2022’s Most Glamorous Cities in the U.S.

Many of us dream of a “Real Housewives” lifestyle: the mansion, the Bentley, the Rolex, the country club membership — minus the drama. But some cities are more ritz and glitz, while others are more Ritz crackers and grits.

So, which of the 200 biggest U.S. cities are most suited to a five-star way of life?

LawnStarter ranked 2022’s Most Glamorous Cities based on 35 indicators of exclusivity, such as household wealth, access to Michelin-starred restaurants, and Fashion Week participation.

Find out whether your city has the “it” factor in our ranking below, followed by some highlights, lowlights, and expert tips.

Table of Contents

1. City Rankings
2. Highlights and Lowlights
3. Ask the Experts
4. Methodology

City Rankings

See how your city and others fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Status and Wealth Rank	Fine Dining Rank	Beauty Rank	Fashion Rank	Entertainment Rank
1	San Francisco, CA	60.23	5	2	2	1	1
2	New York, NY	47.77	1	1	9	9	2
3	Miami, FL	40.56	13	4	1	7	3
4	Washington, DC	32.87	7	3	22	6	24
5	Seattle, WA	32.80	14	5	35	11	4
6	Chicago, IL	32.69	16	9	18	8	5
7	Los Angeles, CA	29.82	2	7	54	20	14
8	Boston, MA	29.11	59	6	15	4	10
9	Las Vegas, NV	28.00	38	13	7	3	29
10	Honolulu, HI	27.18	35	10	5	2	51
11	Houston, TX	26.20	3	57	79	38	20
12	Fort Lauderdale, FL	26.13	34	15	3	50	6
13	Atlanta, GA	25.98	10	20	12	10	26
14	Portland, OR	25.81	23	14	45	16	8
15	Dallas, TX	25.37	9	49	57	30	11
16	Jersey City, NJ	23.69	70	23	10	5	21
17	Philadelphia, PA	23.04	32	21	89	12	9
18	Tampa, FL	21.88	40	46	24	17	12
19	St. Louis, MO	21.71	56	16	19	32	13
20	San Diego, CA	21.67	21	40	69	23	16
21	Scottsdale, AZ	21.49	25	44	8	15	33
21	New Orleans, LA	21.49	136	11	91	19	7
23	Denver, CO	20.80	52	17	50	13	15
24	Pasadena, CA	20.13	8	22	6	54	64
25	Glendale, CA	19.27	17	29	13	45	92
26	Pittsburgh, PA	19.14	71	18	14	14	28
27	Minneapolis, MN	19.01	72	8	82	18	22
28	Orlando, FL	18.91	39	19	17	31	34
29	Torrance, CA	18.69	15	41	4	51	106
30	Bellevue, WA	18.10	6	35	37	49	128
31	Irvine, CA	16.80	20	88	52	37	70
31	Austin, TX	16.80	19	54	63	33	75
33	Phoenix, AZ	16.38	30	31	141	41	40
34	Milwaukee, WI	16.16	115	47	127	28	19
35	Cincinnati, OH	16.11	57	36	33	29	44
36	Baltimore, MD	15.66	120	34	58	22	30
37	Richmond, VA	15.32	83	39	23	24	47
38	Alexandria, VA	15.24	24	26	36	57	43
39	Arlington, VA	14.85	27	73	151	48	44
40	Indianapolis, IN	14.71	60	101	114	44	36
41	Sunnyvale, CA	14.20	4	139	48	111	146
42	Salt Lake City, UT	14.15	46	52	29	26	117
43	Columbus, OH	13.97	73	25	101	39	50
44	Cleveland, OH	13.77	138	38	43	25	46
45	Jacksonville, FL	13.70	18	164	117	166	37
46	Kansas City, MO	13.67	51	112	132	42	53
47	Providence, RI	12.99	163	12	34	56	31
48	Long Beach, CA	12.72	22	71	103	67	48
49	Garden Grove, CA	12.10	91	60	21	47	82
50	San Jose, CA	12.05	11	91	140	64	151
51	Rochester, NY	12.01	153	27	27	115	23
52	St. Petersburg, FL	11.96	129	62	60	73	18
53	Nashville, TN	11.95	117	87	72	40	61
54	Fremont, CA	11.93	12	163	156	96	118
