75 most sinful cities in America

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February 15, 2018
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75 most sinful cities in America

There are a wide variety of factors that can classify a city as sinful. From the casino culture of Las Vegas to violent crime in Detroit, sin can represent seemingly unoffending lifestyle choices or serious societal challenges.

To help take a data-driven approach to understanding how cities compare by apparent sinfulness, WalletHub evaluated 182 U.S. cities across 31 metrics aligned with the seven deadly sins. Among the components considered were:

- Anger and Hatred: based on crime and bullying statistics
- Jealousy: based on theft and fraud rates
- Greed: based on gambling and charitable giving figures
- Excess and Vices: based on drug, alcohol, and other lifestyle choices
- Lust: based on dating app usage and adult entertainment density
- Vanity: based on beauty and tanning salons and interest in plastic surgery
- Laziness: based on work ethic, volunteerism, physical exercise

These dimensions were then translated into a 100-point "vice index"—with 100 being the highest level of sinfulness.

We've pulled out the top 75 cities by sinfulness and added explanation around the reasons each is included. While #1 on the list may not come as a shock, the data behind each city on our list can reveal important insights into sin across America.

#75. Salt Lake City, UT

Vice Index: 40.36

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #24; Jealousy: #18; Excesses and vices: #109; Greed: #176; Lust: #68; Vanity: #25; Laziness: #179

While Salt Lake City is traditionally viewed as more conservative—it’s home to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—this desert destination had the most thefts per capita of any of the cities examined by WalletHub. The city ranked high for violent crime and vanity; relatedly, Salt Lake came in #6 for cities with the most plastic surgeries. 

 

#74. Glendale, AZ

Vice Index: 40.39

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #156; Jealousy: #21; Excesses and vices: #101; Greed: #113; Lust: #93; Vanity: #70; Laziness: #75

Nine miles northwest of downtown Phoenix, Glendale might seem like a relatively small city with it's population of just over 200,000. However, it ranked in the top 25 for cities by the jealousy metric while pulling mid-tier scores for laziness and vanity.

 

#73. Nashville, TN

Vice Index: 40.46

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #40; Jealousy: #90; Excesses and vices: #70; Greed: #140; Lust: #74; Vanity: #98; Laziness: #50

The capital of Tennessee might be known for being home to some of the biggest names in country music, but it’s got a darker side as well. Nashville’s violent crime rate is significantly higher than the national average while the city’s murder rate nearly reached an all-time high in 2017.

#72. St. Paul, MN

Vice Index: 40.68

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #68; Jealousy: #95; Excesses and vices: #102; Greed: #15; Lust: #137; Vanity: #100; Laziness: #144

St. Paul, which along with Minneapolis makes up the “Twin Cities,” ranked #15 for greed among the destinations WalletHub evaluated.

#71. Norfolk, VA

Vice Index: 40.70

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #57; Jealousy: #63; Excesses and vices: #64; Greed: #43; Lust: #62; Vanity: #146; Laziness: #113

Norfolk is one of two Virginia cities on the top 75 list. As the second-largest city in the state, it ranks moderately across the anger and hatred, jealous, excesses and vices, greed, and lust categories,

#70. Anchorage, AK

Vice Index: 40.86

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #35; Jealousy: #64; Excesses and vices: #36; Greed: #70; Lust: #107; Vanity: #104; Laziness: #146

Anchorage, Alaska came in at #36 for excesses and vices. The state has long dealt with alcohol problems and is facing a crisis of opioid abuse. In 2017, Anchorage saw a surge in heroin overdoses.

#69. Grand Rapids, MI

Vice Index: 41.00

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #14; Jealousy: #143; Excesses and vices: #38; Greed: #153; Lust: #112; Vanity: #92; Laziness: #55

Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a population of less than 200,000, ranked #14 for anger and hatred. Despite a slight dip in overall crime in 2016, the city saw a rise in rape and arson, with a 25% jump in arson cases, and a 14% climb in rape reports.

#68. Indianapolis, IN

Vice Index: 41.01

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #66; Jealousy: #67; Excesses and vices: #21; Greed: #169; Lust: #43; Vanity: #73; Laziness: #52

Indianapolis, Indiana finds itself on the most sinful list with its #21 ranking for excesses and vices being a strong driver. The metric was based on factors like the obesity rate among adults, fast-food establishments per capita, adult smokers and drinkers, and overdose rates. 

