Las Vegas isn’t the only “Sin City” in America, there are plenty of other sinful cities in America. In other cities, bad things happen and stay there, too. From beer-loving Milwaukee to decadent New Orleans, the U.S. is filled with people behaving illicitly. No place is innocent — we all have flaws, and at some point, we all have to pay for our vices. Gambling addiction, for instance, leads to over $100 billion in losses for U.S. consumers every year, while smoking burns an over $600 billion hole in Uncle Sam’s wallet annually.
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Luckily for the saints among us, all American sins are not created or distributed equally. To identify the darkest corners of America, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 37 key indicators of vices and illicit behavior. Our data set ranges from violent crimes per capita to excessive drinking and adult entertainment establishments per capita. Phoenix was ranked as the most sinful city in Arizona and is 2025’s ninth most sinful city, according to the WalletHub study.
Sinfulness of Phoenix (1 = Most Sinful; 91 = Avg.)
- Overall Rank for Phoenix: 9th
- 65th – Anger & Hatred
- 82nd – Jealousy
- 63rd – Excesses & Vices
- 67th – Greed
- 6th – Lust
- 5th – Vanity
- 53rd – Laziness
Most Sinful Cities in America
| Overall Rank* | City | WalletHub Vice Index | Anger & Hatred Rank | Jealousy Rank | Excesses & Vices Rank | Greed Rank | Lust Rank | Vanity Rank | Laziness Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas, NV | 61.94 | 33 | 11 | 67 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | 58.30 | 19 | 5 | 133 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 125 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | 54.93 | 24 | 33 | 164 | 95 | 4 | 1 | 67 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | 54.11 | 2 | 7 | 61 | 66 | 12 | 18 | 64 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | 52.87 | 27 | 2 | 117 | 168 | 2 | 9 | 92 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | 52.62 | 9 | 40 | 44 | 40 | 9 | 15 | 117 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | 52.29 | 134 | 8 | 153 | 74 | 8 | 4 | 25 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | 51.48 | 40 | 10 | 108 | 99 | 7 | 10 | 114 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | 51.27 | 65 | 82 | 63 | 67 | 6 | 5 | 53 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | 50.71 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 29 | 82 | 28 |
| 11 | Baton Rouge, LA | 50.61 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 125 | 77 | 45 | 17 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | 50.04 | 23 | 35 | 123 | 73 | 16 | 8 | 107 |
| 13 | St. Louis, MO | 49.89 | 8 | 21 | 2 | 52 | 40 | 44 | 99 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | 49.88 | 6 | 27 | 8 | 138 | 24 | 32 | 10 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | 49.79 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 117 | 22 | 124 | 22 |
| 16 | Orlando, FL | 49.52 | 13 | 4 | 118 | 161 | 15 | 14 | 134 |
