2023’s Most Glamorous Cities in the U.S.

Wealthy woman stepping out of limousine to board a private jet with a red-carpet entrance

Many of us dream of a “Real Housewives” lifestyle: the mansion, the Bentley, the Rolex, the country club membership — minus the drama.

But which U.S. cities serve up ritz and glitz versus Ritz crackers and grits?

Ahead of New York Fashion Week, LawnStarter ranked 2023’s Most Glamorous Cities. 

We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on six categories broken down into 39 glam factors. They include metrics like the share of million-dollar homes, access to Michelin-starred restaurants, and the number of exclusive yacht clubs.

Does your city have the “It” factor? Find out in our ranking below, followed by some highlights and lowlights.

Contents

City Rankings

See how your city and others fared in our ranking:

Overall Rank (1=Most Glamorous)CityStateOverall ScoreStatus and Wealth RankClubs RankFine Dining RankBeauty RankFashion RankEntertainment Rank
1New YorkNY69.891116111
2Los AngelesCA41.663265422
3San FranciscoCA34.767426696
4MiamiFL34.526784145
5ChicagoIL29.422837737
6Las VegasNV27.52295115253
7HoustonTX26.661253983114
8AtlantaGA25.632211639169
9DallasTX24.278751581211
10WashingtonDC21.6554051251928
11SeattleWA21.1141971372615
12OrlandoFL20.1631262431710
13ScottsdaleAZ19.56152276121824
14PortlandOR19.31231111672313
15Fort LauderdaleFL19.1220132563465
16AustinTX19.02189320128614
17San DiegoCA18.6726194773158
18St. LouisMO18.1553614192542
19TampaFL17.91281749332216
20PhiladelphiaPA17.3546981212036
21New OrleansLA16.981073131104617
22PasadenaCA16.5497952249969
23HonoluluHI16.345429121113107
24DenverCO16.14451217532139
25IrvineCA15.7416105124791091
26BellevueWA15.09451696531177
27CharlotteNC14.814210801173318
28SavannahGA14.221191482147420
29ColumbusOH14.2744330156835
30IndianapolisIN14.11597689140726
31CincinnatiOH13.95434950642412
32PittsburghPA13.73584232162845
33BostonMA13.67637423601422
34San AntonioTX13.494031221082721
35RochesterNY13.271182329256619
36GlendaleCA13.1817105193730169
37PhoenixAZ12.743528361713723
38CharlestonSC12.63678627279625
39AlexandriaVA12.552143359016070
40TorranceCA12.52191052817105185
41RichmondVA12.2474757423547
42Salt Lake CityUT12.192510564524556
43Grand RapidsMI12.195731584015037
44TacomaWA11.478410595516772
45MinneapolisMN11.344979101264862
46RaleighNC11.332730851204183
47Long BeachCA11.11309356988957
48SacramentoCA11.1797948303853
49San JoseCA11.09131058717950153
50St. PetersburgFL10.98314771025167
51JacksonvilleFL10.8838821371323931
52KnoxvilleTN10.77106861002013732
53Kansas CityMO10.7441511191277730
54SunnyvaleCA10.711010583190182187
55Oklahoma CityOK10.684851136896341
56RiversideCA10.64121105844141108
57TucsonAZ10.412951107434426
58Virginia BeachVA10.3211651122364333
59FremontCA10.1911105171153150192
60ChattanoogaTN10.1834861505616795
61NashvilleTN10.167627731413244
62PomonaCA10.15661056521141109
63Huntington BeachCA10.13241056015510592
64Fort WorthTX10.0762241251305748
65BirminghamAL108893101762934
66ToledoOH9.9812739126455743
67Santa AnaCA9.81031054013109121
68MilwaukeeWI9.7812616621685954
69Winston-SalemNC9.7256105151754752
70HollywoodFL9.547810555468075
71SpokaneWA9.446151981039451
72TulsaOK9.4186411121466829
73AnaheimCA9.38361055914311884
74LouisvilleKY9.3611734371476240
75EugeneOR9.16185517298286
76RenoNV9.1181105105956938
77Baton RougeLA9.097051674436159
78NapervilleIL9.033210510681167154
79EscondidoCA9.0113610586188882
80FriscoTX8.9852105146964081
81Santa RosaCA8.9693519329160117
82GreensboroNC8.8755451271245387
83Overland ParkKS8.85501051471315668
84FullertonCA8.8151105789418293
85HendersonNV8.7497105148486466
86BaltimoreMD8.741017453887763
87SalinasCA8.65192105187111170
88LexingtonKY8.6120251591006064
89SpringfieldMO8.5816934135238588
90JacksonMS8.551379316710130122
91OmahaNE8.5282105961189146
92OaklandCA8.4939513118752161
93DetroitMI8.48179177916110454
94MemphisTN8.37648610314410558
95PlanoTX8.26711051106254125
96ChandlerAZ8.254410510218013076