#67. Wichita, KS

Vice Index: 41.20

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #49; Jealousy: #87; Excesses and vices: #74; Greed: #105; Lust: #39; Vanity: #64; Laziness: #150

This small city in south-central Kansas, famous as the one-time "Air Capital of the World," ranked especially high for lust and anger compared to the other cities in WalletHub’s study. 

#66. Memphis, TN

Vice Index: 41.25

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #26; Jealousy: #20; Excesses and vices: #90; Greed: #178; Lust: #38; Vanity: #142; Laziness: #21

Memphis, Tennessee ranked #21 overall for laziness, coming in with the fourth-worst exercise rates for adults among all cities analyzed. It also made the top 30 for anger and hatred due to a historically high violent crime rate.

#65. Birmingham, AL

Vice Index: 41.38

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #34; Jealousy: #38; Excesses and vices: #8; Greed: #162; Lust: #102; Vanity: #65; Laziness: #56

Birmingham, Alabama was in the top ten for excesses and vices while ranking high for jealousy and anger and hatred as well.

#64. San Diego, CA

Vice Index: 41.64

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #152; Jealousy: #139; Excesses and vices: #166; Greed: #77; Lust: #24; Vanity: #2; Laziness: #169

San Diego is one of the most beautiful places in America— and its residents are apparently trying to keep up. The city ranked #2 for vanity and has the third-most tanning salons per capita among cities considered.

#63. Shreveport, LA

Vice Index: 41.68

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #70; Jealousy: #96; Excesses and vices:#42; Greed: #74; Lust: #51; Vanity: #116; Laziness: #33

Shreveport is one of three Louisiana cities on the list, owing largely to high excesses and vices, laziness, and lust scores. 

#62. Jackson, MS

Vice Index: 41.88

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #61; Jealousy: #101; Excesses and vices: #100; Greed: #20; Lust: #92; Vanity: #159; Laziness: #8

Jackson, Mississippi came in #1 for the cities with the highest percentage of adults who don’t exercise and was named the fattest city in America in by WalletHub in 2017. This was based on weight-associated factors, ranging from "share of physically inactive adults to projected obesity rates by 2030 to healthy-food access.” Overall, the city ranked #8 for laziness.

#61. Seattle, WA

Vice Index: 42.18

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #56; Jealousy: #30; Excesses and vices: #117; Greed: #59; Lust: #70; Vanity: #35; Laziness: #172

Seattle, Washington made the most sinful list with high scores for jealousy and vanity. The city has had issues with property theft: in 2015, an average of 15 homes were burglarized per day throughout the Seattle area.

#60. Providence, RI

Vice Index: 42.20

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #94; Jealousy: #165; Excesses and vices: #45; Greed: #12; Lust: #81; Vanity: #161; Laziness: #1

The capital of the country's smallest state by land mass, Providence has a unique claim to being the laziest city across those studied. The city also came in at #3 for lowest charitable donations as percent of income, bringing it to #12 overall for greed.

#59. Lewiston, ME

Vice Index: 42.21

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #3; Jealousy: #181; Excesses and vices: #66; Greed: #78; Lust: #50; Vanity: #170; Laziness: #73

The second largest city in Maine, Lewiston ranked #3 in the country for anger and hatred indicators. Violent crime in Lewiston is 43 percent higher than the state average.  

#58. Tempe, AZ

Vice Index: 42.23

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #168; Jealousy: #32; Excesses and vices: #115; Greed: #67; Lust: #97; Vanity: #32; Laziness: #45

Tempe ranked high for vanity and jealousy, coming in at #32 for both. The city’s crime rate is 47 percent higher than the Arizona average and 78 percent higher than the national average. Property crime rates in Tempe are 53 percent higher than the state average and 86 percent higher than the national average.

#57. Kansas City, MO

Vice Index: 42.25

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #18; Jealousy: #56; Excesses and vices: #52; Greed: #104; Lust: #47; Vanity: #117; Laziness: #161

Kansas City ranked in the top 20 for anger and hatred of the cities WalletHub surveyed. The city’s murder rate jumped nearly 20 percent in 2017, which proved to be the deadliest year in more than two decades.

