Smaller Cities Offer Better Work-Life Balance and Mental Health Benefits, Study Finds 

Midwestern cities are setting the standard for work-life balance and mental health in the United States.  

According to an updated study published by Coworking Cafe, Minneapolis continues to hold the top spot among the top 20 cities — demonstrating strong performance across key metrics such as income levels, cost of living, and remote work opportunities. St. Paul, Minn. follows closely, having climbed from sixth to second place over the course of a year, due to improvements in the cities commute times and low inflation when compared to other cities. 

The study evaluated 100 cities with populations over 200,000, and considered factors including workload, leisure and healthcare accessibility, green spaces, air quality, and commute times to establish an overall score for the city. The results highlight many geographic differences among cities within the country — with smaller cities offering better conditions for integrating professional and personal life. 

In comparison, large coastal and Southern cities have reportedly fallen behind in most aspects contributing to overall work-life balance. The data suggests a shift towards smaller cities as more desirable places for achieving a healthier work-life balance. 

Notably, Pittsburgh emerged as the only Northeastern city in the top 20. According to the report, the city has climbed three positions due to better health insurance coverage rates and recreational amenities. Meanwhile, cities like Chesapeake, Va, and Lincoln, Neb., maintained its high ranking with excellent mental health, affordability, and commute scores. 

The top 20 cities ranked (with their overall score): 

1. Minneapolis – 86.1 
2. St. Paul, Minn. – 83.5 
3. Lincoln, Neb. – 82.0  
4. Madison, Wis. – 81.7  
5. Raleigh, N.C. – 77.5 
6. Columbus, Ohio – 75.7 
7. Irvine, Calif. – 75.6 
8. Chesapeake, Va. – 75.3 
9. Omaha, Neb. – 74.9 
10. Des Moines, Iowa – 74.9 
11. Lexington, Ky.– 72.2 
12. Boise, Idaho – 72.1 
13. Alburquerque, N.M. – 70.6 
14. Portland, Ore. – 70.3 
15. Virginia Beach, Va. – 69.8 
16. Henderson, Nev. – 68.8 
17. Pittsburgh – 68.0 
18. Durham, N.C. – 67.8 
19. Fremont, Calif. – 67.7 
20. Scottsdale, Ariz. – 66.2 

The data hints at a future workforce that is more dispersed, values mental health and work/life balance highly, and leverages remote work to achieve those goals. Employers, cities, and policymakers will likely need to adapt to these trends to attract and retain talent in the coming years.