Las Vegas ranked No. 85 on a list of the best places to start a career for recent college graduates, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 | 2 a.m.
*Second in a series
You probably could have guessed: Of the 100 largest cities in the United States, Las Vegas came in at No. 1 in a ranking of the best places for recreation, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
After all, there’s plenty of options here — from catching a Golden Knights or Raiders game, to taking in a show on the Strip, or making the short drive for a hiking trip to gorgeous Red Rock Canyon.
WalletHub compared cities across 48 metrics that speak to the benefits of recreational activities. It examined basic living costs, quality of parks, accessibility of entertainment, recreational facilities and the weather.
It’s one of the many ranking lists Las Vegas has appeared in this year.
Some have been good: Las Vegas is one of the best cities in America for pickleball enthusiasts; and we are No. 34 among the most environmentally friendly cities in America.
And some are not so good. Nevada ranked as the third-worst state for bullying; an analysis found Las Vegas had 22.6 reports of credit card fraud per 10,000 residents to rank seventh nationally for cities with the highest rates of fraudulence.
The Sun accumulated many of the lists and is presenting them this week, in chronological order, over four days.
April 4: The best places to celebrate Easter
Las Vegas came in No. 8 on a list of the largest 100 U.S. cities deemed the best places to celebrate Easter.
The two worst cities, ranking 99 and 100 respectively, were neighboring Henderson and North Las Vegas, according to the personal finance website WalletHub.
Henderson and North Las Vegas ranked at or near the bottom of the list for Easter observers and traditions.
WalletHub compared the cities across 12 metrics, ranging from candy and chocolate shops per capita to the city’s Christian population.
Las Vegas ranked particularly high — No. 3 — for Easter weather.
The best city for celebrating Easter was Pittsburgh.
April 5: Nevada bridges among America’s best
The Nevada Department of Transportation’s bridge inspection and rehabilitation program has helped the state’s bridges be named among the nation’s best.
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association released an analysis of 2022 U.S. Department of Transportation bridge inventory data showing that approximately 99% of Nevada’s more than 2,000 public bridges are in fair or good condition. It is among the nation’s best ranking, tied with Texas and just behind Arizona.
More than 550 of Nevada’s state-owned bridges are over 50 years old, an age when rehabilitation is often necessary to keep the structure in fair condition. NDOT dedicated approximately $17 million in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 on bridge preservation, almost double spending on bridge preservation in the previous two years, officials said.
April 5: Where states rank for financial literacy
Nevada ranked near the bottom of a list of the most financially literate states, according to the personal finance website WalletHub. Nevada ranked No. 42 on the ranking of the 50 states and District of Columbia.
The study examined 17 metrics, from high-school financial literacy grades to the share of adults with a rainy day fund.
The most financially literate state was Nebraska, while the least financially literate was Arkansas, the study found.
April 6: Nevada ranks high for sexually transmitted diseases
Nevada ranks second nationally with 24.9 syphilis cases per 100,000 residents, which is about 767 total cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A study from backgroundchecks.org using CDC data analyzed rates in every state for STI Awareness Month, finding that Nevada ranks 13th nationally for most sexually transmitted disease cases with 1,280 cases per 100,000 residents, or 33,304 total cases.
On average, sexually transmitted disease cases in Nevada have increased 5.54% every year since 2015. The state sees an average of 31,818 cases each year.
Mississippi with 1,958 cases per 100,000 residents ranks first, followed by Louisiana (1,846) and Georgia (1,657).
April 10: Best states for working from home
Nevada ranked No. 19 on a list of the best states for working from home, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the 50 states and District of Columbia across 12 key metrics. The data set ranged from the share of employees working from home to internet cost and cybersecurity.
WalletHub also considered factors such as how large and crowded homes are in each state.
The top three states for working from home were Delaware, Utah and Maryland. The worst were Alaska, North Dakota and Montana.
April 11: Nevada ranks high for older homebuyers
Nevada had the fifth-highest percentage of homebuyers age 55 and older among U.S. states, while Las Vegas ranked No. 2 among large metro areas.
An analysis by Construction Coverage, using data from 2021, found 29.1% of Nevada homebuyers were 55 or older, compared with the national average of 20.7%.
Delaware was the state with the largest share of senior homebuyers, with 38% aged 55 or older.
In the Las Vegas metro area, 28.7% of homebuyers were 55 or older. Tucson, Ariz., had the largest share of 55-plus homebuyers at 34.5%.
April 12: Which states are the most environmentally friendly?