55	Naperville, IL	11.87	29	61	26	98	60
56	Omaha, NE	11.74	85	83	109	46	76
57	Greensboro, NC	11.71	64	107	133	36	119
58	Birmingham, AL	11.66	177	86	32	21	77
59	Orange, CA	11.51	44	106	11	65	80
60	Tulsa, OK	11.23	108	85	111	35	87
61	Savannah, GA	11.11	180	50	25	93	25
62	Huntington Beach, CA	10.76	33	72	66	61	74
63	Baton Rouge, LA	10.56	93	64	38	27	182
64	Charlotte, NC	10.41	53	77	96	124	42
65	Little Rock, AR	10.33	100	115	67	34	154
66	Detroit, MI	10.22	179	66	159	173	17
67	Oakland, CA	10.21	36	45	137	62	83
68	Fullerton, CA	10.15	42	58	135	65	59
69	Hollywood, FL	10.12	125	33	31	52	69
70	Louisville, KY	10.07	78	24	59	147	41
71	Anaheim, CA	9.99	28	70	171	117	68
72	San Antonio, TX	9.73	31	28	99	144	112
73	Plano, TX	9.57	47	76	40	90	94
74	Raleigh, NC	9.45	49	67	83	107	65
74	Yonkers, NY	9.45	119	65	129	74	35
76	Santa Ana, CA	9.27	98	74	30	58	84
76	Pomona, CA	9.27	43	176	87	59	110
78	Syracuse, NY	9.19	184	37	61	75	32
79	Chattanooga, TN	9.03	37	120	80	176	99
80	Sacramento, CA	9.00	69	43	62	94	57
81	Grand Rapids, MI	8.69	148	48	20	112	52
82	Anchorage, AK	8.66	104	179	176	42	183
83	St. Paul, MN	8.60	135	56	75	119	38
84	Tacoma, WA	8.55	67	75	42	87	89
85	Fort Worth, TX	8.47	50	114	139	146	71
86	Frisco, TX	8.45	45	118	92	97	115
86	Aurora, IL	8.45	66	142	180	72	54
88	Santa Clarita, CA	8.42	26	157	85	101	180
89	Paterson, NJ	8.33	185	180	178	89	27
90	Metairie, LA	8.17	121	53	16	55	165
91	Buffalo, NY	8.12	169	32	125	105	39
92	Chandler, AZ	7.93	63	96	123	155	78
93	Tempe, AZ	7.76	101	130	136	79	56
94	Memphis, TN	7.72	54	104	150	178	97
95	Gilbert, AZ	7.60	75	117	126	124	67
96	Newark, NJ	7.44	81	80	56	53	175
97	Spokane, WA	7.39	68	69	102	86	112
98	Hialeah, FL	7.36	130	59	183	60	55
99	Pembroke Pines, FL	7.35	109	124	46	71	90
100	Cary, NC	7.24	62	84	70	85	143
101	Winston-Salem, NC	6.96	61	108	51	124	157
102	Reno, NV	6.94	80	93	73	114	100
102	Oklahoma City, OK	6.94	55	149	124	169	135
104	Mesa, AZ	6.92	99	177	147	151	66
105	Henderson, NV	6.88	58	98	97	169	132
105	Mobile, AL	6.88	65	30	104	163	153
107	Worcester, MA	6.87	118	109	41	95	107
108	Peoria, AZ	6.84	92	172	174	177	62
109	Toledo, OH	6.81	107	92	122	155	73
110	Irving, TX	6.66	90	140	161	105	85
111	Virginia Beach, VA	6.64	79	105	90	140	114
112	Garland, TX	6.63	74	180	184	83	101
113	Glendale, AZ	6.61	132	135	144	137	58
114	Kansas City, KS	6.56	133	169	94	178	63
115	Colorado Springs, CO	6.54	105	102	110	151	96
116	Paradise, NV	6.52	123	180	195	164	49
117	Tucson, AZ	6.51	94	125	86	160	109
118	Knoxville, TN	6.43	141	82	39	178	103
119	Arlington, TX	6.40	97	116	167	100	93
120	Norfolk, VA	6.38	146	51	64	102	94
121	Madison, WI	6.37	143	42	107	104	88
122	Miramar, FL	6.35	128	151	77	77	98
123	Dayton, OH	6.24	145	68	44	153	105
124	Overland Park, KS	6.23	102	161	120	80	120
125	Albuquerque, NM	6.17	95	111	115	120	116
126	Hayward, CA	6.13	76	129	195	81	121
127	Akron, OH	6.05	164	78	98	148	71
128	Escondido, CA	6.01	88	109	172	143	108
129	Grand Prairie, TX	5.96	84	180	193	124	104
130	Aurora, CO	5.74	127	171	138	166	91
