Here are the best-run cities in Arizona and the U.S.

Recent years have been a true test of the effectiveness of local leadership, from public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic to higher-than-average inflation and other issues like elevated homicide rates. Even during less difficult times, running a city is a tall order. The larger the city, the more complex it becomes to manage. Local leaders must balance the public’s diverse interests with the city’s limited resources. Leaders must carefully consider which services are most essential, which agencies’ budgets to cut or boost, and how much to charge in local taxes, among other decisions. But how do we measure the effectiveness of local leadership and how do we determine the best and worst-run cities in Arizona and the U.S.?

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One way is by determining a city’s operating efficiency. In other words, we can learn how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of the services residents receive against the city’s total budget. Using that approach, WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 148 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal which among them are managed best. We constructed a “Quality of Services” score made up of 36 metrics grouped into six service categories, which we then measured against the city’s per-capita budget.

“The best-run cities in America use their budgets most effectively to provide high-quality financial security, education, health, safety and transportation to their residents,” says Cassandra Happe, Wallethub analyst. “Many of the top cities also have a very low amount of outstanding government debt per capita, which can prevent financial troubles in the future.”

Main Findings

The best-run cities in Arizona

No. 1. Mesa

WalletHub rank: #26 of 149

Quality of city services rank: 39

Financial stability rank: 59

Education rank: 48

Health rank: 64

Safety rank: 37

Economy rank: 7

Infrastructure and pollution rank: 142

No. 2. Tucson

WalletHub rank: #30 of 149

Quality of city services rank: 95

Financial stability rank: 90

Education rank: 101

Health rank: 69

Safety rank: 119

Economy rank: 45

Infrastructure and pollution rank: 99

No. 3. Phoenix

WalletHub rank: #40 of 149

Quality of city services rank: 46

Financial stability rank: 35

Education rank: 93

Health rank: 61

Safety rank: 104

Economy rank: 5

Infrastructure and pollution rank: 67

Best-Run Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Quality of City Services Rank	Total Budget per Capita Rank
1	Nampa, ID	45	1
2	Lexington-Fayette, KY	41	2
3	Boise, ID	4	4
4	Nashua, NH	3	13
5	Oklahoma City, OK	58	6
6	Durham, NC	16	20
7	Provo, UT	6	29
8	Fort Wayne, IN	49	11
9	Sioux Falls, SD	29	16
10	Wichita, KS	98	5
11	Raleigh, NC	12	33
12	Columbus, GA	83	8
13	Warwick, RI	37	19
14	Las Cruces, NM	85	7
15	Missoula, MT	59	15
16	Billings, MT	87	9
17	Huntington, WV	105	10
18	Manchester, NH	38	27
19	Bismarck, ND	25	35
20	Baton Rouge, LA	139	3