97OrangeCA8.21331056684167193
98DaytonOH8.17131105942879111
99CoronaCA8.1494105995518280
100MobileAL8.14688642136128104
101ClevelandOH8.091514654684985
102OntarioCA7.871641051042212599
103SyracuseNY7.8616810543499774
104St. PaulMN7.83124105619910050
105RosevilleCA7.699110512069112101
106TempeAZ7.66691057480124144
107GlendaleAZ7.61285112738130137
108Boise CityID7.55805111216610079
109MadisonWI7.52100318113864113
110AlbuquerqueNM7.4614434921359060
111NewarkNJ7.42139932651141139
112Fort CollinsCO7.411333412350114151
113TallahasseeFL7.371553414334182142
114DurhamNC7.361251051398616059
115VancouverWA7.17180105109898181
116OxnardCA7.131801053832182129
117LancasterCA7.17310518831182194
118WorcesterMA7.0816010511415135173
119Sioux FallsSD7.05109511541649173
120HaywardCA7.029010511585128123
121ProvidenceRI6.96165105211017598
122CarrolltonTX6.916010515319115097
123AkronOH6.916393108638577
124AuroraIL6.896510513115470143
125PeoriaAZ6.827210519317616790
126McKinneyTX6.8212310518371114110
127Colorado SpringsCO6.88910511816212194
128MesaAZ6.7592105152119141103
129Santa ClaritaCA6.7537105181123140195
130OlatheKS6.577751185175182120
131Garden GroveCA6.551341054135167191
132FresnoCA6.54178105712681164
133BakersfieldCA6.471715111672118105
134BuffaloNY6.39142763413473140
135Fort WayneIN6.2813010513215713071
135Jersey CityNJ6.28969333174121158
137AugustaGA6.271744719511613861
138AnchorageAK6.13140511928267149
139AuroraCO6.11122105165106141114
140WichitaKS6.111025113317787133
140IrvingTX6.11104105145149114116
142ArlingtonTX6.110593121165112115
143Chula VistaCA6.0811510588173126102
144LincolnNE6.071611051381699149
145SalemOR6.07991059087148171
146El PasoTX5.9913210513012942126
147LubbockTX5.95145511611825578
148SurpriseAZ5.9511110520016018296
149OceansideCA5.9213510597145167100
150ShreveportLA5.9152931687872136
151StocktonCA5.88191105635961127
152Little RockAR5.761135116615194155
153YonkersNY5.7515010546159150118
154HuntsvilleAL5.711049174111110175
155MurfreesboroTN5.6515451155115126130
156RockfordIL5.571751051449382106
157McAllenTX5.561535175158160134
158Corpus ChristiTX5.551588417974108152
159Pembroke PinesFL5.54143105111112160131
160NorfolkVA5.461478491148130124
161MontgomeryAL5.42149105180109141119
162GarlandTX5.495105158133103176
163ThorntonCO5.36108105196189182112
164Rancho CucamongaCA5.2611210511711484178
164PalmdaleCA5.2675105198191141165
166ModestoCA5.17187105704776183
167HialeahFL5.1514610544122149174
168DentonTX5.0885105184139150188
169Grand PrairieTX5.039893186191167147
170Des MoinesIA5138105149167100141
171ChesapeakeVA4.9515951199150150138
172Port St. LucieFL4.871838618715218289
173LakewoodCO4.8418910512941150186
174MesquiteTX4.81157105177104167156
175HamptonVA4.611738617257150182
176FayettevilleNC4.6156105182113121162
177MaconGA4.46147105197170167146
178Newport NewsVA4.46166105163107167163
179AmarilloTX4.4116710516218171128
180PatersonNJ4.251981059172182196
181KilleenTX4.1919510517591150148
182ClarksvilleTN4.1419310519470167166
183PasadenaTX4.1387105170188165199
184Kansas CityKS4.11177105191163167135
185San BernardinoCA4.01182105157142117157
186MiramarFL3.9814110516997182200
187SpringfieldMA3.96196105134105182150
188Elk GroveCA3.92114105140184150190
189FontanaCA3.9176105142191138132
190JolietIL3.54162105178185167167
191North Las VegasNV3.47170105156191165160
192WacoTX3.4119093173186135145
193ColumbusGA3.241979319092182179
194Cape CoralFL3.15172105189183182172
195Moreno ValleyCA2.96186105164191118168
196BrownsvilleTX2.7119910545191182180
197LaredoTX2.56184105160191167184
198BridgeportCT2.072008368191182189
199WarrenMI2.05194105140178182197
200West Valley CityUT2.02188105176191182198
Infographic showing 2023’s Most Glamorous Cities in the U.S., a ranking based on wealth, fashion, fine dining, and more
Note: For presentation purposes, not all ties may be displayed for some metrics above.

Highlights and Lowlights

The Wealth of Nations

Affluence doesn’t necessarily equate with glamour, but the finer things in life tend to follow (and require) money.

