A new report from the personal finance site WalletHub just ranked over 180 of America’s biggest cities from most to least “sinful,” and the findings are fascinating.
But before you start picturing fire and brimstone, let’s get one thing straight. This ranking isn’t about moral judgment—it’s about data, measuring modern-day vices from excessive drinking and gambling to online searches for plastic surgery.
As WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo puts it, “The most sinful cities are those where illicit activities and vices alike are the most widespread.” So, while some of the top spots might not surprise you (we’re looking at you, Las Vegas), other cities, such as Houston and Atlanta, have climbed the ranks for some specific and juicy reasons.
How they measured ‘sin‘: a quick look at the numbers
So, what does “sin” look like in a spreadsheet? It’s a mix of serious crime stats, public health data, and even our own Google searches. Here’s a quick breakdown of what they measured.
Anger and hatred
This isn’t just about getting cut off in traffic. This category is serious, tracking complex data like violent crimes per capita, hate-crime incidents, mass shootings, and even bullying rates in schools.
Jealousy
Think of this one as a stand-in for wanting what other people have. It’s measured by examining rates of theft, identity theft complaints, and fraud reports.
Excesses and vices
This is all about over-the-top indulgence. The study looked at things like excessive drinking rates, DUI-related deaths, obesity, and drug overdose fatalities.
Greed
No surprise here, this one is all about the money. It was calculated using metrics like the number of casinos per person and the share of adults with gambling disorders.
Lust
This sin was measured in both the real world and the digital one. It includes the number of adult entertainment venues per capita, as well as Google search interest for terms like “XXX entertainment” and online dating apps.
Vanity
This category is a perfect snapshot of our modern obsession with appearance. It was tracked using the number of plastic surgery offices and tanning salons, as well as the frequency of online searches for cosmetic procedures.
Laziness
This isn’t about hitting the snooze button. It measures a lack of physical and civic engagement by examining the share of adults who don’t exercise, volunteer rates, and average weekly hours worked.
A quick reality check
It’s worth noting that crime-heavy categories, such as “Anger” and “Jealousy,” can be particularly challenging. Criminologists have warned that ranking cities by crime rates can be “meaningless, damaging and irresponsible.”
Why? Because factors such as where city boundary lines are drawn can artificially inflate a city’s crime rate. A crime committed by a visitor still counts against the city’s statistics. So, take these numbers with a grain of salt!
The countdown: America’s top 10 most sinful cities
Alright, let’s get to the main event. Here are the cities that landed in the top 10 for overall sinfulness.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis cracks the top 10 with a staggering #1 rank for “Excesses & Vices.” The city also scores high for “Anger & Hatred” at #8, reflecting ongoing challenges with violent crime.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas makes a strong showing, landing in the top 10 for both “Lust” (#6) and “Jealousy” (#10). While its Texas rival, Houston, gets most of the attention, Dallas clearly has its own vibrant vice scene.
Miami, Florida
This one’s no surprise—Miami’s reputation for indulgence is backed by data, with a #5 rank for “Vanity” and #9 for “Lust.” Interestingly, it ranks pretty low on “Anger & Hatred” (#102), suggesting its sins are more about pleasure than peril.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix sizzles its way to #7, driven by a #4 rank in “Vanity” and a #5 in “Lust“. This suggests a culture where appearance and nightlife are top priorities for residents.
Denver, Colorado
The Mile High City gets high marks for sin, ranking #8 for “Lust” and #14 for “Anger & Hatred.“ It also has a notable #18 rank for “Jealousy,” indicating issues with theft and fraud.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philly earns its reputation, landing at #5 overall with a brutal #2 rank for “Anger & Hatred.“ This score is backed by data showing historically high rates of violent crime in the city. It also ranks #3 for “Jealousy.”
Atlanta, Georgia
In a huge surprise, Atlanta is the national champion of “Jealousy,” ranking #1 in the entire country for this sin. High rates of theft and fraud complaints drive this top spot. The city also ranks #2 for “Lust,” making it a significant hub for vice in the Southeast.
The top 3 sinners
The top three cities on this list aren’t just sinful—they’ve practically built their identities around it. Here’s a closer look at what makes them stand out.
Number 3: Los Angeles, California – The capital of vanity
LA’s #3 spot is almost entirely thanks to its undisputed #1 rank for “Vanity.” This isn’t just a stereotype; it’s a data-driven reality.