21	Madison, WI	14	41
22	Virginia Beach, VA	1	53
23	Grand Rapids, MI	33	31
24	Lincoln, NE	27	34
25	Mesa, AZ	51	28
26	Rapid City, SD	115	12
27	Greensboro, NC	70	23
28	Aurora, IL	32	40
29	Tulsa, OK	81	25
30	Warren, MI	69	30
31	Tucson, AZ	112	17
32	Chesapeake, VA	8	61
33	Phoenix, AZ	55	38
34	Topeka, KS	109	24
35	Cedar Rapids, IA	47	42
36	St. Petersburg, FL	36	50
37	Albuquerque, NM	119	22
38	Worcester, MA	28	57
39	Reno, NV	52	48
40	Lewiston, ME	93	37
41	Salem, OR	46	55
42	Jacksonville, FL	68	45
43	Mobile, AL	94	39
44	Corpus Christi, TX	86	43
45	Portland, ME	10	80
46	Colorado Springs, CO	61	54
47	Las Vegas, NV	35	66
48	El Paso, TX	42	61
49	Fort Worth, TX	80	46
50	Arlington, TX	48	60
51	Columbia, SC	44	67
52	Little Rock, AR	123	32
53	Charleston, SC	7	91
54	Bridgeport, CT	91	47
55	Eugene, OR	34	73
56	Louisville, KY	104	49
57	Casper, WY	90	51
58	Hialeah, FL	18	88
59	Fargo, ND	64	64
60	Providence, RI	95	52
61	Frederick, MD	5	100
62	Miami, FL	15	93
63	Montgomery, AL	126	36
64	Toledo, OH	141	21
65	Huntington Beach, CA	2	110
66	Tallahassee, FL	65	71
67	Boston, MA	9	103
68	Dover, DE	82	69
69	Aurora, CO	89	65
70	Spokane, WA	66	74
71	Garland, TX	60	79
72	Omaha, NE	50	83
73	Columbus, OH	73	76
74	Springfield, MA	108	68
75	Anchorage, AK	88	72
76	Fort Smith, AR	135	44
77	Fairbanks, AK	120	56
78	Shreveport, LA	143	26
79	San Diego, CA	13	116
80	Des Moines, IA	67	86
81	Portland, OR	22	111
82	Tampa, FL	20	114
83	Gary, IN	146	18
84	Santa Ana, CA	43	99
85	Houston, TX	102	75
86	Rutland, VT	122	63
87	Orlando, FL	21	115
88	Akron, OH	92	82
89	Austin, TX	11	122
90	St. Paul, MN	56	102
91	Jackson, MS	147	14
92	Milwaukee, WI	133	58
93	Indianapolis, IN	111	78
94	San Antonio, TX	63	101
95	Richmond, VA	101	90
96	Minneapolis, MN	54	112
97	Dallas, TX	107	95
98	Norfolk, VA	121	85
99	Cincinnati, OH	106	98
100	Fremont, CA	19	128
101	Burlington, VT	71	113
102	Atlanta, GA	62	117
103	Dayton, OH	118	89
104	Anaheim, CA	78	109
105	Lubbock, TX	97	106
106	Wilmington, DE	99	105
107	Charleston, WV	132	81
108	Birmingham, AL	129	84
109	Buffalo, NY	76	119
110	Bakersfield, CA	125	92
111	San Jose, CA	23	134
112	Syracuse, NY	84	120
113	Charlotte, NC	26	135
114	Pittsburgh, PA	40	132
115	Kansas City, MO	127	94
116	Modesto, CA	96	121
117	New Haven, CT	128	96
118	Knoxville, TN	72	125
119	Stockton, CA	137	87
120	New Orleans, LA	140	77
121	Fort Lauderdale, FL	53	131
122	St. Louis, MO	145	59
123	Seattle, WA	17	140
124	Nashville, TN	117	118
125	Cheyenne, WY	77	126
126	Baltimore, MD	130	108
127	Rochester, NY	75	129
128	Hartford, CT	136	104
129	Fresno, CA	114	123
130	Salt Lake City, UT	39	141
131	Kansas City, KS	138	107
132	Yonkers, NY	31	142
133	Riverside, CA	110	133
134	Memphis, TN	142	97
135	Long Beach, CA	74	139
136	Sacramento, CA	100	137
137	Chicago, IL	131	124
138	Philadelphia, PA	124	130
139	Los Angeles, CA	57	144
140	Detroit, MI	148	70
141	Denver, CO	79	143
142	Tacoma, WA	113	138
143	Cleveland, OH	134	136
144	Flint, MI	144	127
145	New York, NY	30	147
146	Gulfport, MS	116	145
147	Oakland, CA	103	146
148	San Francisco, CA	24	148