#56. Wilmington, DE

Vice Index: 42.32

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #9; Jealousy: #31; Excesses and vices: #46; Greed: #181; Lust: #142; Vanity: #121; Laziness: #89

Violent crime has gotten so bad in Wilmington, Delaware that the destination earned itself the title “Murder Town USA.” The city ranked #9 for anger and hatred out of the cities WalletHub examined, with the fifth most violent crimes per capita. 

#55. Albuquerque, NM

Vice Index: 42.36

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #86; Jealousy: #12; Excesses and vices: #59; Greed: #126; Lust: #82; Vanity: #90; Laziness: #61

Albuquerque, New Mexico made the top 15 for most jealous cities, based largely on the amount of theft. The city has the highest car theft rate in America.

#54. Newark, NJ

Vice Index: 42.54

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #51; Jealousy: #141; Excesses and vices: #142; Greed: #10; Lust: #94; Vanity: #108; Laziness: #16

Newark, New Jersey made it into the top 60 most sinful cities due to the number of casinos per capita. The city ranked #10 for greed out of all the other destinations.

#53. Bakersfield, CA

Vice Index: 42.54

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #100; Jealousy: #70; Excesses and vices: #57; Greed: #122; Lust: #35; Vanity: #34; Laziness: #53

Bakersfield, California ranked high for vanity and lust, coming in at #34 and #35 respectively. This is due to the dense volume of tanning and beauty salons, in addition to a high number of adult night clubs.

#52. Huntington, WV

Vice Index: 42.57

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #13; Jealousy: #171; Excesses and vices: #4; Greed: #78; Lust: #79; Vanity: #181; Laziness: #3

Huntington, West Virginia ranked #3 for laziness and #4 for excesses and vice, and came in at #5 for cities with the highest percent of adults who do not exercise. 

#51. Chicago, IL

Vice Index: 42.66

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #115; Jealousy: #65; Excesses and vices: #127; Greed: #76; Lust: #12; Vanity: #28; Laziness: #117

Chicago ranked #12 for lust and #28 for vanity. The destination also ranked #3 for most active cities for Tinder users. 

#50. Scottsdale, AZ

Vice Index: 42.93

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #180; Jealousy: #86; Excesses and vices: #139; Greed: #49; Lust: #42; Vanity: #5; Laziness: #118

Scottsdale has emerged as a popular retirement and vacation destination while revealing itself to be #5 for vanity based on the study. It came in at #2 for most tanning salons per capita; the city also has the fourth highest rate of plastic surgery.

#49. Mobile, AL

Vice Index: 42.99

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #82; Jealousy: #102; Excesses and vices: #6; Greed: #141; Lust: #64; Vanity: #47; Laziness: #38

A port city on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, Mobile, Alabama ranked #6 for excesses and vices. It was ranked the seventh fattest city in America in 2017 by WalletHub.

#48. San Francisco, CA

Vice Index: 43.40

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #136; Jealousy: #11; Excesses and vices: #151; Greed: #102; Lust: #18; Vanity: #14; Laziness: #135

San Francisco ranked high for lust (#18), vanity (#14), and jealousy (#11). The city registered fourth for most active Tinder users and #2 for cities with the most plastic surgery. San Francisco was #5 for most excessive drinking despite having a relatively low ranking for excesses and vices (#151).

#47. Chattanooga, TN

Vice Index: 43.40

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #25; Jealousy: #57; Excesses and vices: #35; Greed: #161; Lust: #116; Vanity: #71; Laziness: #32

Chattanooga, Tennessee was listed among the #25 for anger and hatred, with a violent crime rate 62% higher than the Tennessee average and 165% higher than the national average.

#46. Louisville, KY

Vice Index: 43.56

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #71; Jealousy: #84; Excesses and vices: #12; Greed: #124; Lust: #67; Vanity: #46; Laziness: #47

Excesses and vices contributed to Louisville's ranking in the top 50 for sinful cities. 

#45. Philadelphia, PA

Vice Index: 43.59

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #110; Jealousy: #68; Excesses and vices: #20; Greed: #24; Lust: #49; Vanity: #75; Laziness: #36

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania came in at #20 for excesses and vices. The city has long battled high rates of obesity, and reached consistently high rankings from outlets like Thrillist for best cities to drink in. 

