Although women make up a majority of the population in most U.S. cities, they may not have equal opportunities to thrive. Only 22 of 250 metro areas report women under 30 earning as much as men, and on average, women make about 85 cents for every dollar a man earns.
Because the gender pay gap often grows with age, choosing a city with strong earning potential can have long-term financial benefits. Access to quality healthcare and safe environments, like reproductive services and women’s hospitals, also plays a key role in overall well-being.
To pinpoint the best places for women, WalletHub ranked 182 cities across 15 indicators, from earnings and healthcare quality to safety and mental health metrics, highlighting where women can live, work, and thrive.
| Best Cities for Women | Worst Cities for Women |
| 1. Columbia, MD | 173. Mobile, AL |
| 2. Seattle, WA | 174. Montgomery, AL |
| 3. Overland Park, KS | 175. Baton Rouge, LA |
| 4. Raleigh, NC | 176. Brownsville, TX |
| 5. South Burlington, VT | 177. Augusta, GA |
| 6. Fremont, CA | 178. Gulfport, MS |
| 7. Virginia Beach, VA | 179. Shreveport, LA |
| 8. Minneapolis, MN | 180. Fort Smith, AR |
| 9. Durham, NC | 181. Huntington, WV |
| 10. Jersey City, NJ | 182. Jackson, MS |
Best vs. Worst
- Columbia, Maryland, has the highest median earnings for female workers (adjusted for cost of living), three times higher than in Santa Ana, California, the city with the lowest.
- Gilbert, Arizona, has the lowest share of women living in poverty, 5.7 times lower than in Detroit, Michigan, the city with the highest.
- Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, and Norfolk, Virginia, have the highest share of women-owned businesses, 2.2 times higher than Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the city with the lowest.
- South Burlington, Vermont, has the lowest female uninsured rate, 18.1 times lower than Laredo, Texas, the city with the highest.
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has the lowest unemployment rate for women, 6.2 times lower than Detroit, Michigan, the city with the highest.
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-women/127627