| 17 | New York, NY | 49.42 | 47 | 81 | 174 | 97 | 5 | 3 | 31 |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | 49.12 | 158 | 15 | 43 | 1 | 98 | 21 | 1 |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | 47.43 | 4 | 19 | 21 | 170 | 10 | 65 | 96 |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | 46.35 | 18 | 76 | 14 | 91 | 27 | 27 | 84 |
| 21 | Henderson, NV | 45.84 | 78 | 16 | 141 | 1 | 114 | 69 | 19 |
| 22 | Birmingham, AL | 45.79 | 10 | 20 | 3 | 147 | 73 | 72 | 106 |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | 45.75 | 12 | 23 | 10 | 153 | 19 | 157 | 4 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | 45.17 | 37 | 49 | 73 | 26 | 14 | 40 | 177 |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | 44.80 | 109 | 29 | 97 | 46 | 20 | 26 | 65 |
| 26 | Shreveport, LA | 44.66 | 32 | 22 | 12 | 98 | 59 | 92 | 14 |
| 27 | Tampa, FL | 44.34 | 119 | 52 | 95 | 96 | 11 | 17 | 105 |
| 28 | Little Rock, AR | 44.05 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 169 | 35 | 94 | 18 |
| 29 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 43.80 | 39 | 1 | 152 | 93 | 121 | 58 | 58 |
| 30 | Jacksonville, FL | 43.67 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 156 | 31 | 29 | 33 |
| 31 | Richmond, VA | 43.54 | 25 | 66 | 20 | 124 | 48 | 46 | 75 |
| 32 | Indianapolis, IN | 43.45 | 31 | 56 | 25 | 160 | 17 | 42 | 103 |
| 33 | San Diego, CA | 43.43 | 145 | 123 | 163 | 72 | 33 | 2 | 130 |
| 34 | Charlotte, NC | 43.35 | 99 | 32 | 100 | 106 | 28 | 23 | 63 |
| 35 | Washington, DC | 43.26 | 1 | 26 | 74 | 81 | 36 | 78 | 181 |
| 36 | Cincinnati, OH | 43.06 | 77 | 96 | 5 | 110 | 51 | 25 | 59 |
| 37 | Austin, TX | 43.04 | 137 | 68 | 151 | 33 | 18 | 13 | 172 |
| 38 | Mobile, AL | 42.92 | 63 | 88 | 11 | 80 | 25 | 62 | 49 |
| 39 | Wichita, KS | 42.86 | 38 | 105 | 28 | 59 | 42 | 36 | 70 |
| 40 | Pittsburgh, PA | 42.73 | 52 | 122 | 46 | 63 | 79 | 11 | 168 |
| 41 | San Bernardino, CA | 42.55 | 20 | 69 | 33 | 34 | 101 | 151 | 12 |
| 42 | San Francisco, CA | 42.52 | 62 | 37 | 142 | 104 | 49 | 20 | 121 |
| 43 | Kansas City, MO | 42.48 | 14 | 73 | 27 | 107 | 45 | 57 | 160 |
| 44 | Sacramento, CA | 42.29 | 41 | 98 | 99 | 38 | 84 | 34 | 51 |
| 45 | Tempe, AZ | 42.07 | 26 | 53 | 82 | 144 | 87 | 33 | 45 |
| 46 | Wilmington, DE | 42.03 | 69 | 12 | 53 | 54 | 169 | 70 | 112 |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | 42.00 | 81 | 77 | 127 | 23 | 38 | 22 | 175 |
| 48 | Knoxville, TN | 41.87 | 55 | 152 | 1 | 150 | 109 | 16 | 95 |
| 49 | Reno, NV | 41.45 | 85 | 142 | 62 | 9 | 56 | 61 | 94 |
| 50 | Chattanooga, TN | 41.19 | 15 | 75 | 15 | 123 | 95 | 84 | 129 |
| 51 | Rapid City, SD | 40.83 | 48 | 147 | 104 | 16 | 13 | 129 | 61 |
| 52 | Billings, MT | 40.62 | 50 | 146 | 59 | 8 | 105 | 87 | 97 |
| 53 | Gulfport, MS | 40.50 | 94 | 89 | 49 | 15 | 43 | 150 | 85 |
| 54 | Columbus, OH | 40.46 | 46 | 94 | 45 | 151 | 41 | 41 | 110 |
| 55 | Jackson, MS | 40.33 | 49 | 44 | 32 | 22 | 116 | 168 | 20 |
| 56 | Akron, OH | 40.31 | 34 | 109 | 18 | 165 | 39 | 71 | 42 |