#44. Minneapolis, MN

Vice Index: 43.60

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #60; Jealousy: #46; Excesses and vices: #136; Greed: #13; Lust: #71; Vanity: #63; Laziness: #131

Minneapolis, Minnesota ranked #13 for greed out of all the cities WalletHub examined. Interestingly enough, charitable gambling—bingo, raffles, and other games centered around raising money for good causes—reached $1.5 billion in the state in 2016, or more than $275 per capita. We're torn on whether that's a good or bad thing.

#43. Springfield, MO

Vice Index: 43.74

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #37; Jealousy: #25; Excesses and vices: #9; Greed: #158; Lust: #96; Vanity: #38; Laziness: #83

Springfield, Missouri made the list of most sinful cities owing largely to its excesses and vices, ranking #9 on the list. The city has faced obesity problems, and Missouri is #30 on the list of states with the highest smoking rates. Springfield also had the second-highest thefts per capita, bringing it to #25 for jealousy.

#42. Spokane, WA

Vice Index: 43.74

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #109; Jealousy: #3; Excesses and vices: #33; Greed: #57; Lust: #136; Vanity: #93; Laziness: #130

Spokane, Washington came in at #3 for jealousy and #5 for most thefts per capita overall. There was a dramatic spike in car theft in 2017 and the city currently has the 11th highest auto theft rate in the United States.

#41. Dover, DE

Vice Index: 43.91

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #17; Jealousy: #27; Excesses and vices: #14; Greed: #160; Lust: #134; Vanity: #140; Laziness: #40

Violent crime has shown an upward trend in Dover, Delaware. It came in at #17 for anger and hatred in WalletHub’s evaluation. The city was also in the top 15 for excesses and vices.

#40. Akron, OH

Vice Index: 44.00

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #87; Jealousy: #83; Excesses and vices: #28; Greed: #48; Lust: #83; Vanity: #77; Laziness: #23

Akron is one of five Ohio cities to make the top 75 for sinfulness. It ranked #23 for laziness and #28 for excesses and vices. The historically manufacturing-focused city has also been contending with the effects of the heroin epidemic over the past few years. 

#39. Tulsa, OK

Vice Index: 44.10

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #99; Jealousy: #41; Excesses and vices: #41; Greed: #159; Lust: #57; Vanity: #10; Laziness: #51

Tulsa, Oklahoma ranked #10 for vanity. Men’s Health considered Tulsa one of the top 100 most vain cities in America in 2012, due to the city’s rates of cosmetic procedures, Botox users, dye jobs, and high sales of things like teeth whiteners and shapewear. 

#38. Phoenix, AZ

Vice Index: 44.27

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #54; Jealousy: #37; Excesses and vices: #124; Greed: #134; Lust: #15; Vanity: #27; Laziness: #84

Phoenix lands at #15 for lust, and #6 on the list of cities with the most active Tinder users. The capital of Arizona also ranked #30 for vanity, due to the high number of beauty and tanning salons.

#37. Fort Lauderdale, FL

Vice Index: 44.39

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #84; Jealousy: #1; Excesses and vices: #161; Greed: #167; Lust: #120; Vanity: #19; Laziness: #12

Fort Lauderdale, Florida ranked #1 for jealousy. Crime in the city averages 108 percent higher than the rest of the state and 129 percent higher than the national average.

 

#36. Columbus, OH

Vice Index: 44.41

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #31; Jealousy: #97; Excesses and vices: #32; Greed: #58; Lust: #77; Vanity: #58; Laziness: #62

Columbus, Ohio ranked #31 for anger and hatred. Its homicide rate was the seventh-highest in the country in 2016, at 12 people killed for every 100,000 residents. The city had 106 homicides in 2016 and 99 in 2015.

#35. Knoxville, TN

Vice Index: 44.60

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #42; Jealousy: #54; Excesses and vices: #10; Greed: #147; Lust: #132; Vanity: #17; Laziness: #44

Knoxville, Tennessee is #10 for excesses and vices and #17 for vanity, owing to the number of tanning salons.

#34. Sacramento, CA

Vice Index: 44.74

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #59; Jealousy: #66; Excesses and vices: #83; Greed: #26; Lust: #99; Vanity: #18; Laziness: #101

Sacramento ranked in the top 20 for vain cities. It was also listed by Men’s Health as one of the top 20 vainest cities in America.