Detailed breakdown of the best-run cities

Quality of City Services* (Score)	City	Financial Stability Rank	Education Rank	Health Rank	Safety Rank	Economy Rank	Infrastructure & Pollution Rank
1 (69.02)	Virginia Beach, VA	9	3	60	7	9	95
2 (68.29)	Huntington Beach, CA	76	1	10	12	40	48
3 (67.29)	Nashua, NH	19	39	41	1	21	43
4 (66.22)	Boise, ID	44	44	22	2	1	93
5 (65.23)	Frederick, MD	30	5	37	14	105	11
6 (65.09)	Provo, UT	27	24	34	6	64	62
7 (64.89)	Charleston, SC	16	19	72	30	4	57
8 (64.85)	Chesapeake, VA	6	12	62	16	14	134
9 (64.01)	Boston, MA	3	138	6	15	89	28
10 (63.95)	Portland, ME	37	74	64	9	6	6
11 (63.79)	Austin, TX	29	8	19	75	17	50
12 (63.61)	Raleigh, NC	11	49	21	44	13	85
13 (63.60)	San Diego, CA	86	7	13	28	60	36
14 (63.42)	Madison, WI	10	71	18	18	71	84
15 (63.10)	Miami, FL	85	4	27	67	15	17
16 (62.30)	Durham, NC	4	11	23	60	19	138
17 (62.05)	Seattle, WA	20	10	11	110	53	22
18 (62.02)	Hialeah, FL	126	2	44	10	10	131
19 (61.81)	Fremont, CA	117	9	5	26	35	101
20 (61.46)	Tampa, FL	39	30	65	51	16	29
21 (61.20)	Orlando, FL	35	17	28	108	8	15
22 (60.98)	Portland, OR	17	6	16	126	98	9
23 (60.88)	San Jose, CA	47	36	2	42	110	126
24 (60.79)	San Francisco, CA	52	15	1	107	133	12
25 (60.71)	Bismarck, ND	23	91	31	27	61	79
26 (59.92)	Charlotte, NC	13	47	43	77	12	115
27 (59.66)	Lincoln, NE	2	89	81	35	46	116
28 (59.19)	Worcester, MA	92	62	32	22	44	65
29 (59.02)	Sioux Falls, SD	56	60	45	39	36	92
30 (59.00)	New York, NY	103	32	17	25	131	26
31 (58.90)	Yonkers, NY	133	45	8	3	130	47
32 (58.87)	Aurora, IL	114	20	26	8	100	121
33 (58.85)	Grand Rapids, MI	69	58	52	57	33	14
34 (58.78)	Eugene, OR	22	41	89	48	107	37
35 (58.22)	Las Vegas, NV	83	80	61	40	38	24
36 (57.91)	St. Petersburg, FL	94	68	69	65	2	35
37 (57.83)	Warwick, RI	105	79	78	4	50	104
38 (57.65)	Manchester, NH	90	124	35	29	47	34
39 (57.50)	Salt Lake City, UT	33	22	24	136	31	10
40 (57.49)	Pittsburgh, PA	124	16	54	43	58	8
41 (57.27)	Lexington-Fayette, KY	58	52	51	34	81	127
42 (57.21)	El Paso, TX	102	13	83	13	42	109
43 (57.11)	Santa Ana, CA	84	42	9	31	95	123
44 (56.97)	Columbia, SC	40	113	76	55	20	60
45 (56.91)	Nampa, ID	82	139	94	5	18	114
46 (56.80)	Salem, OR	74	72	30	56	67	88
47 (56.68)	Cedar Rapids, IA	28	92	77	32	125	91
48 (56.48)	Arlington, TX	65	33	87	36	24	144
49 (56.31)	Fort Wayne, IN	21	70	115	17	78	133
50 (56.19)	Omaha, NE	75	65	67	47	51	100
51 (56.01)	Mesa, AZ	61	90	82	38	5	140
52 (55.95)	Reno, NV	100	51	46	37	77	106
53 (55.80)	Fort Lauderdale, FL	41	57	33	135	7	54
54 (55.79)	Minneapolis, MN	43	135	25	125	76	1
55 (55.71)	Phoenix, AZ	32	103	80	102	11	53
56 (55.65)	St. Paul, MN	51	129	86	82	75	3
57 (55.31)	Los Angeles, CA	95	40	20	74	132	73
58 (55.27)	Oklahoma City, OK	8	84	109	70	32	135
59 (55.20)	Missoula, MT	120	21	58	68	48	80
60 (55.12)	Garland, TX	104	35	75	24	25	148
61 (55.07)	Colorado Springs, CO	71	63	74	66	28	118
62 (54.59)	Atlanta, GA	79	93	85	119	3	32
63 (54.46)	San Antonio, TX	24	54	91	123	52	72
64 (54.36)	Fargo, ND	98	118	29	54	88	45
65 (54.30)	Tallahassee, FL	77	26	127	64	106	13
66 (54.26)	Spokane, WA	68	46	56	96	73	96
67 (54.17)	Des Moines, IA	66	109	42	76	123	59
68 (54.09)	Jacksonville, FL	70	50	123	81	29	42
69 (53.81)	Warren, MI	59	112	90	23	30	56
70 (53.71)	Greensboro, NC	5	38	129	90	104	122
71 (53.55)	Burlington, VT	96	128	3	88	72	27
72 (53.51)	Knoxville, TN	38	34	125	118	43	39
73 (53.10)	Columbus, OH	63	105	112	50	70	86
74 (52.99)	Long Beach, CA	130	23	14	62	121	119