Nevada ranked No. 19 among the most environmentally friendly states, according to a study by personal finance website WalletHub.
While Nevada ranked better than its overall standing for eco-friendly behaviors and climate-change contributions, it ranked No. 42 for environmental quality. Its air quality ranked near the bottom of the list at No. 47.
Vermont rated as the most environmentally friendly state, while West Virginia came in last.
April 13: Wake up, Nevada
Nevada is the sixth-sleepiest state in America, according to a study by the cannabidiol product site CBDfx.
In Nevada, 37% of people reported insufficient levels of sleep, while the average working month had the fourth-highest score at 123.7 hours.
The sleepiest state was West Virginia, while the least sleepy was Nebraska.
April 17: Where Nevada cities rank for diversity
North Las Vegas was the most diverse city in Nevada and ranked No. 61 nationwide in an analysis of 501 of the largest U.S. cities, according to personal finance site WalletHub.
The report, based on 13 metrics, considered household, religious, socioeconomic, cultural and economic diversity.
Other places in Nevada noted on the list were Enterprise (No. 62), Las Vegas (66), Henderson (145) and Reno (149).
The most diverse city was Gaithersburg, Md., while the least diverse was Brattleboro, Vt.
April 17: Just how popular are the Raiders?
The Raiders were the 10th most popular team in the NFL, according to an analysis by Online Betting Guide.
Rankings were determined using a combination of search data, social followings, YouTube subscriber counts and fan attendance statistics, according to the website.
The most popular NFL team was the Dallas Cowboys, while the least popular was the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to the report.
April 19: You read it here first — or maybe not
When it comes to the top locales for book lovers, Nevada cities fall short of the (book)mark.
In a ranking of the 200 largest U.S. cities, Las Vegas was the best place in Nevada for bibliophiles, coming in at No. 42.
Reno came in at No. 134, while Henderson came in at No. 181 and North Las Vegas at No. 195.
The study looked at 15 metrics, including access to bookstores, literary festivals and Little Free Libraries.
April 25: Nevada most gambling-addicted state
Nevada rated as America’s most gambling-addicted state, according to a study by personal finance website WalletHub.
In determining where excessive gambling is most prevalent, WalletHub looked at 20 key metrics, from the presence of illegal gambling operations to lottery sales per capita to the share of adults with gambling disorders.
Ranking just behind Nevada were South Dakota, Montana, Louisiana and Mississippi.
The least gambling-addicted state was Utah, the study found.
April 28: Which NFL team has the best fans?
While the Dallas Cowboys have the “best fans” in the NFL, the Raiders are also among the tops, coming in at No. 6, according to an analysis by the Sidelines website.
Sidelines, a sports betting odds comparison platform, analyzed eight metrics, including social media followers, engagement and average likes, the average home, away and total game attendance, average money spent on merchandise, as well as food and drinks at games.
The Raiders had a 1.89% engagement rate on social media and an average of 40,000 likes, which was above the average of 1.52% and 28,008 likes, the study found.
The Raiders were consistent with the away support, as an average of 69,953 people attend games on the road. Fans also spend on average about $226 annually on merchandise, the study found.
Other Top 10 teams were the San Francisco 49ers (No. 2), Kansas City Chiefs (3), Los Angeles Rams (4), Seattle Seahawks (5), Pittsburgh Steelers (7), Buffalo Bills (8), New England Patriots (9) and Houston Texans (10).
May 1: Nevada among worst states for working mothers
Nevada ranked as the ninth-worst state for working mothers, according to a report by the personal finance website WalletHub.
To determine the best and worst places for working moms, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: Child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance.
Nevada ranked No. 43 overall, and lower in child care (45) and work-life balance (46). It ranked No. 12 for professional opportunities.
The best state for working mothers was Massachusetts, while the worst was Louisiana.
Dario Alonso, 10, receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination from registered nurse KJ Dionisio at the Southern Nevada Health District Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.
May 2: The best and worst states for nurses
Nevada ranked No. 18 in a study of the best states for nurses, according to the personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the 50 states across 30 key metrics that collectively speak to nursing job opportunities in each market.
The best state for nurses was Washington, followed by Maine and New Mexico. The bottom three were Hawaii, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
May 3: States with the worst drug problems
Among states with the worst drug problems, Nevada ranked No. 8 for 2023, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
The report compared the 50 states and District of Columbia across 20 key metrics, from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescriptions and employee drug-testing laws.
