The Grinchiest Cities in the U.S.

While more than four in five Americans celebrate the Christmas holiday, not everyone is happy about it. Between cold temperatures, early sunsets, and holiday shopping stress, there are plenty of people who feel a bit Grinchy this time of year.

So which cities across the country are the Grinchiest of all? And which cities are overflowing with Christmas cheer? Our team analyzed 75 of the biggest U.S. cities and evaluated them across two dozen metrics to help measure the spirit of the season.

Key findings

• Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the Grinchiest city in the U.S. in 2025.
• Salt Lake City, Utah, is the U.S. city with the most holiday spirit.
• Corpus Christi, Texas, has the fewest holiday events and festivals in the country relative to its population, while Buffalo, New York, has the most.
• Residents of Las Vegas, Nevada, donate money to charity at the lowest rate of any major city, while people living in Salt Lake City give at the highest rate.

The Grinchiest cities in the U.S. this holiday season

1. Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 12.0
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 38.5%
• Holiday score: 23.3/100

As a whole, New Mexico's desert climate isn't exactly what most people think of when it comes to stereotypical Christmas conditions, so maybe it isn't that surprising that the state's largest city doesn't go all out for the holidays. On a per capita basis, Albuquerque ranks in the bottom five in the country for the number of holiday events and holiday decoration shops.

2. Las Vegas, Nevada

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 25.9
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 34.7%
• Holiday score: 33.4/100

Las Vegas is a bustling tourist destination year-round, so the impacts of holiday decor and celebrations may get a bit lost in the general glitz and glamor of Sin City. Vegas is also known as a city that wants to take your money and not give back, something that is reflected in the fact that just 34.7% of residents donate to charity annually, the lowest rate in the country.

3. New York, New York

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 18.2
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 44.4%
• Holiday score: 35.6/100

Finding a fresh Christmas tree in the Big Apple can be tough. NYC has the lowest rate of tree lots and farms per capita of any city in the country, at just 1.6 per 100,000 people. Relative to population, the city also has the second-fewest holiday decoration shops in the country— just 0.8 shops per 100,000 people.

4. Tallahassee, Florida

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 28.2
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 41.5%
• Holiday score: 35.6/100

Shoppers in Florida's state capital might find themselves a bit pressed for options come the holidays, as the city ranks in the bottom 10 in the country when it comes to the number of shopping centers per capita and has the sixth-fewest holiday markets of any city.

5. San Diego, California

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 26.4
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 43.3%
• Holiday score: 35.7/100

San Diego's shopping scene may leave something to be desired for those looking to pick up presents in person. The city ranks in the bottom 25 in the country when it comes to the number of shopping centers and holiday markets per capita, while also ranking in the bottom half of the country in terms of toy stores and department stores relative to population size.

6. Louisville, Kentucky

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 31.0
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 49.0%
• Holiday score: 36.0/100

Relative to its population size, Louisville ranks near the bottom of the country in terms of the number of holiday festivals and events, holiday decoration shops, and Christmas tree lots and sellers available to revelers.

7. Los Angeles, California

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 14.9
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 43.4%
• Holiday score: 36.7/100

The City of Angels is not so angelic when it comes to volunteering. Less than a quarter of Angelenos — just 24.1% — formally volunteer their time annually to help others. That is one of the fifteen lowest rates in the country.

8. Reno, Nevada

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 42.6
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 38.3%
• Holiday score: 37.3/100

Similar to Las Vegas, Reno is one of the least charitable cities in the country, ranking in the bottom three in formal and informal volunteering rates and donations to charity. Reno also has some of the lowest search volumes in the country for terms like "Christmas concert" and "Christmas festival."

9. San Antonio, Texas

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 76.3
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 44.4%
• Holiday score: 37.7/100

Christmas shopping in San Antonio leaves something to be desired, as the city has just 6.2 shopping centers and malls per 100,000, the third-lowest of any city. San Antonio also has low numbers of toy stores and holiday markets per capita, which can make it harder to find the perfect holiday gifts.

