149	122	131	78
Shreveport, LA	146	41.24	145	146	100	133	115
St. Louis, MO	147	41.18	150	97	109	145	106
New Orleans, LA	148	41.13	138	143	131	143	114
Memphis, TN	149	40.86	148	141	47	147	146
Detroit, MI	150	36.23	149	150	72	149	70

How We Ranked the Best and Worst Cities to be Stuck at Home

To find the best and worst places to be stuck at home, we considered the 150 most populated U.S. cities and compared them using 29 safety-oriented metrics, grouped into five categories with the following scores:

Community safety (37)
Health and wellness (32)
Natural hazards (15)
Financial safety (12)
Digital security (4)

With 100 being the highest possible score, we used 29 metrics to score each city.

1. Community Safety (Total Points: 37)

Violent crime rate (murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault): 5 points
Property crime rate (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson): 5 points
Sex offenders per 100,000 residents: 5 points
Hate crimes per 100,000 residents: 5 points
Pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5 points
Unintentional shootings per 100,000 residents: 5 points
Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents: 5 points
Occurrence of protests and rallies following George Floyd’s death: 2 points

2. Health and Wellness (Total Points: 32)

Stroke among adults: 3 points
Asthma among adults: 3 points
Suicide rate: 3 points
Life expectancy: 3 points
Frequent mental distress: 3 points
Average number of poor mental health days per month: 3 points
Mental health providers per 100,000 residents: 3 points
Primary care providers per 100,000 residents: 3 points
Number of hospital beds per 100,000 residents: 4 points
Number of ICU beds per 100,000 residents: 4 points

3. Natural Hazards (Total Points: 15)

Air quality: 3 points
Drinking water violations: 3 points
Severe housing problems: 3 points
Percentage of homes built before 1960: 3 points
Natural hazard index: 3 points

4. Financial Safety (Total Points: 12)

Share of the population without health insurance: 3 points
Median household income: 3 points
Percentage of population living below poverty level: 3 points
Food insecurity: 3 points

5. Digital Security (Total Points: 4)

Identity theft complaints per 100,000 residents: 2 points
Fraud and other reports per 100,000 residents: 2 points

How to Make the Most of Wherever You are Stuck at Home

While no one would pack up and move to a place like Frisco simply to improve their stuck-at-home situation, you can make adjustments to take care of yourself wherever you live.

Find ways to worry less

In a July 2020 Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 53% of American adults indicated pandemic-related worry or stress had harmed their mental health. That figure is up from 39% in May 2020.

“The problem with this pandemic is that it’s sort of a rolling point of impact, and we’re not sure when it’s going to end, ”clinical psychology professor Mary McNaughton-Cassill, at the University of Texas at San Antonio, told NPR.

Gardening as therapy

Since we’re all about the outdoors here at LawnStarter, we recommend gardening as one method of relieving pandemic stress. GardenGate magazine touts the benefits of gardening.

Improves your mental health.
Boosts your immune system.
Offers a way to get exercise.
Contributes to healthier eating.

“Whether it’s a few plants in the windowsill, containers on a deck, beds and borders in the yard or a vegetable plot, gardens big and small can reap big benefits for you and your family,” GardenGate says.

Whether you’re stuck at home in Frisco or any other city, gardening can sow the seeds of peace and tranquility.

Data sources used in this study

U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI, city-data.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, gunviolencearchive.org, County Health Rankings, National Center for Health Statistics, usatoday.com, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, American Medical Association, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Kaiser Health News, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, governing.com, National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, Feeding America, Federal Trade Commission

Main Photo Credit: Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0