That’s partly why New York, the world’s richest city, is our 2023 Glamour Capital. According to a recent report, “Total private wealth held by [New York]’s residents exceeds USD 3 trillion — higher than the total private wealth held in most major G20 countries.”

Wow.

Unsurprisingly, the Big Apple aced our “Status and Wealth” test — and dominated another four of the six categories in our ranking. 

Where one of the “Big Four” fashion capitals of the world ironically could use some polishing is Beauty. New York ranked No. 61 out of 200 in this category.

If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It

To see or be seen, head to fourth-placer Miami, where appearance matters most.

One of the settings of “The Real Housewives” topped our Beauty category and finished fourth in Fashion. Miami has the most plastic surgeons and the sixth highest number of very expensive spas and beauty businesses (when adjusting per 100,000 upper-income households in both metrics). 

Both outward and inward attractiveness count here. In addition to boasting the fifth best access to luxury car dealerships, Miami employs the second highest number of interior designers per 100,000 homes.

However, some of the Magic City’s flashy finishes could be a mere illusion. Miami sank to 177th place in share of upper-income households (when measuring net worth against local cost of living). Perhaps the exclusive amenities serve only those at the very top of Miami’s economic food chain.

Lackluster Lone Star Cities

Unlike Houston, Dallas, and Austin — Texas’ most well-heeled cities — Laredo, Brownsville, and Waco make up three of our 10 least glamorous cities, the most from any state. None of the other seven bottom cities are from the same state.

In these more well-booted Texas cities, there’s relatively little wealth, outward beauty isn’t a big priority, and exclusive cultural amenities are lacking.

That’s not to say there’s zero sparkle here. Among the three, Laredo has the highest share of upper-income households at No. 84 overall. Waco has transformed into a shiplap-clad travel destination for fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ “Fixer Upper” on the Magnolia Network.

Brownsville has a burgeoning fine-dining scene, thanks to nationally acclaimed Sylvia’s. This taqueria technically isn’t a “fine-dining” restaurant, but its superior quality proves you don’t have to spend like a king to dine like one in Brownsville.

Methodology

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below. 

We then grouped those factors into six categories: Status and Wealth, Clubs, Fine Dining, Beauty, Fashion, and Entertainment.

Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category. 

Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories. 

The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” (No. 200).

Notes: 

  • The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 200 due to ties among cities.
  • “Upper Income” is defined as double the national median household income adjusted by the local cost of living.
  • “Luxury Beauty and Spa Businesses” includes all business categories listed here. Results were filtered by the $$$ and $$$$ “Price” options.
MetricWeightingLowest ValueHighest ValueBest
Status and Wealth
Share of Upper-Income Households32.7%38.8%Highest
Annual County GDP ($Thousands)2$327.5 Million$1.1 TrillionHighest
A&E, Recreation, Accommodation, and Food Services Annual County GDP ($Thousands)1$6.9 Million$47.3 BillionHighest
Share of Million-Dollar Homes30.04%30.49%Highest
Interior Designers per 100,000 Homes32498Highest
Number of Luxury Car Dealerships2049Highest
Number of Private Airports Within 25 Miles1115Highest
Number of Private Heliports1075Highest
Number of Boarding Schools202Highest
Number of Private Schools20619Highest
Featured in "Real Housewives" (1 = Yes, 0 = No)201Highest
Clubs
Number of Platinum Country Clubs205Highest
Number of Yacht Clubs1038Highest
Number of Platinum Yacht Clubs201Highest
Number of Platinum City Clubs2013Highest
Number of Platinum Athletic Clubs201Highest
Number of Equestrian Clubs103Highest
Fine Dining
Number of Fine Dining Restaurants30490Highest
Total Points for Number of Michelin-Starred Restaurants (by Category)30270Highest
Number of Restaurants in NY Times Top 50 List305Highest
Gourmet Food Vendors per Square Mile20.19.4Highest
Beauty
Luxury Beauty and Spa Businesses per 100,000 Upper-Income Households40143Highest
Plastic Surgeons per 100,000 Upper-Income Households20444Highest
Fashion
Hosts Fashion Week Events (1 = Yes, 0 = No)301Highest
Number of Luxury Fashion Stores30248Highest
Number of Luxury Jewelry Shops30107Highest
Number of Luxury Watch Shops3045Highest
Number of Bespoke Clothing Shops2095Highest
Entertainment
Number of Nightlife Options2121,075Highest
Number of Art Galleries20224Highest
Number of Theaters20194Highest
Number of 5-Star Hotels2060Highest
Golfer-Friendliness21200Lowest
Number of Marinas20179Highest
Number of Boat Shows102Highest
Number of Car Shows108Highest
Number of Casinos10145Highest
Number of Opera Houses20123Highest
Number of Cigar Bars1031Highest

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: iStock

Richie Bernardo

Richie Bernardo

Richie Bernardo is a managing editor who previously wrote about personal finance and immigration. Philippine-born, Kansas City-bred, and barbecue-fed, Richie enjoys baking, deal hunting, and binging “Ancient Aliens.”