Special Report

50 Cities Getting the Most Exercise

dusanpetkovic / Getty Images

Obesity in the United States is rising, but so is physical activity. More than 54% of adults report meeting the recommended federal guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of rigorous physical activity a week. This is up from just over 42% in 2007.

On average, 23% of adults in the country don’t regularly engage in any leisure physical activity. The share of inactive adults and those who exercise regularly varies greatly from city to city, but there is one emerging trend: metropolitan areas in Western states from California to Colorado have relatively lower shares of adults who do not to exercise outside of work.

The most physically active cities are clustered in a few regions. Six of the 10 cities where the highest shares of adults exercise are either in Colorado or Oregon. In contrast, the 10 cities where the lowest percentage of adults are physically active are all in the South.

Even little time spent exercising is better than none. The share of adult residents with a body mass index higher than 30 is notably higher in metropolitan areas where people are less active. Of the 50 cities on this list, the adult obesity rate is higher than the national rate of approximately 28% in only four.

Similarly, the average number of physically unhealthy days over the course of a month reported by adults who live in cities where the highest share of adults are active also tends to be lower than the national average of 3.7 days per month.

In cities where the highest share of adults exercise regularly, residents also tend to feel healthier. In these cities, a lower share of adults report being in poor or fair health than the 16% of adults who do nationwide. The opposite tends to be true in cities where a higher share of adults are physically inactive.

Methodology

To determine the cities getting the most exercise, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the share of adults who are physically active in the 381 metro areas in the United States. The measure comes from the most recent 2018 dataset collected by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Obesity rates — the share of adult residents who report a body mass index of 30 or greater — and the share of adults who have access to exercise facilities also come from County Health Rankings. 2017 population figures come from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The number of fitness and recreational sports facilities that feature exercise and other active physical fitness conditioning per 100,000 people came from the Census’ County Business Patterns.

Click here to see the 50 cities getting the most exercise.

sara_winter / Getty Images

50. Portland-South Portland, Maine
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 81.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 14.3 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 81.9%
> Adult obesity rate: 25.9%
> Population: 532,083

[in-text-ad]

Ian Ballinger / Wikimedia Commons

49. Lawrence, Kansas
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 81.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 10.9 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 90.3%
> Adult obesity rate: 26.2%
> Population: 120,793

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

48. Tucson, Arizona
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 81.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 11.4 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 87.5%
> Adult obesity rate: 24.9%
> Population: 1,022,769

ChrisBoswell / Getty Images

47. Lincoln, Nebraska
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 81.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 16.2 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 95.1%
> Adult obesity rate: 27.4%
> Population: 331,592

[in-text-ad-2]

Grant Wylie / Getty Images

46. Medford, Oregon
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.0%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 12.5 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 36.7%
> Adult obesity rate: 26.6%
> Population: 217,479

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

45. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, South Carolina
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.0%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 14.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 72.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 25.0%
> Population: 215,302

[in-text-ad]

gregobagel / Getty Images

44. Spokane, Washington
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.2%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 11.7 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 83.4%
> Adult obesity rate: 29.2%
> Population: 564,291

marekuliasz / Getty Images

43. Greeley, Colorado
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.2%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 7.8 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 75.5%
> Adult obesity rate: 26.4%
> Population: 304,633

johnnya123 / Getty Images

42. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.2%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 5.5 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 92.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 26.6%
> Population: 666,547

[in-text-ad-2]

choness / Getty Images

41. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.4%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 10.3 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 94.7%
> Adult obesity rate: 21.0%
> Population: 13,353,907

ErikaMitchell / Getty Images

40. Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.5%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 15.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 85.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 21.7%
> Population: 218,341

[in-text-ad]

Manny Chavez / Getty Images

39. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.6%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 10.8 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 88.3%
> Adult obesity rate: 0.25251913460836622%
> Population: 2,324,884

legacyimagesphotography / Getty Images

38. Salt Lake City, Utah
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.6%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 9.9 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 92.7%
> Adult obesity rate: 25.3%
> Population: 1,203,105

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

37. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.6%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 14.9 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 89.6%
> Adult obesity rate: 24.0%
> Population: 2,115,827

[in-text-ad-2]

aimintang / Getty Images

36. State College, Pennsylvania
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.7%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 16.1 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 74.2%
> Adult obesity rate: 29.3%
> Population: 162,660

trekandshoot / Getty Images

35. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.7%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 10.8 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 97.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 20.7%
> Population: 854,223

[in-text-ad]

Solidago / Getty Images

34. Salinas, CA Metro Area, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.8%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 6.7 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 90.2%
> Adult obesity rate: 24.6%
> Population: 437,907

John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons

33. Barnstable Town, Massachusetts
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 19.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 89.3%
> Adult obesity rate: 20.5%
> Population: 213,444

Adventure_Photo / Getty Images

32. Grand Junction, Colorado
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 6.7 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 80.4%
> Adult obesity rate: 22.3%
> Population: 151,616

[in-text-ad-2]

gchapel / Getty Images

31. Reno, Nevada
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.3 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 90.5%
> Adult obesity rate: 21.5%
> Population: 465,208