#33. Missoula, MT

Vice Index: 44.81

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #8; Jealousy: #36; Excesses and vices: #29; Greed: #6; Lust: #159; Vanity: #136; Laziness: #141

This small mountainside city ranks #8 for anger. Missoula’s crime rate is 42 percent higher than the Montana average and 36 percent higher than the national average. The Montana city also ranked in the top 30 for excesses and vices, due in part to the drinking culture that led to it being named the 13th drunkest city in America.

#32. Houston, TX

Vice Index: 44.84

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #97; Jealousy: #43; Excesses and vices: #159; Greed: #27; Lust: #10; Vanity: #23; Laziness: #102

Houston, the largest city in Texas, ranks high for lust, jealousy, and laziness. Texas had 16 cities included in WalletHub's study, however, Houston was the only one to be featured in the top 75 for sinfulness.

#31. Tacoma, WA

Vice Index: 44.89

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #60; Jealousy: #46; Excesses and vices: #136; Greed: #13; Lust: #71; Vanity: #63; Laziness: #131

Washington has made a few appearances on the most sinful cities list, this time for Tacoma, with a population of a little more than 200,000. The city ranks #17 for jealousy, with a property crime rate 167 percent higher than the national average, and #13 for greed.

#30. Pittsburgh, PA

Vice Index: 45.18

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #45;  Jealousy: #69; Excesses and vices: #43; Greed: #42; Lust: #149; Vanity: #13; Laziness: #95

Pittsburgh sits 15 spots higher in the sinfulness rankings than Pennsylvania's other inclusion on the list (Philadelphia). The data shows a vanity rank that comes in at #13 across all cities, owing in part to the fact that it has the fourth-most tanning salons per capita. Men’s Health also rated it #6 for America’s vainest cities. 

#29. Washington, DC

Vice Index: 45.27

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #29; Jealousy: #14; Excesses and vices: #96; Greed: #21; Lust: #46; Vanity: #103; Laziness: #126

While violent crime may be declining in the nation’s capital, it looks like thefts are still on the rise in Washington D.C. The city ranked #14 for jealousy among all the cities WalletHub evaluated and #21 for greed.

#28. Denver, CO

Vice Index: 45.39

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #119; Jealousy: #58; Excesses and vices: #62; Greed: #47; Lust: #4; Vanity: #26; Laziness: #158

Denver, Colorado might be associated the beautiful mountains and skiing in the surrounding area, but it’s also ranked fifth for most adult entertainment establishments per capita leading to a #4 ranking for lust.

#27. Richmond, VA

Vice Index: 45.57

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #27; Jealousy: #19; Excesses and vices: #30; Greed: #110; Lust: #53; Vanity: #30; Laziness: #85

Richmond, Virginia ranked #19 for jealousy. The city saw an uptick in thefts from vehicles in 2017. It also came in at #30 for vanity, ranked fifth of cities with the most plastic surgeries in the country.

#26. Little Rock, AR

Vice Index: 45.58

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #11; Jealousy: #22; Excesses and vices: #34; Greed: #155; Lust: #65; Vanity: #124; Laziness: #5

Little Rock registered high in the rankings for anger and hatred, jealousy, and laziness.

#25. Billings, MT

Vice Index: 45.96

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #31; Jealousy: #131; Excesses and vices: #15; Greed: #6; Lust: #33; Vanity: #115; Laziness: #120

The city of Billings, Montana, with nearly 160,000 residents, ranked #6 for greed. This metric is based on casinos per capita in the state, charitable donations as a share of income, and share of the population with gambling disorders.

#24. Cleveland, OH

Vice Index: 45.97

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #22; Jealousy: #28; Excesses and vices: #55; Greed: #30; Lust: #76; Vanity: #131; Laziness: #39

Cleveland, Ohio is #22 for anger and hatred. Forbes listed Cleveland as the ninth most dangerous city in America, with a violent crime rate that is 443 percent higher than the Ohio average and 322 percent higher than the national average.

#23. Fort Smith, AR

Vice Index: 46.02

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #53; Jealousy: #121; Excesses and vices: #26; Greed: #78; Lust: #2; Vanity: #105; Laziness: #6

Fort Smith, a small city on the Arkansas River, came in four spots about Little Rock for sinfulness. The city ranked #2 for cities with the highest percent of adults who do not exercise, which helps explain why it ranks #6 overall for laziness. It also ranked #2 overall for lust.

