The Grinchiest Cities in the U.S. [2024]

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

• Los Angeles, California, is the Grinchiest city in the U.S. in 2024.
• Hartford, Connecticut, 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 Miami, Florida, donate money to charity at the lowest rate of any major city, while people living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, give at the highest rate.

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

1. Los Angeles, California

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 48.2
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 1.9
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 44.9%
• Holiday score: 24.4/100

The City of Angels is not so angelic when it comes to volunteering. Less than a quarter of Angelenos — just 22.2% — volunteer their time annually to help others. That is one of the fifteen lowest rates in the country. LA's volunteer participation rate this year is also lower than last year when 24.1% of Angelenos volunteered their time to help others.

2. Louisville, Kentucky

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 51.4
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 1.3
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 48.2%
• Holiday score: 25.2/100

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. That lack of communal celebrations and decor is a big reason Louisville ranks so high on this year's Grinchiest Cities list.

3. Memphis, Tennessee

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 32.3
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 0.8
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 48.6%
• Holiday score: 25.5/100

Residents of Memphis are some of the least likely in the country to search online for Christmas-related terms. Specifically, only two other cities searched the term "Christmas Festival" at lower rates than Memphis, while no other city had a lower search volume for "Christmas Dinner."

4. Houston, Texas

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 32.0
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 1.9
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 43.1%
• Holiday score: 26.5/100

They say everything is bigger in Texas, but they must not have been measuring Houston's charitable spirit when they came up with that phrase. 43.1% of Houston's residents donate to charity annually, one of the ten lowest rates of any city, while less than a quarter (23.9%) volunteer annually, one of the 20 lowest rates in the country.

5. San Antonio, Texas

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 18.7
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 0.5
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 53.7%
• Holiday score: 26.7/100

On a per capita basis, the number of holiday events available to San Antonio residents is among the lowest in the country. While cities in our analysis have an average of around 156 holiday events for every 100,000 people, San Antonio has less than 1/8th that number — just 19 events for every 100,000 residents.

6. New York, New York

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 33.4
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 0.8
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 50.3%
• Holiday score: 27.1/100

Finding a fresh Christmas tree in the Big Apple can be tough. NYC has the second-lowest rate of tree lots and farms per capita of any city in the country, at just 0.2 per 100,000 people. The city also has fewer holiday decoration shops than any other city — just 0.5 shops per 100,000 people.

7. Fort Wayne, Indiana

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 133.3
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 2.6
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 54.6%
• Holiday score: 27.6/100

If internet searches are any indication, folks in Fort Wayne are some of the Grinchiest in the country. Search volume was higher in the Indiana city for negatively charged search terms like "Bah Humbug" and "Christmas Stress" than anywhere else in the country,

8. San Diego, California

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 37.5
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 1.3
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 52.1%
• Holiday score: 28.0/100

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 toy stores, department stores, and holiday markets per capita.

9. Jacksonville, Florida

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 40.6
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 1.6
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 57.5%
• Holiday score: 29.1/100

Similarly to San Diego, Jacksonville's Grinchy scores are heavily influenced by a lack of shopping options. The city has just 6.1 shopping centers and 6.6 department stores for every 100,000 residents, both of which are among the 10 lowest totals of any city. Additionally, the city ranks in the bottom five overall when it comes to the number of skating rinks available to residents looking to lace up their skates and get on the ice this holiday season.

10. Anchorage, Alaska

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 21.0
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 0.3
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 53.6%
• Holiday score: 29.1/100

Alaska is a place that looks like a stereotypical winter for the majority of the year, so maybe it isn't that surprising that people living in the biggest city in the state don't feel the need to go all out when the actual Christmas season rolls along. Anchorage has just 21 holiday celebrations and events per 100,000 people — the fifth-lowest rate of any city. Anchorage also has the lowest internet search volume in the country for "Christmas lights" and "Christmas festival."

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

1. Hartford, Connecticut

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 662.9
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 20.7
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 67.4%
• Holiday score: 76.9/100

Hartford has the second-highest rate of holiday events and festivals in the country, as well as a large number of holiday markets and skating rinks. These factors help make Hartford the jolliest city in America this holiday season.

2. Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 122.3
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 4.0
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 62.5%
• Holiday score: 66.1/100

Minneapolis is a city that looks after one another. It has 9.6 food banks per 100,000 people, the second-most of any city. Additionally, over 42% of Minneapolis residents volunteer their time to help others annually, the sixth-highest rate in the country.

3. Salt Lake City, Utah

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 181.3
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 1.4
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 65.1%
• Holiday score: 65.6/100

Nearly two out of every three Salt Lake City residents donate to charity, and 45% volunteer their time annually. These rates are among the 10 highest in the country.

4. Grand Rapids, Michigan

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 183.1
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 1.5
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 60.9%
• Holiday score: 63.1/100

Grand Rapids residents volunteer at the second-highest rate of any city (45.3%), and the city has the fourth-most food banks per capita of anywhere in the country (7.1 per 100,000 people). The Michigan city also boasts over 20 skating rinks for revelers to enjoy and has the fourth-most Christmas tree sellers and lots per capita.

5. Atlanta, Georgia

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 195.8
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 6.5
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 51.0%
• Holiday score: 62.6/100

Atlanta is a Christmas shopper's paradise. The city boasts more than 30 shopping centers (31.7) and department stores (34.5) per 100,000 people, landing ATL in the top 10 for both these shopping-related metrics.

6. St. Louis, Missouri

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 177.5
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 5.0
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 56.7%
• Holiday score: 61.8/100

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 10 for the number of holiday decoration shops per 100,000 people (7.8).

7. Providence, Rhode Island

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 345.9
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 15.7
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 55.8%
• Holiday score: 59.7/100

Providence ranks well for its number of holiday decoration shops (8.9), toy stores (26.7), holiday markets (15.7), and Christmas tree lots (6.3) per 100,000 people.

8. Cincinnati, Ohio

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 244.3
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 6.8
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 60.7%
• Holiday score: 59.7/100

Cincinnati has a high number of holiday events and festivals relative to its population size, with over 240 events per 100,000 people. The Queen City also boasts some of the highest concentrations of toy stores (17.4) and shopping centers (31.8) per 100,000 people in the country.

9. Riverside, California

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 476.7
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 14.1
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 41.1%
• Holiday score: 59.5/100

Despite ranking in the bottom five for the percentage of residents who donate money to charity, Riverside still lands on the list of jolliest cities. This is because the number of holiday events, toy stores, decoration shops, department stores, and holiday markets are all among the highest in the country.

10. Oakland, California

• Number of holiday events and festivals per 100K people: 494.8
• Number of holiday markets per 100K people: 17.0
• Percentage of the population that donates to charity annually: 52.1%
• Holiday score: 57.1/100

Oakland has the country's third-most holiday markets per 100,000 people (17.0) and the fifth-most shopping centers per capita. The city also has nearly 500 festive holiday events available for every 100,000 residents, good enough for the fourth most of any city.

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 700 holiday celebrations per 100,000 citizens. That is nearly 60 more events per capita than the second-place city, Hartford, Connecticut.

On the other hand, Corpus Christi, Texas, has just 12.6 events per 100,000 people scheduled, the lowest rate in the country and around 1/60th 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 Colorado Springs, Colorado, are most likely to make a monetary donation to help others. Almost 75% of residents give money to charity every year. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is second.

Miami residents are the least likely in the country to donate — just 31% 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 - YellowPages.com - 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 volunteers annually - Most recent U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life data release - Weight: 1.50
• 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: 1.50

Holiday Cheer - Overall Category Weight: 0.50

• Google Trends score for "Christmas Party" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.80
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Lights" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.80
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Concert" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.80
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Festival" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.80
• Google Trends score for "Christmas Dinner" over the last five years - Google Trends - Weight: 0.80

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

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Author Details

Josh Koebert

Josh Koebert is a Senior Content Marketer at FinanceBuzz who writes about personal finance trends. As an experienced researcher, Josh’s data-driven stories focus on the intersection between economics and consumer behavior: where personal finance meets everyday life.