| 57 | Bakersfield, CA | 40.26 | 57 | 106 | 35 | 137 | 67 | 38 | 54 |
| 58 | Toledo, OH | 40.25 | 53 | 140 | 4 | 152 | 32 | 108 | 5 |
| 59 | Montgomery, AL | 40.23 | 64 | 17 | 42 | 174 | 26 | 139 | 34 |
| 60 | Tucson, AZ | 40.19 | 76 | 93 | 30 | 141 | 60 | 47 | 23 |
| 61 | Tacoma, WA | 40.05 | 11 | 43 | 41 | 134 | 136 | 112 | 123 |
| 62 | Fort Worth, TX | 40.05 | 126 | 25 | 94 | 143 | 68 | 28 | 111 |
| 63 | Scottsdale, AZ | 39.97 | 106 | 92 | 166 | 55 | 93 | 12 | 147 |
| 64 | Dover, DE | 39.95 | 68 | 24 | 83 | 109 | 153 | 107 | 83 |
| 65 | Colorado Springs, CO | 39.86 | 16 | 91 | 86 | 113 | 91 | 66 | 119 |
| 66 | Fort Smith, AR | 39.74 | 42 | 148 | 37 | 78 | 21 | 123 | 26 |
| 67 | Charleston, SC | 39.72 | 60 | 58 | 60 | 84 | 108 | 30 | 170 |
| 68 | Vancouver, WA | 39.68 | 43 | 87 | 70 | 79 | 118 | 43 | 150 |
| 69 | Long Beach, CA | 39.65 | 104 | 30 | 135 | 27 | 129 | 79 | 69 |
| 70 | Louisville, KY | 39.57 | 51 | 118 | 34 | 159 | 50 | 31 | 89 |
| 71 | Columbia, SC | 39.54 | 82 | 54 | 31 | 88 | 103 | 76 | 56 |
| 72 | Seattle, WA | 39.54 | 71 | 59 | 167 | 70 | 30 | 24 | 178 |
| 73 | Albuquerque, NM | 39.38 | 35 | 84 | 50 | 142 | 94 | 80 | 36 |
| 74 | Charleston, WV | 39.15 | 22 | 137 | 23 | 71 | 74 | 95 | 115 |
| 75 | Aurora, CO | 38.90 | 75 | 85 | 36 | 10 | 138 | 135 | 68 |
| 76 | Milwaukee, WI | 38.85 | 29 | 116 | 24 | 101 | 65 | 109 | 141 |
| 77 | Oklahoma City, OK | 38.38 | 72 | 136 | 69 | 164 | 44 | 37 | 32 |
| 78 | Glendale, AZ | 38.28 | 110 | 72 | 26 | 102 | 100 | 100 | 35 |
| 79 | Buffalo, NY | 38.25 | 61 | 104 | 55 | 132 | 102 | 98 | 16 |
| 80 | Fayetteville, NC | 38.20 | 74 | 60 | 29 | 130 | 61 | 118 | 118 |
| 81 | Omaha, NE | 38.17 | 100 | 127 | 81 | 82 | 66 | 54 | 27 |
| 82 | Huntington, WV | 37.93 | 54 | 167 | 6 | 136 | 104 | 86 | 7 |
| 83 | Corpus Christi, TX | 37.92 | 36 | 144 | 56 | 69 | 46 | 145 | 66 |
| 84 | Salem, OR | 37.90 | 58 | 154 | 90 | 17 | 122 | 85 | 50 |
| 85 | Salt Lake City, UT | 37.55 | 30 | 63 | 161 | 163 | 47 | 39 | 173 |
| 86 | Cheyenne, WY | 37.37 | 45 | 129 | 103 | 103 | 53 | 122 | 44 |
| 87 | Riverside, CA | 37.23 | 136 | 70 | 54 | 128 | 147 | 60 | 41 |
| 88 | Missoula, MT | 37.21 | 88 | 134 | 88 | 5 | 151 | 128 | 145 |
| 89 | St. Petersburg, FL | 37.17 | 122 | 36 | 85 | 157 | 117 | 77 | 76 |
| 90 | Arlington, TX | 36.99 | 138 | 28 | 93 | 41 | 133 | 131 | 104 |
| 91 | Rochester, NY | 36.94 | 89 | 57 | 47 | 155 | 125 | 48 | 149 |
| 92 | Springfield, MO | 36.87 | 56 | 125 | 19 | 177 | 63 | 50 | 77 |
| 93 | Huntington Beach, CA | 36.72 | 165 | 51 | 175 | 27 | 166 | 19 | 159 |
| 94 | El Paso, TX | 36.61 | 90 | 161 | 84 | 47 | 23 | 120 | 135 |
| 95 | Fresno, CA | 36.32 | 84 | 115 | 92 | 90 | 82 | 88 | 91 |
| 96 | Oakland, CA | 36.26 | 17 | 37 | 171 | 92 | 177 | 147 | 137 |
| 97 | Spokane, WA | 36.25 | 105 | 67 | 66 | 115 | 113 | 116 | 113 |
| 98 | Anchorage, AK | 36.25 | 21 | 159 | 111 | 86 | 90 | 102 | 101 |
| 99 | Boston, MA | 36.21 | 97 | 102 | 137 | 39 | 78 | 52 | 164 |
| 100 | Santa Clarita, CA | 36.17 | 147 | 71 | 154 | 27 | 139 | 67 | 124 |
