20 cities with the best work-life balance and mental health

October 3, 2024 11:00 AM

Executive manager or startup mentor explaining work to young focused intern, looking at laptop screen in white office, teaching and training new worker

The opportunity for remote work is now more common, leading to a better work-life balance and better mental health for employees, preventing burnout. While balance and mental health could look different for every individual based on personal preferences, some cities tend to provide more opportunities for a better work/life balance.

CoworkingCafe recently ranked the cities with the best work-life balance and mental health through an evaluation of 100 cities with populations of 200,000 or more, measuring factors including how much people work, the accessibility of free-time venues and health care, as well as the abundance of green spaces and air quality. It also measured the financial burden in those cities, as well as remote work options and commute times.

Read more: Creating a worthy work environment

Minneapolis ranks as the top city with the best work-life balance and mental health, with Minnesotan salaries' growing purchasing power and a significant drop in air pollution. The city has one of the highest health insurance coverage rates, at 94%, as well as an average work week of less than 38 hours — and 19% of workers in remote jobs, fostering better mental health.

Other top cities include St. Paul, Minnesota, and Lincoln, Nebraska. St. Paul saw a significant adjustment in price levels, which boosted affordability in the city, as well as shrinking commute times to an average of 23.1 minutes. Lincoln ranked towards the top in mental health due to its average 37.2-hour work week. The city also boasts an average commute time of less than 19 minutes, but only 9% of workers work remotely.

Read more about the cities with the best work/life balance and mental health.

Rank	City	Overall score	Mental health score	Affordability score	Remote work score	Commute score
20	Scottsdale, AZ	66.2	34	82	98	84
19	Fremont, CA	67.7	71	65	97	4
18	Durham, NC	67.8	56	73	81	73
17	Pittsburgh, PA	68	94	28	79	62
16	Henderson, NV	68.8	54	98	62	54
15	Virginia Beach, VA	69.8	64	95	49	59
14	Portland, OR	70.3	90	39	90	46
13	Albuquerque, NM	70.6	86	67	43	75
12	Boise, ID	72.1	92	42	66	95
11	Lexington, KY	72.2	81	84	30	86
10	Des Moines, IA	73.8	79	86	36	92
9	Omaha, NE	74.9	73	89	48	94
8	Chesapeake, VA	75.3	87	99	37	34
7	Irvine, CA	75.6	95	47	93	49
6	Columbus, OH	75.7	77	83	61	78
5	Raleigh, NC	77.5	62	100	85	57
4	Madison, WI	81.7	100	60	72	93
3	Lincoln, NE	82	99	93	23	99
2	St. Paul, MN	83.5	98	79	71	64
1	Minneapolis, MN	86.1	88	92	83	67