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

30. Madison, Wisconsin
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.0%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 19.3 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 9.01%
> Adult obesity rate: 26.0%
> Population: 654,230

[in-text-ad]

TraceRouda / Getty Images

29. Napa, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.1%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 16.2 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 82.2%
> Adult obesity rate: 23.2%
> Population: 140,973

Asaavedra32 / Wikimedia Commons

28. Albuquerque, New Mexico
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.1%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 9.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 84.6%
> Adult obesity rate: 22.6%
> Population: 913,113

ronpaulk / Getty Images

27. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 82.2%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 9.7 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 77.2%
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4%
> Population: 125,619

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

26. Eugene, Oregon
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.4%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 10.3 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 85.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 27.3%
> Population: 374,748

Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons

25. Olympia-Tumwater, Washington
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.4%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 8.4 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 86.9%
> Adult obesity rate: 27.9%
> Population: 280,588

[in-text-ad]

KingWu / Getty Images

24. Salem, Oregon
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.5%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 11.7 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 63.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 33.1%
> Population: 424,982

bpperry / Getty Images

23. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.7%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.4 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 96.8%
> Adult obesity rate: 20.5%
> Population: 448,150

frankix / Getty Images

22. Flagstaff, Arizona
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.8%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 8.5 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 83.2%
> Adult obesity rate: 22.8%
> Population: 140,776

[in-text-ad-2]

jmoor17 / Getty Images

21. Bremerton-Silverdale, Washington
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.8%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 10.2 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 84.7%
> Adult obesity rate: 29.5%
> Population: 266,414

SWKrullImaging / Getty Images

20. Colorado Springs, Colorado
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.2%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 9.1 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 89.3%
> Adult obesity rate: 22.5%
> Population: 723,878

[in-text-ad]

ibsky / Getty Images

19. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 83.2%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.2 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 95.6%
> Adult obesity rate: 19.9%
> Population: 4,727,357

RomanKhomlyak / Getty Images

18. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.1%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.5 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 92.5%
> Adult obesity rate: 25.1%
> Population: 3,867,046

Davel5957 / Getty Images

17. Ann Arbor, Michigan
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.2%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 14.0 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 93.9%
> Adult obesity rate: 23.9%
> Population: 367,627

[in-text-ad-2]

Spenser A / Getty Images

16. Provo-Orem, Utah
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.3%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 6.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 83.2%
> Adult obesity rate: 24.7%
> Population: 617,678

Davel5957 / Getty Images

15. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.4%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 92.4%
> Adult obesity rate: 19.8%
> Population: 1,998,463

[in-text-ad]

DCorn / Getty Images

14. San Diego-Carlsbad, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.5%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 12.2 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 93.2%
> Adult obesity rate: 20.1%
> Population: 3,337,685

Kenishirotie / Getty Images

13. Santa Rosa, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.5%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.7 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 89.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 20.3%
> Population: 504,217

kenlund / Flickr

12. Logan Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.7%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 9.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 86.7%
> Adult obesity rate: 24.5%
> Population: 138,219

[in-text-ad-2]

akpakp / Getty Images

11. Missoula, Montana
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 84.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 16.4 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 91.8%
> Adult obesity rate: 22.7%
> Population: 117,441

SEASTOCK / Getty Images

10. Bellingham, Washington
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 85.1%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 14.8 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 83.9%
> Adult obesity rate: 23.1%
> Population: 221,404

[in-text-ad]

expictura / Getty Images

9. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 85.3%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 14.1 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 89.7%
> Adult obesity rate: 22.9%
> Population: 283,405

Joshua Hicks / Getty Images

8. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 85.4%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 14.0 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 97.0%
> Adult obesity rate: 20.1%
> Population: 2,888,227

Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / Wikimedia Commons

7. Bend-Redmond, Oregon
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 85.5%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 16.0 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 65.9%
> Adult obesity rate: 22.6%
> Population: 186,875

[in-text-ad-2]

JPLDesigns / Getty Images

6. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 85.5%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 11.6 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 89.8%
> Adult obesity rate: 25.6%
> Population: 2,451,560

Robert Campbell / Wikimedia Commons

5. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 85.6%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.5 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 93.7%
> Adult obesity rate: 18.2%
> Population: 275,897

[in-text-ad]

RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images

4. Fort Collins, Colorado
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 86.8%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 16.2 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 93.9%
> Adult obesity rate: 17.8%
> Population: 343,976

rssfhs / Getty Images

3. Corvallis, Oregon
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 88.9%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 13.4 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 79.1%
> Adult obesity rate: 24.4%
> Population: 90,951

Asaavedra32 / Wikimedia Commons

2. Santa Fe, New Mexico
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 89.0%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 12.1 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 76.3%
> Adult obesity rate: 13.5%
> Population: 148,750

[in-text-ad-2]

beklaus / Getty Images

1. Boulder, Colorado
> Share of adults who exercise regularly: 90.0%
> No. of fitness and recreational sports facilities: 21.7 per 100,000 people
> Share of pop. with access to places for physical activity: 96.8%
> Adult obesity rate: 13.8%
> Population: 322,514

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.