| 101 | Tulsa, OK | 36.01 | 87 | 114 | 52 | 175 | 71 | 56 | 47 |
| 102 | Grand Prairie, TX | 35.96 | 168 | 48 | 101 | 41 | 64 | 165 | 80 |
| 103 | Gilbert, AZ | 35.93 | 118 | 131 | 126 | 129 | 81 | 35 | 102 |
| 104 | Hialeah, FL | 35.84 | 178 | 13 | 162 | 100 | 107 | 143 | 9 |
| 105 | Santa Ana, CA | 35.81 | 98 | 50 | 107 | 27 | 175 | 146 | 74 |
| 106 | Garland, TX | 35.79 | 125 | 34 | 138 | 112 | 80 | 166 | 72 |
| 107 | Augusta, GA | 35.63 | 116 | 42 | 16 | 179 | 57 | 133 | 46 |
| 108 | Lubbock, TX | 35.50 | 101 | 78 | 22 | 145 | 62 | 117 | 176 |
| 109 | Newark, NJ | 35.45 | 148 | 90 | 115 | 45 | 135 | 174 | 2 |
| 110 | Ontario, CA | 35.36 | 115 | 103 | 77 | 34 | 140 | 160 | 24 |
| 111 | Irving, TX | 35.30 | 170 | 31 | 149 | 114 | 83 | 148 | 52 |
| 112 | Glendale, CA | 35.25 | 150 | 45 | 168 | 85 | 149 | 89 | 86 |
| 113 | Mesa, AZ | 35.20 | 121 | 107 | 71 | 148 | 111 | 73 | 60 |
| 114 | Des Moines, IA | 35.19 | 70 | 153 | 51 | 105 | 92 | 99 | 88 |
| 115 | Stockton, CA | 35.18 | 66 | 107 | 105 | 83 | 110 | 144 | 55 |
| 116 | Anaheim, CA | 35.05 | 108 | 41 | 144 | 119 | 111 | 140 | 109 |
| 117 | Las Cruces, NM | 35.03 | 135 | 74 | 96 | 133 | 55 | 167 | 21 |
| 118 | Columbus, GA | 34.87 | 86 | 62 | 72 | 181 | 58 | 130 | 39 |
| 119 | Raleigh, NC | 34.86 | 113 | 99 | 139 | 77 | 128 | 63 | 140 |
| 120 | Chandler, AZ | 34.81 | 156 | 117 | 122 | 87 | 127 | 49 | 108 |
| 121 | Providence, RI | 34.79 | 177 | 141 | 88 | 6 | 76 | 169 | 15 |
| 122 | Norfolk, VA | 34.64 | 114 | 61 | 38 | 60 | 97 | 156 | 174 |
| 123 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 34.50 | 141 | 110 | 157 | 34 | 106 | 115 | 81 |
| 124 | Oceanside, CA | 34.41 | 112 | 126 | 120 | 89 | 146 | 81 | 120 |
| 125 | Juneau, AK | 34.31 | 59 | 133 | 125 | 31 | 141 | 119 | 138 |
| 126 | Newport News, VA | 34.26 | 83 | 100 | 102 | 60 | 86 | 161 | 132 |
| 127 | St. Paul, MN | 34.20 | 123 | 149 | 119 | 32 | 126 | 90 | 165 |
| 128 | Greensboro, NC | 34.06 | 95 | 79 | 68 | 158 | 130 | 101 | 142 |
| 129 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 34.01 | 179 | 14 | 165 | 93 | 142 | 158 | 43 |
| 130 | Casper, WY | 33.38 | 67 | 182 | 91 | 120 | 37 | 155 | 6 |
| 131 | Nampa, ID | 33.35 | 103 | 180 | 124 | 53 | 96 | 97 | 13 |
| 132 | Jersey City, NJ | 33.23 | 128 | 113 | 177 | 4 | 158 | 162 | 38 |
| 133 | Modesto, CA | 33.18 | 91 | 165 | 79 | 127 | 85 | 110 | 133 |
| 134 | Sioux Falls, SD | 33.10 | 111 | 173 | 121 | 21 | 115 | 111 | 143 |
| 135 | Warwick, RI | 33.07 | 182 | 158 | 106 | 6 | 181 | 103 | 48 |
| 136 | Fontana, CA | 32.99 | 163 | 130 | 87 | 34 | 145 | 153 | 30 |
| 137 | Lewiston, ME | 32.66 | 144 | 178 | 65 | 14 | 174 | 163 | 8 |
| 138 | Manchester, NH | 32.58 | 80 | 169 | 146 | 48 | 170 | 113 | 71 |
| 139 | Grand Rapids, MI | 32.55 | 79 | 156 | 64 | 180 | 88 | 51 | 62 |
| 140 | Oxnard, CA | 32.40 | 127 | 160 | 76 | 75 | 155 | 127 | 73 |
| 141 | Plano, TX | 32.40 | 107 | 47 | 176 | 135 | 171 | 106 | 158 |
| 142 | New Haven, CT | 32.22 | 155 | 83 | 116 | 58 | 150 | 173 | 29 |