The places the biggest drug problems were New Mexico, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The states with the least pronounced problems were Hawaii, Utah and Florida.
May 4: Best cities for gluten-free food
Las Vegas ranked No. 8 among 2023’s best cities for gluten-free food, according to an analysis by LawnStarter, an online lawn care booking platform.
The site compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on five categories and 14 metrics. Among the factors considered were access to vendors with gluten-free options, celiac disease health care practitioners and gluten intolerance support groups.
The best cities for gluten-free food were New York, San Francisco and Boston. The worst were Fontana, Calif., Moreno Valley, Calif., and North Las Vegas.
Elsewhere in Nevada, Henderson ranked No. 143 and Reno ranked No. 98.
May 8: The best and worst states to be a police officer
Nevada is one of the worst states to pursue a career in law enforcement, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
In a comparison of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Nevada ranked No. 47, topping only Kentucky, West Virginia, Alaska and Arkansas.
The report looked at the broad areas of opportunity and competition, law enforcement training requirements, and job hazards and protections. Nevada ranked particularly low — No. 48 — in the area of training.
The best places for police officers were California, the District of Columbia and Connecticut.
May 8: Las Vegas among America’s spookiest cities
In a ranking of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, Las Vegas comes in at No. 10 for 2023’s best cities to experience paranormal activity, according to a report by the lawn care website Lawn Love.
The report compared cities based on four categories. It looked at paranormal sightings, Bigfoot sightings, haunted sites, and paranormal conventions and events, among “14 total otherworldly metrics.”
Las Vegas ranked No. 34 for paranormal sightings and No. 27 for haunted locations.
Los Angeles was the best city for paranormal activity, while West Valley City, Utah, came in last.
Reno came in at No. 64, Henderson at No. 141 and North Las Vegas at No. 169.
May 10: 2023’s best cities for tackling home improvements
Las Vegas is the best city in Nevada for tackling home improvements, and ranks No. 57 nationwide, according to a report by Lawn Love, a lawn care website.
The report compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on three categories and 32 metrics, including average age of homes, access to designers and contractors and average cost.
The best city for home improvements was Miami, and the worst was Detroit.
Elsewhere in Nevada, Reno ranked No. 118, Henderson ranked No. 146 and North Las Vegas came in at No. 174.
May 15: The best places to start a career
Las Vegas ranked No. 85 on a list of the best places to start a career for recent college graduates, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the relative market strength and overall livability of over 180 U.S. cities based on 26 metrics, from the availability of entry-level jobs to mostly average starting salary to housing affordability.
Other Nevada cities on the list included Reno at No. 50, Henderson at No. 126 and North Las Vegas at No. 177.
The best cities to start a career were Atlanta, Orlando, Fla., and Salt Lake City, Utah. The worst was New York City at No. 182.
May 16: Best summer travel destinations
Las Vegas ranked No. 24 on a list of 2023’s best summer travel destinations compiled by personal finance website WalletHub.
The report focused mainly on the cost and convenience of traveling to each location, as well as its affordability. But it also took into account the number of attractions and variety of activities in each destination, the site said.
Among the largest 100 metro areas, Las Vegas ranked high for attractions (No. 4) and activities (No. 3). But it got lower marks for safety (No. 65) and weather (No. 77).
The top spots for a cheap summer getaway were Atlanta, Honolulu and Washington, D.C. The worst summer travel destination was Oxnard, Calif.
May 17: The best states for urban treasure hunters
Whether rummaging through an antique shop or using a metal detector, Nevada ranked No. 17 among U.S. states for urban treasure hunters, according to a survey by LawnStarter.
The online lawn care booking platform compared the 50 states on 14 metrics, including the number of geocaching locations, antique shops, storage-unit auctions and metal detecting clubs. It also looked at whether each state allows metal detecting at state parks.
The best states for treasure hunters were California, Arizona and Texas. The worst were North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.
May 22: Nevada ranks low for military retirees
Nevada ranked No. 49 on a list of the best and worst sites for military retirees, according to the personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the 50 states and District of Columbia based on their ability to provide a comfortable military retirement.
The analysis used a data set of 28 key metrics, from veterans per capita to the number of Veterans Affairs health facilities and job opportunities for veterans.
Nevada ranked No. 48 for health care, No. 45 for quality of life and No. 39 for economic environment.
The best states for military retirees were Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. Coming in behind Nevada were the District of Columbia and Oregon.
