Posted by: Adam McCann

It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions. The hard part is keeping them. But before you blame yourself entirely for your previous lack of success, consider this: Your location may be setting you up for failure.

If you live in a neighborhood with no sidewalks or fitness centers nearby, for example, you may not feel as encouraged to exercise. The same goes if most of your restaurant options are limited to fast food - You may be less likely to eat healthy on days you dine out. These might sound like excuses to the boldest resolvers, but they genuinely can get in the way of self-improvement. That’s especially true if your motivation is low to begin with.

Estimates of the resolution failure rate are as high as 80 percent and 92 percent, depending on the survey. Regardless of the actual figure, a high number of people will fail at some point in the process and break the usual resolutions, such as “lose weight,” “save more” and “reduce stress.”

To determine where Americans are most likely to stick to their goals for 2018, WalletHub considered some of the most popular (and most commonly broken) resolutions to rank more than 180 U.S. cities based on their conduciveness to self-improvement. In each city, we looked at a total of 56 key metrics, ranging from gyms per capita to income growth to employment outlook. Read on for our findings, expert advice and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask The Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/28749/geochart-resolutions.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2EvG2sO>

Best Cities for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Health Resolutions’ Rank	‘Financial Resolutions’ Rank	‘School & Work Resolutions’ Rank	‘Bad-Habit Resolutions’ Rank	‘Relationship Resolutions’ Rank
1	San Francisco, CA	66.35	3	35	79	73	1
2	Scottsdale, AZ	66.19	7	6	2	26	28
3	San Diego, CA	66.13	2	82	28	43	2
4	Seattle, WA	66.05	6	9	114	16	5
5	Irvine, CA	64.61	1	45	3	7	62
6	San Jose, CA	64.55	9	10	68	2	37
7	Salt Lake City, UT	62.85	21	24	25	35	22
8	Austin, TX	62.31	32	39	26	40	16
9	Portland, OR	62.22	12	37	92	102	3
10	Orlando, FL	62.21	28	125	15	59	4
11	Huntington Beach, CA	61.65	4	87	20	9	82
12	Fremont, CA	61.50	10	2	77	12	96
13	Overland Park, KS	61.33	62	1	8	8	100
14	Atlanta, GA	60.83	52	79	50	27	11
15	Raleigh, NC	60.72	44	32	52	20	27
16	Plano, TX	60.58	48	4	1	13	98
17	Honolulu, HI	60.20	35	154	53	36	9
18	Los Angeles, CA	60.01	5	161	98	38	17
19	Las Vegas, NV	59.73	11	85	99	160	7
20	Minneapolis, MN	59.63	57	15	93	55	18
21	Boise, ID	59.44	51	30	32	34	41
22	Denver, CO	59.40	8	65	107	155	14
23	Chandler, AZ	59.29	31	16	9	41	78
24	Madison, WI	59.04	77	8	76	42	31
25	Washington, DC	58.72	34	41	157	116	8
26	Charlotte, NC	58.71	58	33	40	65	33
27	Tampa, FL	58.61	23	100	72	88	21
28	Sioux Falls, SD	58.38	113	36	22	3	76
29	Tempe, AZ	58.03	29	121	33	54	39
30	Miami, FL	57.87	13	181	10	10	26
31	Fargo, ND	57.84	112	64	23	6	52
32	Chicago, IL	57.73	76	31	159	97	6
33	Houston, TX	57.66	82	53	47	49	30
34	New York, NY	57.62	15	162	169	48	10