10. Corpus Christi, Texas

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 3.2
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 44.7%
• Holiday score: 37.9/100

This Texas city located on the Gulf is another place where traditional winter weather isn't very common, with snow falling there just a handful of times over the last century. When it comes to communal celebrations of the holiday season, options are limited in Corpus Christi, at just 3.2 holiday events per 100,000 people.

The jolliest cities in the U.S. this holiday season

1. Salt Lake City, Utah

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 236.6
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 71.3%
• Holiday score: 83.1/100

Residents of Salt Lake City are the most generous in the country when it comes to both their time and money. More than 71% of people living in SLC donate money to charity, the highest rate of any city we looked. Nearly half of Salt Lake citizens (46.6%) formally volunteer while more than two-thirds (68.2%) informally help others in their community during the year, both of which are the highest rate in the nation for those metrics.

2. Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 61.6
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 67.6%
• Holiday score: 80.0/100

Minneapolis is a city that looks after one another. It has 10.4 food banks per 100,000 people, the second-most of any city. Additionally, over 40% of Minneapolis residents volunteer their time to help others annually, also the second-highest rate in the country.

3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 135.2
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 61.3%
• Holiday score: 76.6/100

Pittsburgh residents are turning to the internet to find holiday cheer more than just about anyone else. Across five search terms covering topics such as holiday events, decorations, and recipes, Pittsburgh's average search volume is the second-highest of any city. Pittsburgh also ranks among the top 10 in toy stores per capita.

4. St. Louis, Missouri

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 92.6
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 55.5%
• Holiday score: 76.4/100

With over 30 skating rinks available to St. Louis residents (one of the 10 highest totals of any city), there are plenty of opportunities to get out on the ice and celebrate the season with friends and family in The Lou. The Gateway to the West also ranks in the top five for the number of holiday decoration shops per 100,000 people (8.9).

5. Cincinnati, Ohio

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 131.8
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 60.3%
• Holiday score: 74.9/100

Cincinnati has a high number of holiday events and festivals relative to its population size, with over 130 events per 100,000 people. The Queen City also boasts some of the highest concentrations of toy stores (20.3) and shopping centers (39.2) per 100,000 people in the country.

6. Cleveland, Ohio

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 154.4
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 59.8%
• Holiday score: 72.2/100

Cleveland offers residents a variety of ways to celebrate the Christmas season. There are more than 150 holiday festivals and events per 100,000 people planned for this year, the sixth-most of any city. Cleveland also has more than 30 skating rinks available and ranks in the top 10 for Christmas tree lots per capita.

7. Seattle, Washington

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 62.8
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 68.8%
• Holiday score: 70.3/100

Seattle has more food banks per capita than any other city in the country, 11.7 per 100,000 people. 68.8% of Seattle residents donate to charity annually, the second-highest rate in the nation, while the city also has high rates of volunteering. Looking beyond helping others, Seattle also has a high number of toy stores relative to the city's population.

8. Hartford, Connecticut

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 104.5
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 64.4%
• Holiday score: 69.6/100

Hartford is located just a few hours from both Boston and New York, and during the holiday season that makes it relatively easy for Hartford residents to enjoy events in those cities as well as more local offerings. As a result, Hartford ranks well across multiple metrics relating to community celebrations, shopping, and more.

9. Atlanta, Georgia

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 85.9
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 51.3%
• Holiday score: 69.0/100

Atlanta is a Christmas shopper's paradise. The city boasts more than 30 shopping centers (36.2) and department stores (35.4) per 100,000 people, landing ATL in the top 10 for both these shopping-related metrics.

10. Grand Rapids, Michigan

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 118.5
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 56.2%
• Holiday score: 67.4/100

Grand Rapids has the 10th-most food banks per capita of anywhere in the country (6.6 per 100,000 people), showing how much they care about their food-insecure population. The Michigan city also boasts over 20 skating rinks for revelers to enjoy and has the 10th-most Christmas tree sellers and lots per capita.

Cities with the most and least number of holiday events and festivals

While every major U.S. city has holiday events and festivals, some places have more than others.

