In its latest study on the most sinful cities in the United States, WalletHub has unveiled that Houston, Texas, claims the second spot on the list, just behind Las Vegas.
This ranking evaluates a range of factors, from alcohol consumption to crimes tied to so-called “sinful behaviors.”
WalletHub compared over 180 U.S. cities based on seven “sinful behaviors”: anger and hatred, jealousy, excesses and vices, greed, lust, vanity, and laziness.
2024 Ranking of the Most Sinful Cities in the U.S.
| Most Sinful Cities | Least Sinful Cities |
|---|
| 1. Las Vegas, Nevada | 173. Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| 2. Houston, Texas | 174. South Burlington, Vermont |
| 3. Los Angeles, California | 175. Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| 4. Atlanta, Georgia | 176. West Valley City, Utah |
| 5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 177. Cape Coral, Florida |
| 6. Denver, Colorado | 178. Madison, Wisconsin |
| 7. Phoenix, Arizona | 179. Pearl City, Hawaii |
| 8. Miami, Florida | 180. Port St. Lucie, Florida |
| 9. Dallas, Texas | 181. Fremont, California |
| 10. St. Louis, Missouri | 182. Columbia, Maryland |
Key Highlights from the Report:
- Irvine, California, boasts the lowest violent crime rate, 32.3 times lower than Memphis, Tennessee, which has the highest rate.
- Aurora, Illinois, has the fewest thefts per 1,000 residents—37 times fewer than Tacoma, Washington, the city with the highest rate.
- San Francisco, California, has the lowest percentage of obese adults, 2.5 times lower than Akron, Ohio, which has the highest.
- Fremont, California, has the lowest proportion of adult smokers, four times lower than Detroit, which has the highest.
Houston and Los Angeles Rank in the Top 3 Most Sinful Cities
Houston, celebrated for its cultural diversity and vibrant urban life, ranking as one of the “most sinful” cities in the country raises intriguing questions about how moral behaviors are defined and perceived across different communities.
Additionally, the report highlights rising “sin scores” for Utah cities like Salt Lake City and West Valley City.
California has seen record-breaking hate crime rates this year, coupled with drug overdose deaths, securing its position as the third most sinful state, according to WalletHub.
The study analyzed data from all 50 states based on seven sinful behaviors: anger and hatred, jealousy, vices, greed, lust, vanity, and laziness.
Unfortunately, California ranks high for mass shootings, elder abuse complaints, and aggravated assault arrests per capita.
The state’s residents also appear to indulge more in lust, with Californians searching Google for terms related to pornography and affairs more frequently than people in any other state.
As the home of Hollywood, California also struggles with vanity, boasting a significantly higher number of plastic surgery centers and beauty-focused businesses compared to most other states.
What’s your take on this ranking?
