2021’s Best & Worst Cities for Staycations

If you’re one of those people looking to stay close to home this summer, a new report out today lists some of the best and worst cities for staycations. You might want to consider it before making a decision you will regret.

With around 33% of Americans not planning to take a trip this summer, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best & Worst Cities for Staycations.

Among the worst cities in California are Fremont and Chula Vista.

Fremont is a city in Alameda County, located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. Fremont has a growing population of around 240,000, making it the fourth most populous city in the Bay Area, behind San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland. It is the closest East Bay city to Silicon Valley and has a strong tech industry presence.

The city of Fremont has been a Tree City USA since 1996. There are approximately 55,000 trees in city parks, streets, and landscaped boulevard areas. The city operates the Olive Hyde Art Gallery, adjacent to Mission San Jose, which has featured Bay Area artists such as Wendy Yoshimura, the California Society of Printmakers and the Etsy collective.

Chula Vista, which means beautiful view, is located at the center of one of the richest cultural, economic and environmentally diverse zones in the United States. It is the second-largest city in San Diego County with a population of 268,000, according to the city’s website. Chula Vista boasts more than 52 square miles of coastal landscape, canyons, rolling hills, mountains, quality parks, and miles of trails. Chula Vista is a leader in conservation and renewable energy, has outstanding public schools, and has been named one of the top safest cities in the country.

To identify the best spots for staying local, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 46 key indicators of a fun-filled yet wallet-friendly staycation. Its data set ranges from parks per capita to restaurant-meal costs to the share of residents who are vaccinated.

Best Cities for Staycations

1. Honolulu, HI
2. Orlando, FL
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Charleston, SC
5. Las Vegas, NV
6. Portland, ME
7. Chicago, IL
8. Seattle, WA
9. San Diego, CA
10. Cincinnati, OH

Worst Cities for Staycations

173. Columbus, GA
174. Garland, TX
175. Newark, NJ
176. Chesapeake, VA
177. Montgomery, AL
178. Aurora, CO
179. North Las Vegas, NV
180. Hialeah, FL
181. Chula Vista, CA
182. Fremont, CA

Best vs. Worst Cities for Staycations 

  • New York City has the most parks (per square root of population), 1.478147, which is 23.1 times more than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the fewest at 0.064011.
  • Orlando, Florida, has the most zoos & aquariums (per square root of population), 0.013209, which is 38.3 times more than in New York, the city with the fewest at 0.000345.
  • Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has the lowest cost of house-cleaning services, $60, which is five times less expensive than in Pearl City, Hawaii, the city with the highest at $300.

So, did WalletHub get the lists correct?

To view the full report and your city’s rank, click here. 

Image Sources

  • Welcome to Fremont: Shutterstock