Fresno ranked worst city in California for an active lifestyle. Find out why
Looking to be more physically active in 2026?
Where you live can have a big influence on how easy achieving that goal can be, according a new WalletHub study.
The personal finance company recently singled out the best — and worst — cities for an active lifestyle in the United States, based on factors including fitness club fees, sports clubs and access to parks, playgrounds and hiking trails.
“Two of Americans’ top New Year’s resolutions for 2026 are ‘exercising more’ and ‘losing weight,’ and living in one of the best cities for an active lifestyle can make keeping those resolutions much easier,” WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann wrote in a Jan. 7 article.
According to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, people in these cities are “highly interested in exercise, which helps people find workout partners and stay motivated.”
“The top cities for staying active offer opportunities for all types of people, from those who prefer team sports to people who simply want to get their daily exercise by walking or biking to work,” Lupo said. “They also tend to be large cities that still have a close proximity to beautiful natural areas for hiking and swimming.”
A total of 17 California cities made WalletHub’s list.
Here’s how Fresno ranked, and why:
Why is Fresno the worst in California for an active lifestyle?
Out of the 100 most populated cities in the United States, Fresno landed at No. 97 on WalletHub’s list of the best spots for an active lifestyle.
It was the lowest ranking California city on WalletHub’s list.
Fresno had an overall active lifestyle score of 31.12 out of 100.
It came in 97th place in the nation for budget and participation, and 94th for sports and outdoors.
Fresno offers several options for active people across 1,500 acres of open space, according to the city Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department.
The city boasts more than 80 parks and trails, golf courses and a regional sports complex offering baseball, softball and soccer and football fields, as well as action sports facilities for BMX and mountain biking.
What are the best California cities for fitness fans?
Two of the best U.S. cities for an active lifestyle can be found in the Golden State, according to WalletHub.
San Francisco came in third place on WalletHub’s list with an overall score of 59.31 out of 100, thanks to its good air quality and “very high” numbers of soccer fields, dance schools and sports clubs.
“In addition to being a big metropolis, the Golden Gate City also has a very high number of hiking trails per capita, and it’s right next to the bay,” WalletHub said, adding that “100% of residents live within a reasonable distance of opportunities for physical activity.”
Los Angeles came in at No. 5 with an overall score of 58.91 out of 100.
According to WalletHub, other top California cities for fitness included Irvine at No. 11 and San Diego at No. 16.
Sacramento ranked 24th among the best U.S. cities for an active lifestyle, WalletHub said.
On the other end of the spectrum, California cities that received the lowest rankings from WalletHub included San Bernardino at No. 96 and Bakersfield at No. 86.
What are top 10 cities for an active lifestyle in US?
These were the top 10 cities for an active lifestyle in the United States, according to WalletHub:
- 1. Honolulu
- 2. New York City
- 3. San Francisco
- 4. Chicago
- 5. Los Angeles
- 6. Las Vegas
- 7. Atlanta
- 8. Cincinnati
- 9. Denver
- 10. Madison, Wisconsin
Where are 10 worst cities for workouts in the nation?
According to WalletHub, these are the 10 worst cities for an active lifestyle in the United States:
- 1. Garland, Texas
- 2. Irving, Texas
- 3. Fort Wayne, Indiana
- 4. Fresno
- 5. San Bernardino
- 6. Hialeah, Florida
- 7. Corpus Christi, Texas
- 8. Newark, New Jersey
- 9. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- 10. North Las Vegas
How did WalletHub determine the best and worst cities for active lifestyles?
To determine the best and worst cities for active lifestyles, WalletHub said it compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities based on two key dimennsions: budget and participation and sports and outdoors.
The company’s analysts evaluated those key dimensions using 35 relevant metrics and assigned a weight to each of them.
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the “most favorable conditions for a physically active population.”
From there, analysts calculated each city’s active lifestyle score and ranked them.
Metrics included:
- Average monthly fitness club fees
- Average cost of sports apparel
- Sports clubs per capita
- Share of physically inactive adults
- Share of workers age 16 and up who bike or walk to work
- Google search interest for “at home workouts”
- Basketball hoops per capita
- Baseball and softball diamonds per capita
- Soccer fields per capita
- Swimming pools per capita
- Weather
- Air quality
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