May 23: The most affordable cities for homebuyers
Nevada boasts some of the most affordable cities for homebuyers, according to an analysis by the personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared 300 U.S. cities across 10 key metrics, including cost of homes and maintenance, tax rates and vacancy rates.
In Nevada, North Las Vegas ranked No. 18 among the most affordable cities, while Las Vegas ranked No. 23 and Henderson ranked No. 34. Reno came in at No. 83.
The most affordable cities were Montgomery, Ala., Flint, Mich., and Toledo, Ohio.
The most expensive cities were all in California: Santa Barbara, Berkeley and Santa Monica.
May 24: The best places for summer jobs
Las Vegas is the best place in Nevada to find a summer job, and one of the best in the country, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the relative strength of more than 180 markets across 21 key indicators, including median income of part-time workers, availability of summer jobs and commuter-friendliness.
Las Vegas came in No. 19, Henderson ranked No. 54, Reno came in No. 91 and North Las Vegas ranked No. 121.
The best places to get a summer job were Orlando, Fla., Scottsdale, Ariz., and Juneau, Alaska. The worst were Jackson, Miss., at No. 182, Laredo, Texas, and Columbus, Ga.
May 24: Like burgers? You’ll love Las Vegas
Las Vegas is one of the best cities for hamburger lovers, coming in at No. 11 on a list of 200 burger-loving cities.
Lawn Love, a lawn care website, compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities on four categories: Access to burger vendors, consumer ratings, national recognition and demand.
Reno came in at No. 118, Henderson No. 171 and North Las Vegas No. 184.
The best burger city was New York, followed by San Francisco and Chicago. The worst places were Patterson, N.J., Miramar, Fla., and Pomona, Calif.
May 30: The best and worst places to raise a family
Henderson is one of the best cities in America to raise a family, according to WalletHub, a personal finance website.
The site compared more than 180 U.S. cities on 45 key metrics, including the cost of living, quality of schools and medical facilities, and the opportunities for fun and recreation.
Henderson came in No. 28 overall and ranked at No. 11 for family fun. Las Vegas ranked No. 63, Reno No. 68 and North Las Vegas No. 158.
The best places to raise a family were Fremont, Calif., Overland Park, Kan., and Irvine, Calif. The worst places were Cleveland, Ohio, Memphis, Tenn., and Detroit.
May 31: The best cities for running
Las Vegas ranked No. 21 among the 200 largest U.S. cities for the best places to run, according to Lawn Love, a lawn care website.
Cites were rated on seven categories and 28 metrics, including high-quality trails, pedestrian fatality rates and climate.
Henderson ranked No. 91, Reno No. 95 and North Las Vegas No. 184.
The best cities for runners were San Francisco, New York and San Diego. The worst were Macon, Ga., Jackson, Miss., and Killeen, Texas.
June 1: The best cities for hockey fans
This one might be hard to square, especially after the Golden Knights captured their first Stanley Cup championship in June, but Las Vegas ranked No. 20 on a list of best cities for hockey fans.
WalletHub, a personal finance website, ranked 75 U.S. cities based on 21 key indicators of a good hockey city. The data set ranged from ticket prices to stadium capacity to the performance level of each city’s teams.
The survey included both NHL and college hockey teams.
The best cities for hockey fans were Boston, Pittsburgh and Detroit. The worst were Burlington, Vt., Tempe, Ariz., and Easton, Mass.
June 5: Where does Nevada’s economy stack up among the states?
Nevada is in the middle of the pack when it comes to the U.S. states with the best economies, according to a study by personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the 50 states and District of Columbia across 28 key indicators of economic performance and strength. The data set ranged from Gross Domestic Product growth to business startup activity to the share of jobs in high-tech industries.
Nevada came in at No. 21. It ranked high for economic activity at No. 5, but fared worse for economic health (No. 23) and innovation potential (No. 44).
The states with the best economies were Washington, Utah and Massachusetts. The worst were West Virginia, Louisiana and Alaska.
June 6: Best states for racial equality in education
Nevada ranked No. 22 among U.S. states for education systems with the most racial equality, according to an analysis by personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the states across six key metrics, comparing the difference between white and Black Americans in areas such as high school and college degrees, test scores and graduation rates.
The states with the most racial equality were New Mexico, Wyoming and West Virginia. The states at the bottom of the list were Wisconsin, Minnesota and Connecticut.
June 12: All Nevada wants to do is have some fun
When it comes to having fun, few states can outdo Nevada.