#22. New York, NY

Vice Index: 46.03

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #135; Jealousy: #164; Excesses and vices: #171; Greed: #72; Lust: #8; Vanity: #4; Laziness: #15

The "city that never sleeps" registered high in the top ten for lust and vanity while coming in at #15 for laziness. New York City ranked second for having the most active Tinder users across America.

#21. Cincinnati, OH

Vice Index: 46.14

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #16; Jealousy: #52; Excesses and vices: #7; Greed: #40; Lust: #122; Vanity: #144; Laziness: #25

Cincinnati is the second-highest rated city from Ohio on the sinfulness rankings, making the top 10 for excesses and vices, due in part to its high number of casinos per capita. The city also ranks at #25 for laziness and #16 for anger and hatred.

#20. Rapid City, SD

Vice Index: 46.24

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #10; Jealousy: #155; Excesses and vices: #93; Greed: #19; Lust: #16; Vanity: #89; Laziness: #60

Although it has fewer than 75,000 residents, Rapid City, South Dakota has a surprisingly high crime rate. The city ranked #10 for anger and hatred. Rapid City’s crime rate is 96 percent higher than the South Dakota average and 66 percent higher than the national average.

#19. Portland, OR

Vice Index: 46.32

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #166; Jealousy: #35; Excesses and vices: #84; Greed: #16; Lust: #9; Vanity: #24; Laziness: #157

Portland, Oregon came in at #9 for lust. This makes sense when you consider the city has the most strip clubs in America. The destination also ranked in the top 20 for greed, given the number of casinos.

#18. Baltimore, MD

Vice Index: 46.41

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #55; Jealousy: #15; Excesses and vices: #3; Greed: #114; Lust: #22; Vanity: #134; Laziness: #26

Baltimore, Maryland ranked #3 for excesses and vices and #15 for jealousy (owing to theft). There was a rise in crime across the board in Baltimore in 2017.

 

#17. Los Angeles, CA

Vice Index: 46.56

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #114; Jealousy: #113; Excesses and vices: #175; Greed: #115; Lust: #3; Vanity: #3; Laziness: #80

L.A. ranked #3 for both vanity and lust, fitting the vibrant celebrity culture in the area. The city has the highest rate of plastic surgery in the nation.  

#16. Toledo, OH

Vice Index: 46.91

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #23; Jealousy: #127; Excesses and vices: #16; Greed: #25; Lust: #48; Vanity: #122; Laziness: #4

Toledo was ranked #4 for laziness, due to obesity and exercise rates among adult residents. 

#15. Tampa, FL

Vice Index: 48.09

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #111; Jealousy: #61; Excesses and vices: #50; Greed: #95; Lust: #11; Vanity: #8; Laziness: #43

Tampa is one of three Florida cities to rank in the top 15 for sinfulness. The city of nearly 380,000 ranked #8 for vanity #11 for lust, due in part to its #4 for the most adult entertainment establishments per capita.

#14. Columbia, SC

Vice Index: 48.11

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #22; Jealousy: #28; Excesses and vices: #55; Greed: #30; Lust: #76; Vanity: #131; Laziness: #39

Columbia, South Carolina made the top 30 for anger and hatred, greed, and jealousy. Violent crime in the city is 65 percent higher than the South Carolina average and 115 percent higher than the national average.

#13. Reno, NV

Vice Index: 48.24

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #104; Jealousy: #75; Excesses and vices: #31; Greed: #2; Lust: #34; Vanity: #83; Laziness: #64

In a state where prostitution is legal and casinos are prevalent, it’s not surprising Reno, Nevada made the top 15 most sinful cities in the United States. It came in at #2 for greed, due to the high number of casinos in the area, while ranking #34 for lust.

#12. Miami, FL

Vice Index: 48.51

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #41; Jealousy: #5; Excesses and vices: #150; Greed: #98; Lust: #59; Vanity: #7; Laziness: #28

Miami, a warm city of nearly half a million residents, ranks in the top ten for vanity and jealousy.

#11. Baton Rouge, LA

Vice Index: 48.92

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #12; Jealousy: #134; Excesses and vices: #37; Greed: #32; Lust: #117; Vanity: #21; Laziness: #2

Baton Rouge is #2 for laziness, due to a high rate of inactivity among adults. It also ranked high for anger and hatred, with a violent crime rate that is 66 percent higher than the state average and 143 percent higher than the rest of the country.

