This Is the Most Fun City in the U.S., According to Research

Whether it be New York City, Los Angeles, or New Orleans, the U.S. is home to no shortage of fun and exciting cities. Everyone defines fun differently, but recent data from WalletHub shows that one city in particular stands above the rest: Las Vegas. They compiled data from nearly 200 U.S. cities and compared key factors that define the recreational value of a city.

For example, they based their metrics on the amount of attractions, restaurants, and bars in each city. The results are also based on prices, and while Las Vegas is expensive, it stood out as the most fun city in the U.S. because of how much there is to do.

WalletHub set their parameters for a fun city as “one that offers a little bit of everything for everyone — except maybe people seeking the most extreme thrill. In a city with enough variety, you won’t have to compromise with your friends, family, or even yourself about the next fun activity to do alone or together.”

Las Vegas is home to 60 major casinos and over 700 cocktail bars, so you can also find somewhere to spend time. According to WalletHub, Las Vegas is “in the middle of the pack when it comes to the costs of activities and food”. You can spend a fortune in Las Vegas if you gamble the whole time, but it’s worth spending money on one of many incredible live shows that make the city rank high in terms of fun.

WalletHub’s data shows that most of the highest-ranking fun cities in the U.S. have two things in common: attractions and nightlife. For example, Orlando and Miami rank as the 2nd and 3rd most fun cities in the U.S., respectively. Orlando is the theme park hub of the U.S., and it’s a family-friendly version of Las Vegas in many ways.

Conversely, Miami is all about the bright lights and vibrant nightlife like Las Vegas. Las Vegas shows no sign of slowing down or losing its spot as the most fun city in the U.S. The city will soon be even easier to access from Los Angeles by train, and that will only increase foot traffic in Las Vegas.

While Las Vegas is a fun place to visit, it’s also a great place to live, and the population continues to grow. The population in Las Vegas increased by 2.2% between 2022 and 2023, and the trend shows no sign of slowing down. Las Vegas was once thought of as a playground for adults, but it is now widely seen as an equal-opportunity escape for families, friends, and singles.