35	Columbia, MD	57.50	40	3	165	1	151
36	Virginia Beach, VA	57.49	55	60	45	56	44
37	Colorado Springs, CO	57.42	37	73	27	105	38
38	Portland, ME	57.36	61	69	43	81	32
39	Sacramento, CA	57.11	43	86	88	80	25
40	Phoenix, AZ	57.01	53	67	61	72	40
41	Charleston, SC	56.98	125	66	6	112	13
42	Durham, NC	56.83	75	52	36	24	63
43	Boston, MA	56.76	18	108	120	132	19
44	Gilbert, AZ	56.69	49	14	7	32	124
45	Peoria, AZ	56.67	50	21	16	50	117
46	Lincoln, NE	56.07	90	28	75	45	51
47	Omaha, NE	55.93	89	11	71	84	49
48	Dallas, TX	55.70	99	103	30	62	36
49	Fort Lauderdale, FL	55.64	30	166	56	46	54
50	Pittsburgh, PA	55.58	94	27	81	170	12
51	Grand Rapids, MI	55.37	116	43	37	47	59
52	San Antonio, TX	55.26	105	113	18	92	28
53	Oakland, CA	55.11	26	119	134	29	66
54	Fort Worth, TX	55.00	109	42	12	70	70
55	Pembroke Pines, FL	54.84	42	109	31	28	119
56	St. Petersburg, FL	54.81	39	90	63	123	58
57	St. Paul, MN	54.74	70	38	126	57	64
58	Jacksonville, FL	54.64	101	98	35	141	23
59	Bismarck, ND	54.56	121	12	21	21	136
60	Garden Grove, CA	54.37	14	155	109	22	104
61	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	54.30	46	89	48	39	125
62	Santa Clarita, CA	54.18	17	123	91	19	148
63	Nashville, TN	53.98	134	61	49	162	15
64	Mesa, AZ	53.82	54	59	54	63	107
65	West Valley City, UT	53.77	68	19	44	60	156
66	Henderson, NV	53.70	27	62	58	144	97
67	Cedar Rapids, IA	53.43	138	7	122	5	114
68	Burlington, VT	53.42	25	124	155	77	71
69	Chula Vista, CA	53.30	20	138	62	52	123
70	Rapid City, SD	53.23	132	88	39	15	95
71	El Paso, TX	53.18	114	117	42	89	47
72	Chesapeake, VA	53.14	120	74	78	44	67
73	Santa Rosa, CA	53.05	38	116	103	30	135
74	Anaheim, CA	53.02	22	169	83	18	116
75	Nashua, NH	52.86	73	23	74	137	103
76	Billings, MT	52.72	110	18	51	128	93
77	Des Moines, IA	52.66	139	34	96	25	87
78	Arlington, TX	52.61	108	77	34	68	91
79	Albuquerque, NM	52.58	56	95	161	110	46
80	Oceanside, CA	52.58	19	163	102	51	122
81	Reno, NV	52.54	45	122	70	161	57
82	Cape Coral, FL	52.51	97	71	59	31	127
83	Tucson, AZ	52.30	74	136	138	85	50
84	Modesto, CA	52.29	65	50	94	114	105
85	Glendale, AZ	52.27	83	107	82	71	84
86	Tallahassee, FL	52.13	92	158	100	69	48
87	Columbus, OH	52.04	131	26	144	115	42
88	Glendale, CA	51.96	16	168	113	23	160
89	Oklahoma City, OK	51.91	149	13	69	117	60
90	Louisville, KY	51.81	130	25	132	147	35
91	Long Beach, CA	51.77	24	173	116	37	101
92	Irving, TX	51.53	119	51	11	66	140
93	Vancouver, WA	51.46	36	57	158	82	142
94	Pearl City, HI	51.41	64	75	108	4	166
95	Grand Prairie, TX	51.19	148	47	5	67	149
96	Amarillo, TX	51.19	128	56	4	98	139
97	South Burlington, VT	51.18	63	22	29	107	150
98	Lexington-Fayette, KY	51.09	126	55	86	124	65
99	Greensboro, NC	51.02	122	83	55	109	79
100	Missoula, MT	50.88	69	167	38	157	61
101	Riverside, CA	50.80	67	130	41	90	126
102	Aurora, CO	50.66	33	101	84	106	155
103	Spokane, WA	50.66	66	102	152	119	83
104	Port St. Lucie, FL	50.60	103	93	24	83	145
105	Cheyenne, WY	50.52	145	20	19	87	157
106	Kansas City, MO	50.31	144	29	110	148	53
107	Cincinnati, OH	50.08	123	118	160	158	20
108	Aurora, IL	49.82	111	40	129	64	154
109	Anchorage, AK	49.81	117	48	146	127	80