| 143 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 32.19 | 133 | 166 | 58 | 131 | 131 | 74 | 127 |
| 144 | Winston-Salem, NC | 32.18 | 93 | 138 | 40 | 171 | 120 | 132 | 87 |
| 145 | Amarillo, TX | 32.18 | 96 | 135 | 78 | 167 | 54 | 136 | 153 |
| 146 | Tallahassee, FL | 32.04 | 73 | 55 | 80 | 182 | 152 | 105 | 154 |
| 147 | Durham, NC | 32.02 | 149 | 86 | 109 | 20 | 172 | 152 | 146 |
| 148 | Moreno Valley, CA | 31.98 | 160 | 112 | 75 | 126 | 134 | 180 | 37 |
| 149 | Peoria, AZ | 31.81 | 140 | 120 | 113 | 122 | 132 | 137 | 126 |
| 150 | Bismarck, ND | 31.74 | 92 | 171 | 134 | 146 | 72 | 83 | 144 |
| 151 | Santa Rosa, CA | 31.73 | 102 | 177 | 160 | 13 | 176 | 59 | 136 |
| 152 | Fargo, ND | 31.65 | 153 | 139 | 156 | 25 | 137 | 138 | 161 |
| 153 | Aurora, IL | 31.50 | 167 | 101 | 131 | 65 | 164 | 181 | 82 |
| 154 | Lincoln, NE | 31.47 | 130 | 170 | 130 | 50 | 124 | 104 | 79 |
| 155 | Garden Grove, CA | 31.33 | 146 | 65 | 159 | 108 | 163 | 175 | 78 |
| 156 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 31.29 | 143 | 145 | 39 | 176 | 75 | 91 | 162 |
| 157 | Worcester, MA | 31.27 | 161 | 155 | 112 | 12 | 168 | 134 | 122 |
| 158 | Yonkers, NY | 31.23 | 166 | 119 | 173 | 116 | 178 | 68 | 57 |
| 159 | Fort Wayne, IN | 30.99 | 131 | 164 | 57 | 178 | 70 | 55 | 98 |
| 160 | Burlington, VT | 30.97 | 151 | 80 | 143 | 43 | 162 | 177 | 152 |
| 161 | Chula Vista, CA | 30.95 | 159 | 143 | 145 | 76 | 144 | 154 | 90 |
| 162 | Irvine, CA | 30.75 | 164 | 64 | 181 | 118 | 159 | 96 | 156 |
| 163 | Huntsville, AL | 30.59 | 142 | 150 | 110 | 111 | 99 | 121 | 151 |
| 164 | Nashua, NH | 30.52 | 157 | 176 | 155 | 19 | 180 | 126 | 93 |
| 165 | Brownsville, TX | 30.37 | 171 | 174 | 132 | 51 | 52 | 179 | 11 |
| 166 | Overland Park, KS | 30.21 | 132 | 157 | 169 | 18 | 160 | 93 | 179 |
| 167 | San Jose, CA | 30.09 | 120 | 132 | 179 | 172 | 119 | 53 | 148 |
| 168 | Chesapeake, VA | 30.06 | 154 | 121 | 98 | 60 | 157 | 141 | 169 |
| 169 | Cape Coral, FL | 29.77 | 173 | 124 | 129 | 139 | 89 | 149 | 128 |
| 170 | Virginia Beach, VA | 29.56 | 175 | 128 | 114 | 154 | 143 | 64 | 171 |
| 171 | South Burlington, VT | 29.46 | 124 | 95 | 172 | 43 | 165 | 182 | 182 |
| 172 | Honolulu, HI | 29.38 | 180 | 172 | 170 | 56 | 69 | 125 | 116 |
| 173 | Boise, ID | 29.36 | 129 | 179 | 148 | 149 | 123 | 75 | 139 |
| 174 | Laredo, TX | 29.30 | 172 | 181 | 128 | 64 | 34 | 172 | 100 |
| 175 | Bridgeport, CT | 28.46 | 169 | 151 | 150 | 57 | 179 | 176 | 40 |
| 176 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 28.25 | 174 | 97 | 140 | 162 | 148 | 164 | 131 |
| 177 | Portland, ME | 27.50 | 152 | 175 | 136 | 68 | 173 | 142 | 163 |
| 178 | Fremont, CA | 26.76 | 139 | 111 | 182 | 121 | 154 | 171 | 155 |
| 179 | West Valley City, UT | 26.67 | 117 | 162 | 147 | 173 | 156 | 170 | 166 |
| 180 | Pearl City, HI | 26.29 | 181 | 168 | 178 | 11 | 161 | 178 | 157 |
| 181 | Madison, WI | 26.15 | 162 | 163 | 158 | 166 | 167 | 114 | 167 |
| 182 | Columbia, MD | 23.95 | 176 | 39 | 180 | 140 | 182 | 159 | 180 |