131	McKinney, TX	5.65	112	155	106	87	137
132	Eugene, OR	5.63	183	89	49	63	123
133	Riverside, CA	5.61	82	132	65	141	167
134	Corona, CA	5.58	89	180	100	144	145
135	Santa Rosa, CA	5.47	113	55	74	117	162
135	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	5.47	103	94	108	76	171
137	Lakewood, CO	5.46	159	122	175	82	86
138	Lancaster, CA	5.43	41	180	191	174	198
139	Thornton, CO	5.31	126	180	164	160	102
140	Lexington, KY	5.23	134	131	47	129	152
141	Shreveport, LA	5.21	161	127	53	92	135
142	Salem, OR	5.20	106	123	113	124	156
142	Palmdale, CA	5.20	48	180	194	134	199
144	Fort Wayne, IN	5.10	139	103	112	130	127
145	Huntsville, AL	5.02	111	159	130	178	144
146	Wichita, KS	5.01	114	126	118	178	149
147	Pasadena, TX	4.99	86	180	179	91	162
148	Chula Vista, CA	4.97	96	180	185	78	162
149	Durham, NC	4.90	140	81	68	155	154
150	Salinas, CA	4.82	192	180	28	69	167
151	Des Moines, IA	4.67	196	138	158	110	78
152	Sioux Falls, SD	4.66	167	147	78	99	141
153	Cape Coral, FL	4.65	190	173	154	175	81
154	Ontario, CA	4.61	152	145	153	108	129
155	Mesquite, TX	4.55	142	180	121	148	142
156	Elk Grove, CA	4.52	87	134	162	122	184
157	Oceanside, CA	4.50	137	152	143	178	139
158	Vancouver, WA	4.46	176	144	71	132	134
158	Boise, ID	4.46	177	95	84	113	138
160	Corpus Christi, TX	4.44	131	168	152	155	148
161	Jackson, MS	4.32	149	128	88	130	167
162	Chesapeake, VA	4.31	124	174	145	178	159
163	Stockton, CA	4.30	168	133	157	70	149
164	Joliet, IL	4.21	186	137	148	142	111
165	Fort Collins, CO	4.19	154	97	93	123	173
165	Fresno, CA	4.19	151	99	131	121	161
167	Lincoln, NE	4.17	174	154	128	162	132
168	El Paso, TX	4.08	122	150	155	178	176
169	Augusta, GA	3.97	182	170	146	171	124
170	Newport News, VA	3.90	157	143	105	178	170
171	North Las Vegas, NV	3.89	158	156	192	159	131
172	Oxnard, CA	3.86	165	90	168	178	147
173	Modesto, CA	3.82	172	121	116	83	179
174	Olathe, KS	3.76	162	180	177	178	140
175	Midland, TX	3.74	110	162	163	178	188
176	Bridgeport, CT	3.73	188	79	186	103	125
177	Bakersfield, CA	3.66	144	160	160	135	177
178	Springfield, MO	3.65	187	119	81	137	160
179	Enterprise, NV	3.61	77	180	195	178	197
180	Tallahassee, FL	3.54	150	113	95	178	194
181	Fontana, CA	3.53	147	180	182	108	174
182	Spring Valley, NV	3.51	116	180	195	68	195
183	Port St. Lucie, FL	3.43	195	175	173	171	122
184	McAllen, TX	3.38	173	63	166	148	172
184	Moreno Valley, CA	3.38	166	180	188	133	158
186	Columbus, GA	3.34	193	165	165	178	130
187	Amarillo, TX	3.26	181	146	134	178	166
188	Macon, GA	3.16	171	167	76	178	192
188	Lubbock, TX	3.16	155	141	149	178	185
188	Springfield, MA	3.16	198	100	169	178	125
191	Montgomery, AL	3.15	160	148	142	166	186
192	Murfreesboro, TN	3.10	191	153	55	115	190
193	Rockford, IL	2.85	189	136	119	178	181
194	San Bernardino, CA	2.70	175	180	195	154	177
195	Fayetteville, NC	2.63	170	178	170	139	189
196	Sunrise Manor, NV	2.55	156	180	195	178	187
197	Clarksville, TN	1.49	197	180	187	178	193
198	Laredo, TX	1.45	194	158	190	164	200
199	Killeen, TX	1.37	199	180	181	135	196
200	Brownsville, TX	1.35	200	166	189	178	191