#10. Orlando, FL

Vice Index: 49.18

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #5; Jealousy: #10; Excesses and vices: #60; Greed: #170; Lust: #52; Vanity: #11; Laziness: #27

Orlando, Florida might be best known as a kid-friendly tourist hotspot, but it is ranked as the most sinful city in Florida among the 11 analyzed for the study. Orlando comes in at #5 for anger and hatred, #10 for jealousy, and #11 for vanity. The city’s violent crime rate is 95 percent higher than the state average and 117 percent higher than the national average.

#9. Atlanta, GA

Vice Index: 49.69

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #44; Jealousy: #8; Excesses and vices: #107; Greed: #156; Lust: #6; Vanity: #6; Laziness: #79

Atlanta, Georgia came in at #6 for both lust and vanity and #8 for jealousy. It’s the city with the fifth most strip clubs per capita, and there are a lot of beauty salons in the city, earning it the title of third-vainest city by Men’s Health.

#8. Gulfport, MS

Vice Index: 49.89

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #69; Jealousy: #110; Excesses and vices: #13; Greed: #1; Lust: #5; Vanity: #165; Laziness: #24

Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi, earning a spot in the top 10 most sinful cities due to its #1 ranking for greed and #5 for lust. Gulfport is considered one of the top 10 gambling destinations in the United States.

#7. Henderson, NV

Vice Index: 50.59

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #143; Jealousy: #80; Excesses and vices: #76; Greed: #3; Lust: #25; Vanity: #16; Laziness: #19

Henderson is one of three Nevada cities in the top ten for sinfullness. Henderson came in at #3 for greed, due to the high number of casinos, while ranking at #16 for vanity and #19 for laziness.

#6. New Orleans, LA

Vice Index: 50.95

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #78; Jealousy: #107; Excesses and vices: #17; Greed: #9; Lust: #13; Vanity: #20; Laziness: #46

New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street, where gluttony and lust are celebrated. NOLA ranked #17 for excesses and vices, #13 for lust, and #9 for greed. 

#5. Charleston, WV

Vice Index: 51.38

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #1; Jealousy: #4; Excesses and vices: #1; Greed: #78; Lust: #61; Vanity: #182; Laziness: #31

Charleston, West Virginia, with a population of fewer than 50,000, ranked #1 for anger and hatred. The city has a violent crime rate that is 333 percent higher than the state average, and 302 percent higher than the national average. It was also #1 for excesses and vices and #4 for jealousy, with the third most thefts per capita of the cities ranked.

#4. Detroit, MI

Vice Index: 51.65

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #6; Jealousy: #13; Excesses and vices: #5; Greed: #31; Lust: #21; Vanity: #152; Laziness: #14

Detroit, Michigan had the most violent crimes per capita of all the cities on the list, contributing to a #6 overall ranking for anger and hatred. It also came in at #5 for vices and excesses, #13 for jealousy, and #14 for laziness.

#3. North Las Vegas, NV

Vice Index: 51.65

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #93; Jealousy: #62; Excesses and vices: #71; Greed: #3; Lust: #58; Vanity: #12; Laziness: #9

The Las Vegas area ranks so highly for sinfulness that it’s represented twice. North Las Vegas is slightly less sinful than Las Vegas as a whole, ranking #3 for greed and #9 for laziness. It also has the fifth most tanning salons per capita, bringing it to #12 for vanity.

#2. St. Louis, MO

Vice Index: 54.87

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #2; Jealousy: #2; Excesses and vices: #2; Greed: #61; Lust: #28; Vanity: #36; Laziness: #69

St. Louis, Missouri might not sound like a dangerous place to vacation, but it came it as #2 for most sinful cities because it has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. It had the second most violent crimes per capita of the cities ranked. St. Louis also came in at #2 for jealousy—robberies spiked in the city in 2016—and #2 for excesses and vices. 

#1. Las Vegas, NV

Vice Index: 58.20

Rankings: Anger and hatred: #80; Jealousy: #39; Excesses and vices: #18; Greed: #3; Lust: #14; Vanity: #1; Laziness: #9

If you hadn't guess by now, "Sin City" won the award for most sinful city in America. Las Vegas ranked #1 for vanity, with the most tanning salons per capita, #3 for greed—which makes sense considering it’s the number-one location for gambling—and #9 for laziness. It also came in at #14 for lust—ranking #1 for most adult entertainment establishments per capita—and #18 for excesses and vices.

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