When the weather outside gets frosty and the holiday spirit hits, it helps to live in a city where people care about each other. Madison, Wisconsin is the most caring city in America this year, according to a new report by the personal-finance website WalletHub.
It’s closely followed by Boston, Virginia Beach, VA, New York City, and San Diego. WalletHub’s report analyzed 38 key indicators across three dimensions: caring for the community, caring for the vulnerable and caring in the workforce.
“Madison, Wisconsin is the most caring city, in large part due to a high interest in charitable giving. Madison residents search for ‘charitable donations’ on Google more than people in any other city, and they rank highly when it comes to online donations per capita,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst. “People in Madison don’t just give of their money – they also are willing to dedicate their time to careers that help others. The city ranks first in the nation for both doctors and EMTs per 100,000 residents, and fourth for pet shelters and rescue services (per the square root of the population).”
The Top 20 Most Caring Cities in America, based on the report findings, are: Madison, WI; Boston, MA; Virginia Beach, VA; New York, NY; San Diego, CA; Chesapeake, VA; Colorado Springs, CO; Fremont, CA; Portland, OR and, rounding out the top 10, Scottsdale, AZ.
Rated number 11 through 20 in the report are: Lincoln, NE; Pittsburgh, PA; Gilbert, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Plano, TX; Jersey, City, NJ; Irvine, CA and coming in at number 20, Aurora, CO.
To view the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/most-caring-cities/17814
Key Stats
Memphis, Tennessee, has the highest share of income donated to charity, which is 2.5 times higher than in Honolulu, the city with the lowest.
Baltimore has the most volunteer hours per capita, which is 5.8 times more than in Jacksonville, Florida, the city with the fewest.
Fremont, California, has the lowest child-poverty rate, which is 11.5 times lower than in Cleveland, Ohio.
Milwaukee has the highest share of sheltered homeless persons, which is 4.2 times higher than in San Jose, California.
Jacksonville, Florida, has the highest share of residents who do favors for their neighbors, which is 1.8 times higher than in Orlando, Florida, the city with the lowest.
Each of the most caring cities has its own unique strengths. For example, Boston has the highest per-capita online giving and is the most energy-efficient city in the country. In addition, Virginia Beach, VA ranks first in the nation when it comes to volunteering hours, while New York City provides paid family leave to its employees, and San Diego is a city with a “Built for Zero” community – a movement that aims to end homelessness entirely.
“Being a caring city requires a partnership between the city’s government and its residents,” noted Happe. “The government can implement high-level measures like sheltering the homeless, reducing crime and protecting workers. Residents show that they care for their neighbors by donating time and money, being environmentally friendly and taking jobs that help others.”
Ways to Care for Your City & Fellow Citizens
Donate money to causes you care about: Contributing financially to local causes, charities, or nonprofit organizations helps address community needs. Whether supporting education, healthcare, or social initiatives, your donations can make a positive impact on the well-being of your city and its residents. Nonprofits like SmileHub make it easy to find the highest-rated charities for causes you support.
Volunteer your time: Invest your time in volunteering for local organizations, community events, or charitable projects. By actively participating in volunteer work, you directly contribute to the betterment of your city, and you’ll get to meet and interact with more of your neighbors.
Choose a career that helps others: Opt for a career path that aligns with helping others or addresses community needs. Whether in healthcare, social services, education, or other public service sectors, choosing a career with a focus on community well-being is a direct way to contribute to your city’s development.
Vote in local elections: Exercise your civic duty by actively participating in local elections. Voting helps shape the policies and leadership that impact your city. By engaging in the democratic process, you contribute to the development of a responsive and accountable local government.
Practice environmentally-friendly behavior: Adopt eco-conscious habits in your daily life. Reduce waste, recycle, conserve energy, and support initiatives that promote environmental sustainability. By practicing environmentally-friendly behavior, you contribute to the overall health and cleanliness of your city.