110	Warwick, RI	49.79	71	5	156	122	169
111	Corpus Christi, TX	49.47	152	96	14	118	90
112	Manchester, NH	49.41	86	94	125	143	94
113	Huntsville, AL	49.01	166	44	95	95	85
114	Jersey City, NJ	48.84	60	97	168	96	113
115	Milwaukee, WI	48.82	118	91	143	145	68
116	Yonkers, NY	48.77	59	111	174	17	168
117	Tacoma, WA	48.53	88	58	167	121	110
118	Garland, TX	48.52	133	63	46	58	167
119	Lubbock, TX	48.50	155	120	13	100	106
120	St. Louis, MO	48.41	85	110	130	181	34
121	Tulsa, OK	48.41	156	78	73	134	86
122	Rochester, NY	48.25	106	129	164	79	89
123	Chattanooga, TN	47.86	154	106	57	149	88
124	Fontana, CA	47.61	91	137	97	75	170
125	Knoxville, TN	47.52	150	149	60	172	45
126	Richmond, VA	47.51	107	157	153	153	55
127	Oxnard, CA	47.48	47	170	163	53	164
128	Bakersfield, CA	47.45	81	81	139	156	128
129	Indianapolis, IN	47.29	143	72	148	154	69
130	Salem, OR	47.21	124	105	90	138	134
131	Casper, WY	47.17	163	49	101	135	131
132	Fort Wayne, IN	47.17	141	54	87	93	153
133	Buffalo, NY	47.05	129	68	166	150	77
134	Fresno, CA	47.04	72	143	141	111	144
134	Santa Ana, CA	47.04	41	179	115	33	171
136	Bridgeport, CT	46.56	78	126	178	14	178
137	Juneau, AK	46.43	151	17	105	177	138
138	Springfield, MO	46.33	140	131	65	167	92
139	Ontario, CA	46.08	100	164	104	76	172
140	Stockton, CA	46.04	84	144	133	103	159
141	New Haven, CT	46.00	95	160	179	61	109
142	Lewiston, ME	45.97	79	70	80	168	176
143	Worcester, MA	45.80	104	135	170	101	129
144	Las Cruces, NM	45.64	146	147	162	78	115
145	Philadelphia, PA	45.61	80	99	181	182	43
146	New Orleans, LA	45.52	165	178	111	169	24
147	Wichita, KS	45.43	161	46	147	130	130
148	Baltimore, MD	45.27	102	76	173	179	72
149	Moreno Valley, CA	45.17	115	146	89	99	179
150	Baton Rouge, LA	45.09	164	156	154	104	75
151	Norfolk, VA	45.07	142	171	137	142	81
152	Columbia, SC	45.00	175	152	145	131	56
153	Newport News, VA	44.89	127	132	142	113	161
154	Dover, DE	44.60	160	114	119	108	162
155	Columbus, GA	44.53	167	153	66	120	133
156	North Las Vegas, NV	44.45	87	133	150	163	143
157	Little Rock, AR	44.40	162	115	112	146	132
158	Providence, RI	44.35	93	145	172	165	108
159	Winston-Salem, NC	44.24	157	104	124	126	147
160	Nampa, ID	43.89	159	141	85	94	175
161	Akron, OH	43.48	153	92	171	166	99
162	Birmingham, AL	43.27	174	172	64	174	74
163	Cleveland, OH	43.01	158	112	180	159	73
164	Wilmington, DE	42.97	136	140	177	129	141
165	Memphis, TN	42.80	173	150	149	140	102
166	Mobile, AL	42.76	169	134	121	164	111
167	Hialeah, FL	42.69	98	182	106	11	182
168	Brownsville, TX	42.64	176	142	67	74	180
169	San Bernardino, CA	42.43	135	174	127	91	177
170	Toledo, OH	42.37	137	80	176	173	118
171	Fayetteville, NC	41.75	147	176	135	151	137
172	Montgomery, AL	41.44	178	128	140	133	120
173	Laredo, TX	41.26	180	159	17	86	181
174	Charleston, WV	41.12	172	84	136	176	158
175	Augusta, GA	40.32	177	151	128	152	146
176	Huntington, WV	40.31	171	148	118	180	121
177	Jackson, MS	39.59	182	165	117	136	152
178	Detroit, MI	39.19	168	127	175	178	112
179	Fort Smith, AR	39.14	170	139	131	171	174
180	Newark, NJ	38.67	96	180	182	139	165
181	Shreveport, LA	37.36	181	175	151	125	163
182	Gulfport, MS	34.94	179	177	123	175	173