75 (52.72)	Rochester, NY	109	95	71	71	122	2
76 (52.62)	Buffalo, NY	106	100	53	58	140	23
77 (52.55)	Cheyenne, WY	15	121	95	33	56	83
78 (52.55)	Anaheim, CA	139	18	7	69	94	124
79 (52.42)	Denver, CO	50	104	39	132	80	64
80 (52.39)	Fort Worth, TX	107	48	63	52	49	143
81 (52.33)	Tulsa, OK	26	77	108	122	39	103
82 (52.26)	Dover, DE	87	85	99	86	74	41
83 (52.20)	Columbus, GA	49	56	140	53	114	66
84 (52.12)	Syracuse, NY	113	110	48	49	144	4
85 (52.00)	Las Cruces, NM	55	81	70	120	102	78
86 (51.95)	Corpus Christi, TX	80	28	120	72	54	136
87 (51.69)	Billings, MT	54	83	116	97	34	111
88 (51.46)	Anchorage, AK	42	55	88	79	65	77
89 (51.43)	Aurora, CO	34	98	36	114	99	139
90 (51.35)	Casper, WY	1	133	119	19	86	76
91 (51.33)	Bridgeport, CT	140	99	12	11	147	61
92 (51.20)	Akron, OH	88	106	103	80	84	54
93 (51.12)	Lewiston, ME	93	146	137	21	22	44
94 (51.12)	Mobile, AL	57	27	131	100	109	38
95 (50.96)	Providence, RI	138	136	38	20	82	51
96 (50.96)	Modesto, CA	122	88	97	46	79	97
97 (50.90)	Lubbock, TX	72	14	92	121	69	141
98 (50.67)	Wichita, KS	81	107	100	91	59	110
99 (50.65)	Wilmington, DE	73	73	102	113	127	7
100 (50.62)	Sacramento, CA	119	64	47	99	92	102
101 (50.45)	Richmond, VA	36	140	135	59	55	71
102 (50.44)	Houston, TX	112	25	57	131	66	108
103 (50.38)	Oakland, CA	61	82	4	143	137	98
104 (50.31)	Louisville, KY	46	101	113	109	119	68
105 (50.10)	Huntington, WV	12	69	130	61	115	31
106 (50.02)	Cincinnati, OH	97	86	122	87	128	19
107 (49.88)	Dallas, TX	132	66	59	106	27	107
108 (49.78)	Springfield, MA	125	120	84	41	136	49
109 (49.59)	Topeka, KS	99	102	124	83	68	21
110 (49.42)	Riverside, CA	127	67	55	85	37	142
111 (48.66)	Indianapolis, IN	14	125	139	103	83	120
112 (48.41)	Tucson, AZ	89	115	73	129	90	99
113 (48.29)	Tacoma, WA	101	76	40	141	87	52
114 (48.25)	Fresno, CA	118	53	79	95	118	137
115 (48.15)	Rapid City, SD	60	122	142	89	41	113
116 (48.07)	Gulfport, MS	131	75	98	78	85	117
117 (47.98)	Nashville, TN	110	117	106	127	23	90
118 (47.23)	Dayton, OH	64	97	114	133	135	30
119 (46.86)	Albuquerque, NM	91	116	111	139	26	74
120 (46.43)	Fairbanks, AK	18	137	50	98	112	87
121 (46.41)	Norfolk, VA	78	127	148	92	45	112
122 (46.21)	Rutland, VT	7	131	66	115	103	25
123 (45.97)	Little Rock, AR	31	94	107	146	97	69
124 (45.90)	Philadelphia, PA	123	141	121	101	57	58
125 (45.88)	Bakersfield, CA	115	78	110	84	120	147
126 (45.62)	Montgomery, AL	108	43	142	116	108	40
127 (45.36)	Kansas City, MO	116	59	104	138	91	105
128 (45.36)	New Haven, CT	143	114	49	73	139	18
129 (44.98)	Birmingham, AL	111	31	117	144	96	67
130 (44.96)	Baltimore, MD	48	144	146	105	124	82
131 (44.44)	Chicago, IL	148	61	68	45	126	33
132 (44.25)	Charleston, WV	135	37	136	117	63	46
133 (43.91)	Milwaukee, WI	137	123	93	124	101	81
134 (43.75)	Cleveland, OH	121	132	101	134	129	89
135 (43.57)	Fort Smith, AR	136	29	128	130	113	63
136 (43.33)	Hartford, CT	147	108	15	63	146	5
137 (42.22)	Stockton, CA	141	96	96	94	111	146
138 (41.99)	Kansas City, KS	142	145	105	111	62	70
139 (40.11)	Baton Rouge, LA	45	119	134	145	142	132
140 (40.04)	New Orleans, LA	128	148	118	142	143	16
141 (39.92)	Toledo, OH	129	143	138	93	134	125
142 (38.69)	Memphis, TN	67	126	132	148	117	130
143 (37.18)	Shreveport, LA	144	87	144	104	138	94
144 (37.12)	Flint, MI	25	142	145	128	141	75
145 (35.72)	St. Louis, MO	134	147	147	147	93	20
146 (35.05)	Gary, IN	53	130	126	112	148	145
147 (31.57)	Jackson, MS	146	111	133	137	116	128
148 (30.11)	Detroit, MI	145	134	141	140	145	129