Buffalo, New York, outpaces every other city in the country, with more than 350 holiday celebrations per 100,000 citizens. That is far and away the most of any city, and more than 100 events per 100,000 people more than second place Richmond, Virginia.

On the other hand, Corpus Christi, Texas, has just 3.2 events per 100,000 people scheduled, the lowest rate in the country and around 1/120th the number of events per capita as Buffalo.

Cities where people donate the most and least to charity

One way that some people celebrate the holiday season is by donating to charity.

Residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, are most likely to make a monetary donation to help others. Over 70% of residents give money to charity every year. Seattle, Washington, is second at 68.8%.

Las Vegas residents are the least likely in the country to donate — just 34.7% of residents do so.

Tips for saving this holiday season

The holiday season doesn't have to drain your wallet or your Christmas spirit. Here are some ways to shop smart and save this season:

• Reduce your holiday debt. Switching credit cards is one way to manage your high-interest debt. The longest balance transfer credit cards offer a 0% introductory APR on qualifying purchases for up to 21 months.
• Save while you spend. There are plenty of tools out there that can help you find coupon codes or earn rewards. Capital One Shopping¹ <p>Capital One Shopping compensates us when you get the browser extension using the links we provided.</p> is one option that can help you save money online.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz collected data on 75 of America's biggest cities.

Data for five major categories related to the Christmas holiday were collected for each city. Those categories were communal celebrations and decorations, holiday shopping, holiday season of giving, holiday cheer, and holiday "jeer." Each of those categories was created using individual data points listed below. Each data point was indexed using a 0 to 5 scale. Those scores were then weighted and added together to create a score of 0 to 20 for each category, then added together to give each city an overall score on a 0 to 100 scale. Overarching categories were also weighted against one another. The lowest-scoring cities were deemed to be the "Grinchiest."

For all data points, a weight of 1.00 is standard, with weights above 1.00 having a larger impact on a category's score and those below 1.00 having a lesser impact. The weights and sources for the metrics used are as follows:

Communal Celebrations and Decor - Overall Category Weight: 1.50

• The number of holiday events and festivals per 100,000 people - Eventbrite - Weight: 1.00
• The total number of ice skating rinks - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.50
• The number of holiday decoration shops per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 1.25
• The number of Christmas tree farms/lots/shops per 100,000 people - Real Christmas Tree Board - Weight: 1.25

Holiday Shopping - Overall Category Weight: 1.00

• The number of holiday markets per 100,000 people - Eventbrite - Weight: 0.50
• The number of toy stores per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.50
• The number of department stores per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 0.50
• The number of shopping centers and malls per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 1.00
• Google Shopping score for "Wrapping Paper" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.50
• Google Shopping score for "Christmas Cards" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.50
• Google Shopping score for "Christmas Gifts" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.50

Holiday Season of Giving - Overall Category Weight: 1.50

• The number of food banks per 100,000 people - YellowPages.com - Weight: 1.00
• The percentage of the population that formally volunteers annually - Most recent U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life data release - Weight: 1.00
• The percentage of the population that informally helps others annually - Most recent U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life data release - Weight: 1.00
• The percentage of the population that donates at least $25 to charity annually - Most recent U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life data release - Weight: 1.00

Holiday Cheer - Overall Category Weight: 0.50

• Google Trends score for "Christmas Party" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.60
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Lights" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.60
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Concert" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.50
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Festival" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.60
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Dinner" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.60

Holiday Jeer - Overall Category Weight: 0.50

• Google Trends score for "Bah Humbug" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 1.00
• Google Trends score for "I Hate Christmas" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.75
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Stress" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 1.00
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Anxiety" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 1.00
• Google Trends score for "The Grinch" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.25

In all cases where population was used to create a "per 100,000 people" calculation, population data came from the United States Census Bureau.

Complete factor scores and overall rankings for all 75 cities

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
• Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash

Drawbacks

• Foreign transaction fee of 3%
• No bonus categories

Card Details

• Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.