The city’s culture is deeply intertwined with the entertainment industry, where image is everything. As one plastic surgeon noted, the pressure to achieve the “Instagram face” or a “Kardashian-inspired physique” is a massive driver of cosmetic procedures in California. The data support this, with Beverly Hills having the highest concentration of Google searches for procedures like rhinoplasty nationwide.
But it’s not just about looks. LA also scores high on “Lust” (#4) and has one of the lowest volunteer rates in the country, contributing to its #82 “Laziness” rank. LA’s “sin” profile is a direct reflection of its primary industry—in a city that sells image to the world, vanity isn’t just a vice, it’s a core part of the economy.
Number 2: Houston, Texas – The surprising lust king
Houston rockets to #2 overall, beating out legendary party towns like New Orleans and New York for one overwhelming reason: it is the #1 most lustful city in America.
So what’s behind that top ranking? Houston, also known as the Bayou City, has the fifth-highest number of adult entertainment establishments per person.
But here’s the twist: Houston is a city of contrasts. Despite its top score for “Lust,” Houstonians are far from lazy, ranking a lowly #114 in “Laziness.” As one local reporter put it, this suggests a “work hard, play hard” culture. This energy is something sociologists have noted as well, with Stephen Klineberg of Rice University describing Houston as one of America’s most vibrant, diverse, and entrepreneurial cities.
Houston’s #2 spot isn’t just about vice; it reflects the city’s sprawling, high-energy, and uniquely dynamic character.
Number 1: Las Vegas, Nevada – Sin City defends its crown
In the least surprising news of the year, Las Vegas is once again America’s most sinful city. Its dominance is absolute, built on a foundation of pure, unapologetic “Greed.”
Vegas is ranked #1 for “Greed,” and it’s not even close. It has the most casinos per person and the fourth-highest share of residents with gambling problems. This isn’t just a part of its economy; it is its economy. In 2024, the American Gaming Association reports that commercial gaming revenue in Nevada hit a record-breaking $15.61 billion.
But Vegas is a triple threat. It also ranks #3 for “Lust” (thanks to the high number of adult entertainment spots) and #6 for “Vanity” (due to high search interest in plastic surgery).
The city is the ultimate example of a “vice economy.” As financial analyst Jeremy Aguero notes, Las Vegas has “among the least diversified economies” in the U.S., making it uniquely dependent on tourism centered around these very behaviors.
Its #1 ranking isn’t an accident; it’s the result of a deliberately built, wildly successful economic model based on sin.
The bigger picture: What these ‘sins‘ really tell us about our cities
Beyond the fun of the rankings, this study reveals much about what drives modern American towns.
Sin as an economic engine
The “most sinful” cities are often those that have successfully built robust economies around entertainment, tourism, and consumption. Las Vegas is the ultimate example, but you can also see the same pattern in Los Angeles (in terms of image and entertainment) and Houston (with its sprawling nightlife).
It’s a perfect example of what urban planners call “industrial concentration,” in which specific industries cluster, creating a robust local economy.
A reflection of modern consumer culture
This study also shows how the classic idea of “sin” has been totally commercialized. Behaviors that were once considered moral failings are now simply consumer activities.
“Vanity” is measured by plastic surgery searches, “Greed” by casinos, and “Lust” by adult entertainment venues. Sociological research confirms that the business world often profits from our vices, which can manifest as “consumer frenzy, fast fashion and binge drinking.“
This list isn’t really a moral scorecard. It’s more like a map of where modern, indulgent consumer culture is most concentrated.
And on the other hand… America’s most ‘virtuous‘ places
If all this talk of sin has you looking for a quieter life, you’re in luck. The study also ranked the most “virtuous” places in the country.
Here are the top 5 least sinful cities in America:
- Columbia, Maryland
- Fremont, California
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
- Pearl City, Hawaii
- Madison, Wisconsin
Key takeaway
Las Vegas remains the undisputed “Sin City,” but the data shows that different cities excel in other vices. Houston takes the crown for “Lust,” Atlanta for “Jealousy,” and Los Angeles for “Vanity.” Ultimately, the rankings paint a fascinating picture of how modern American cities have developed unique economies and cultures centered on entertainment, consumption, and indulgence.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.
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