The Silver State ranked No. 3 among the most fun states in America, according to a study by personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the 50 states across 26 key indicators of what it described as “a jolly good time that won’t break the bank.” They ranged from movie costs to accessibility to national parks to nightlife options per capita.
Only California and Florida were ranked more fun than Nevada. The least fun states were Mississippi, West Virginia and Delaware.
June 12: Nevada ranks 28th for minority entrepreneur success
Nevada is the 28th-best state for minority entrepreneurs to succeed, according to a study by Lendio, which helps businesses find loan options.
The study, which used data from the Census Bureau and Small Business Administration, compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Rankings were based on factors including the percentage of minority-owned businesses, job growth at these companies, unemployment and business loans to underserved communities.
In Nevada , minorities own 21.9% of all businesses and 25.8% of startups less than two years old. The number of jobs at these companies grew by 61% from 2019 to 2021, the study found.
The state distributes less business loans to underserved communities ($278 per capita) compared with the national average ($351 per capita) through the Federal Community Reinvestment Act, the study said.
Hawaii was the best state for minority entrepreneurs, while Montana was the toughest state for minorities to succeed.
June 14: Retirement dollars go far in Henderson
Henderson is one of the top places where retirement dollars go the furthest, according to a study by personal finance company SmartAsset.
Henderson ranked No. 19 on a list of 30 cities where retirees can get the most bang for their buck.
Cities were ranked based on the value of mean retirement income after accounting for taxes and cost of living.
The mean retirement income in Henderson was $32,566. Considering a 19% tax rate and cost of living relative to the average of 100%, the value of that retirement income was still $26,505, the study found.
The best places to stretch retirement income were Palm Bay, Fla., Poinciana, Fla., and Evanston, Ill.
The entire Las Vegas valley celebrated Independence Day at the 29th Annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade, Southern Nevadas largest and most colorful Fourth of July parade. July 4, 2023. Brian Ramos
June 19: A look at the most patriotic states in America
A comparison of U.S. states found Nevada was the 34th-most patriotic, according to the personal finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the states across 13 key indicators of patriotism, including the number of military enlistees and veterans to the share of people who voted in the 2020 presidential election to the number of AmeriCorps volunteers per capita.
While Nevada ranked high in military engagement at No. 13, it was No. 45 in civic engagement.
The most patriotic states were Virginia, Montana and Alaska. The least patriotic were Arkansas, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
June 20: The best-run and worst-run cities in America
Noting the challenges of running a city, from dealing with economic challenges to crime, the personal finance website WalletHub set out to identify the best-run municipalities in America.
The site focused on the operating efficiencies of 149 of the largest U.S. cities.
“In other words, we can learn how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget,” the study said.
WalletHub constructed a “quality of services” score made up of 36 metrics grouped into six service categories, which were measured against the city’s per-capita budget.
Las Vegas came in No. 65 on the list, while Reno was ranked No. 53. No other Nevada cities were listed.
The best-run city was Nampa, Idaho. The city at the bottom of the list was San Francisco.
June 26: The best and worst states for summer road trips
Nevada came in No. 16 in a ranking of the best states as road-trip destinations, according to personal-finance website WalletHub.
The site compared the states based on 32 key metrics to find the most fun, scenic and wallet-friendly road-trip destinations. The data set ranged from the number of attractions to road conditions to costs.
Nevada ranked No. 8 for activities. It ranked lower for costs (31) and safety (33).
The best states for road trips were Texas, New York and North Carolina. The worst were Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut.
June 27: The best places for Fourth of July celebrations
Las Vegas was one of the top places to celebrate the July 4 holiday this year, according to a study by personal finance website WalletHub.
To find the best and cheapest places to celebrate the holiday, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities based on how well they balance holiday cost and fun.
The data set of 18 key metrics ranged from average beer and wine prices to duration of fireworks shows to the weather forecast.
Las Vegas came in No. 4 overall and No. 1 for affordability. Reno came in No. 36, North Las Vegas No. 44 and Henderson No. 68.
The best places to celebrate the holiday were Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. The worst cities were Birmingham, Ala., Winston-Salem, N.C., and Durham, N.C.
June 28: The most independent states in America
Nevada came in at No. 21 in a ranking of the most self-sufficient states in America.
To find out where Americans are most self-reliant, personal finance website WalletHub compared the states on five sources of dependency. Those were consumer finances, government, the job market, international trade and personal vices.
The categories were broken down in to 39 key indicators of independence to determine which states are most self-sustaining.
The most independent states were Utah, Colorado and Florida. The least independent were Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky.