 

Ask The Experts

For insight on the challenges in keeping resolutions and tips on overcoming them, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

• What tips do you have for people to improve their financial habits in the new year?
• Why do so many people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions? What can they do to increase their odds of success?
• What age-appropriate resolutions can help kids build skills and habits that will serve them well into adulthood?
• Does using the word “resolutions” deter people from making them? How else can we refer to them?

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• Chung-Yiu Peter Chiu Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Psychology and Communication Sciences and Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati
• Jiuqing Cheng Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Northern Iowa
• Adam Cohen Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University
• John Robert Monterosso Associate Professor of Psychology, University of South Carolina Dornsife, College of Letter, Arts and Sciences

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for keeping your New Year’s resolutions, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across five key dimensions: 1) Health Resolutions, 2) Financial Resolutions, 3) School & Work Resolutions, 4) Bad-Habit Resolutions and 5) Relationship Resolutions.

We evaluated those dimensions using 56 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for achieving one’s New Year’s goals. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

Health Resolutions – Total Points: 20

• Share of Obese Adults: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
• Share of Adults Not Exercising: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Access to Exercise Opportunities: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Access to Health-Food Stores: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Inadequate Fruit & Vegetable Consumption: Full* Weight (~2.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults who eat fewer than one serving of fruit or vegetables per day.
• Share of Residents Who Say They Eat Healthy: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)Note: Note: This metric is based on Gallup and Sharecare's 2016 Community Rankings for Healthy Eating report which examines healthy eating across the nation.
• Fitness Centers per Capita: Full** Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Weight-Loss Centers per Capita: Full** Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Average Monthly Fitness-Club Fee: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Financial Resolutions – Total Points: 20

• Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
• Income Growth (2013–2017): Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Median Credit-Card Debt: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: “Debt” was calculated per person as a percentage of median earnings.
• Share of Delinquent Debtors: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Mortgage Debt: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: “Debt” was calculated per person as a percentage of median earnings.
• Non-Mortgage Debt: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: “Debt” was calculated per person as a percentage of median earnings.
• Debt-to-Income Ratio: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Share of Households with Emergency Savings: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of households that saved for unexpected expenses or emergencies in the past 12 months.
• Homeownership Rate: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Rental Affordability: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Annual Price for Two-Bedroom Apartment Rental / Median Annual Household Income.
• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median House Price / Median Annual Household Income.
• Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
• Financial-Products Comparison: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to compare “credit cards”, “mortgage rates”, “car insurance” and “car loans”. “Real intent” is measured using the average monthly search volumes for those specific terms.

School & Work Resolutions – Total Points: 20

• Share of Public Schools Rated by GreatSchools.org with above Average Score: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Average Quality of Universities: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)Note: This metric measures the average overall WalletHub College & University Score.
• High School Dropout Rate: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
• Job Opportunities: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Number of Job Openings (per Number of Population in Labor Force) – Unemployment Rate.
• Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
• Income Growth (2013–2017): Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Underemployment Rate: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Job Security: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Number of Employees in 2017 – Number of Employees in 2016) / Number of Employees in 2016
• Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
• Gallup-Sharecare State of American Well-Being “Purpose” Rank: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)Note: The “Purpose” Rank is defined as “Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals”.
• Employment Outlook: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)Note: This metric is based on the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
• Business Startup-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Large Cities to Start a Business” ranking.

Bad-Habit Resolutions – Total Points: 20

• Binge- & Heavy Drinking: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)Note: This metric measures the age-adjusted prevalence of binge- and heavy drinking among adults aged 18 and older.
• Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Share of Marijuana Users: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population aged 12 and older who used marijuana in the past month.
• Access to Opioids: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of opioid pain-reliever prescriptions per 100 residents.
• Drug Overdose-Related Deaths: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Share of Adults with Gambling Disorders: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Share of Adults with Inadequate Sleep: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours per night.
• Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Share of Adults Who Visited a Doctor and/or Dentist in the Past Year: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)

Relationships Resolutions – Total Points: 20

• Nightlife Establishments per Capita: Full** Weight (~1.82 Points)
• Restaurants per Capita: Full** Weight (~1.82 Points)
• Attractions: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, zoos, museums and theaters.
• Park Playgrounds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
• Parkland Acres per Capita: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
• Average Wedding Cost: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)Note: “Cost” was calculated as a share of median earnings.
• Family-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family” ranking.
• Fun Opportunities: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
• Singles-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Singles” ranking.
• Sports Fan-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Sports Cities” ranking.
• Gallup-Sharecare State of American Well-Being “Social” Rank: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)Note: The “Social” Rank is defined as "Having supportive relationships and love in your life".

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 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Wedding Report, County Health Rankings, Yelp, Numbeo, TransUnion, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, GreatSchools, National Council on Problem Gambling, Indeed, Chmura Economics & Analytics, ManpowerGroup, TripAdvisor, The Trust for Public Land, Gallup - Sharecare, Google and WalletHub research.

Image: Nokuro / Shutterstock.com

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