Highlights and Lowlights

Putting the Extra in Extravagant

There’s gold in them San Francisco hills, but it’s not the kind you have to dig up. 

Not only is San Francisco this year’s Glamour Capital, but it also dominated in Fashion and Entertainment. It fell just behind Miami in Beauty and New York in Fine Dining. Until 2019, San Francisco was one of only five cities in the nation — and only two in California — to be included in the prestigious Michelin Guide (New York was America’s first).

Where the Golden City (barely) lacks luster is Status and Wealth, ranking No. 5. The Bay Area, a magnet for the ultra-wealthy, is consistently the most expensive metro in which to live, and wherever the money goes, luxurious amenities often follow. So if you want to rub elbows with the likes of Dustin Moskovitz and Julia Roberts — and have the balance sheet to back it up — then put an offer down on that Victorian mansion.

Ritzing It Up

Most major U.S. cities landed at the top of our ranking. Indeed, the land of high-rises also is where you’ll often find restaurants and shopping with equally towering prices.

Among those glamour hubs are billionaire capital New York at No. 2, home of the stars Los Angeles at No. 7, and high-roller heaven Las Vegas in ninth place. Miami (No. 3), Washington (No. 4), and Chicago (No. 6) also made the exclusive cut. 

Each of these cities either dominated or ranked in the top 10 of at least one category. What gives? Big populations generally mean more more people to impress and more local wealth and therefore greater demand for the finer things in life.

It’s Gettin’ Hot in Herre 

Nothing screams “glamorous” more than a polished outward appearance. But one characteristic not often associated with beauty is climate. Nearly all of the cities that placed in the top 10 of our Beauty category have warm or hot year-round weather. They include cities like Miami (No. 2), Honolulu (No. 5), Las Vegas (No. 7), and Scottsdale, Arizona (No. 8).

The connection between beauty and balmy weather is unclear, but if you want to be appreciated for good looks, head to lower latitudes.

Texas Glitz vs. Texas Grits

Some of The Lone Star State’s biggest cities have earned the title of “America’s most glamorous.” Houston at No. 11 and Dallas at No. 15 lead the Texas cities in our ranking, thanks to their whopping wealth, which they lavishly spend on entertainment options. 

At the opposite end are Brownsville in last place, Killeen at No. 199, and Laredo at No. 198. In fact, 16 of the 23 Texas cities we tested for glamour landed in the lower half of our ranking. But those cities aren’t likely to take umbrage at our findings. Rather, they pride themselves more on their grittier flavor and down-to-earth charm.

The upshot: If glam is your jam, stick to the biggest Texas cities.

Methodology

We ranked the 200 biggest U.S. cities from most (No. 1) to least (No. 200) glamorous based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below.

Sources: 10times, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Auto Buy Sell Dealers, Boarding Schools USA, Booking.com, Bureau of Economic Analysis, FashionUnited, Federal Aviation Administration, GolfLink, Marinas.com, Michelin Guide, The New York Times, Paramount Business Jets, Platinum Clubs of America, Private School Review, TripAdvisor, U.S. Census Bureau, Wikipedia, Yacht Clubs of America, and Yelp

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock