Thanksgiving is one of America’s most beloved holidays, giving families a chance to share a meal together and reflect on all the things for which they are grateful. But even though Thanksgiving is centered on family and gratefulness, it’s still become a highly commercialized holiday. For example, consumers spent $325 per person during the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday last year.
To help Americans find the best places for gobbling up the Thanksgiving festivities, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 18 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the cost of Thanksgiving dinner and share of delayed flights to volunteer opportunities per capita and forecasted precipitation.
For fun and interesting facts about Turkey Day, check out WalletHub’s Thanksgiving Fun Facts Infographic.
Main Findings
Best Cities for Thanksgiving
Overall Rank |
City |
Total Score |
Celebrations & Traditions Rank |
Affordability Rank |
Safety & Accessibility Rank |
Giving Thanks Rank |
Weather Forecast Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Francisco, CA | 65.11 | 4 | 58 | 36 | 28 | 16 |
2 | San Jose, CA | 64.23 | 7 | 68 | 22 | 27 | 8 |
3 | San Diego, CA | 63.77 | 1 | 85 | 21 | 73 | 38 |
4 | Scottsdale, AZ | 61.97 | 23 | 63 | 5 | 6 | 27 |
5 | Raleigh, NC | 61.17 | 29 | 26 | 15 | 45 | 27 |
6 | Atlanta, GA | 60.75 | 3 | 47 | 87 | 12 | 15 |
7 | Phoenix, AZ | 60.74 | 5 | 59 | 76 | 47 | 27 |
8 | Las Vegas, NV | 59.96 | 18 | 28 | 18 | 61 | 52 |
9 | Greensboro, NC | 59.41 | 36 | 13 | 32 | 56 | 23 |
10 | Virginia Beach, VA | 59.04 | 57 | 19 | 16 | 26 | 27 |
11 | Mesa, AZ | 58.96 | 26 | 56 | 19 | 35 | 5 |
12 | Gilbert, AZ | 58.63 | 31 | 64 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
13 | Los Angeles, CA | 58.55 | 6 | 80 | 34 | 74 | 64 |
14 | San Antonio, TX | 58.28 | 14 | 7 | 71 | 67 | 69 |
15 | Orlando, FL | 58.12 | 8 | 42 | 73 | 55 | 23 |
16 | Chesapeake, VA | 58.06 | 54 | 34 | 6 | 22 | 38 |
17 | Dallas, TX | 57.89 | 2 | 44 | 93 | 33 | 48 |
18 | Louisville, KY | 57.79 | 15 | 24 | 60 | 38 | 74 |
19 | Charlotte, NC | 57.71 | 13 | 27 | 57 | 59 | 69 |
20 | Tucson, AZ | 57.50 | 10 | 49 | 58 | 76 | 64 |
21 | Birmingham, AL | 56.89 | 19 | 11 | 91 | 17 | 63 |
22 | Omaha, NE | 56.79 | 32 | 14 | 38 | 77 | 85 |
23 | Miami, FL | 56.67 | 9 | 70 | 41 | 79 | 57 |
24 | Norfolk, VA | 55.95 | 99 | 30 | 27 | 19 | 38 |
25 | Pittsburgh, PA | 55.86 | 59 | 43 | 17 | 15 | 1 |
26 | Colorado Springs, CO | 55.81 | 34 | 48 | 26 | 69 | 7 |
27 | St. Paul, MN | 55.33 | 75 | 33 | 49 | 5 | 75 |
28 | Minneapolis, MN | 55.18 | 42 | 35 | 43 | 14 | 93 |
29 | Irving, TX | 55.09 | 70 | 52 | 25 | 3 | 16 |
30 | Tampa, FL | 54.34 | 25 | 61 | 55 | 31 | 23 |
31 | Wichita, KS | 54.18 | 95 | 6 | 68 | 91 | 16 |
32 | Houston, TX | 54.10 | 17 | 3 | 92 | 54 | 97 |
33 | Fort Wayne, IN | 54.05 | 93 | 4 | 8 | 82 | 80 |
34 | Chandler, AZ | 53.99 | 41 | 69 | 28 | 13 | 8 |
35 | Lincoln, NE | 53.87 | 52 | 32 | 7 | 62 | 85 |
36 | Fort Worth, TX | 53.77 | 45 | 23 | 45 | 43 | 38 |
37 | New York, NY | 53.66 | 11 | 92 | 33 | 85 | 46 |
38 | Washington, DC | 53.58 | 50 | 78 | 51 | 1 | 16 |
38 | Plano, TX | 53.58 | 65 | 70 | 11 | 2 | 38 |
40 | Boise, ID | 53.41 | 39 | 67 | 2 | 66 | 69 |
41 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 53.22 | 33 | 12 | 40 | 90 | 100 |
42 | El Paso, TX | 53.08 | 60 | 9 | 23 | 88 | 76 |
43 | Seattle, WA | 52.86 | 16 | 53 | 56 | 7 | 99 |
44 | St. Louis, MO | 52.57 | 38 | 8 | 94 | 18 | 89 |
45 | Denver, CO | 52.52 | 20 | 83 | 31 | 52 | 80 |
46 | Philadelphia, PA | 52.24 | 28 | 57 | 66 | 51 | 35 |
47 | Austin, TX | 52.23 | 21 | 40 | 54 | 63 | 89 |
48 | Reno, NV | 52.10 | 66 | 50 | 4 | 72 | 5 |
49 | Columbus, OH | 51.99 | 84 | 15 | 65 | 75 | 2 |
50 | Fremont, CA | 51.98 | 43 | 91 | 13 | 20 | 8 |
51 | Boston, MA | 51.60 | 27 | 80 | 46 | 48 | 48 |
52 | Toledo, OH | 51.51 | 77 | 5 | 62 | 86 | 62 |
53 | Buffalo, NY | 51.40 | 61 | 25 | 53 | 92 | 4 |
54 | Oklahoma City, OK | 50.90 | 63 | 1 | 74 | 70 | 85 |
55 | Garland, TX | 50.89 | 74 | 90 | 14 | 4 | 38 |
56 | Portland, OR | 50.79 | 12 | 78 | 69 | 24 | 98 |
57 | Milwaukee, WI | 50.68 | 72 | 39 | 64 | 25 | 79 |
58 | Cincinnati, OH | 50.68 | 37 | 31 | 88 | 37 | 60 |
59 | Baltimore, MD | 50.48 | 35 | 73 | 70 | 23 | 27 |
60 | Chicago, IL | 50.27 | 24 | 46 | 63 | 80 | 84 |
61 | Anaheim, CA | 50.24 | 40 | 53 | 37 | 40 | 64 |
62 | Winston-Salem, NC | 49.65 | 69 | 36 | 30 | 50 | 23 |
63 | Durham, NC | 49.57 | 80 | 38 | 47 | 53 | 27 |
64 | Irvine, CA | 49.52 | 86 | 75 | 1 | 30 | 73 |
65 | Indianapolis, IN | 49.47 | 53 | 17 | 82 | 41 | 83 |
66 | Cleveland, OH | 48.95 | 62 | 29 | 95 | 39 | 3 |
67 | Henderson, NV | 48.89 | 58 | 60 | 3 | 71 | 38 |
68 | Jacksonville, FL | 48.45 | 48 | 21 | 77 | 93 | 35 |
69 | Chula Vista, CA | 48.42 | 67 | 85 | 9 | 42 | 27 |
70 | Glendale, AZ | 48.30 | 49 | 65 | 90 | 8 | 16 |
71 | Aurora, CO | 47.48 | 56 | 66 | 59 | 44 | 57 |
72 | Madison, WI | 47.34 | 90 | 45 | 24 | 81 | 8 |
73 | Lubbock, TX | 46.55 | 44 | 89 | 35 | 60 | 89 |
74 | Jersey City, NJ | 46.34 | 68 | 92 | 52 | 46 | 46 |
75 | Sacramento, CA | 46.28 | 30 | 80 | 83 | 89 | 16 |
76 | Tulsa, OK | 46.22 | 96 | 2 | 97 | 36 | 80 |
77 | Kansas City, MO | 46.06 | 78 | 20 | 81 | 21 | 76 |
78 | Arlington, TX | 45.48 | 79 | 74 | 72 | 9 | 52 |
79 | Oakland, CA | 44.90 | 83 | 70 | 78 | 16 | 16 |
80 | Riverside, CA | 44.84 | 73 | 92 | 20 | 65 | 52 |
81 | Fresno, CA | 44.69 | 51 | 77 | 67 | 96 | 8 |
82 | Corpus Christi, TX | 44.68 | 98 | 16 | 86 | 87 | 96 |
83 | St. Petersburg, FL | 43.93 | 85 | 61 | 48 | 34 | 35 |
84 | Memphis, TN | 43.50 | 64 | 22 | 100 | 11 | 88 |
85 | Honolulu, HI | 42.98 | 46 | 92 | 39 | 99 | 38 |
86 | Long Beach, CA | 42.97 | 81 | 92 | 42 | 32 | 64 |
87 | Santa Ana, CA | 42.80 | 87 | 53 | 50 | 29 | 64 |
88 | Bakersfield, CA | 42.48 | 55 | 87 | 61 | 97 | 27 |
89 | North Las Vegas, NV | 42.05 | 47 | 98 | 10 | 68 | 52 |
90 | Detroit, MI | 41.71 | 71 | 51 | 89 | 78 | 61 |
91 | Nashville, TN | 40.46 | 82 | 37 | 80 | 57 | 72 |
92 | Laredo, TX | 40.24 | 92 | 41 | 44 | 100 | 89 |
93 | Baton Rouge, LA | 40.11 | 91 | 18 | 96 | 64 | 94 |
94 | Albuquerque, NM | 40.10 | 76 | 10 | 99 | 95 | 76 |
95 | San Bernardino, CA | 39.76 | 100 | 84 | 85 | 58 | 52 |
96 | Anchorage, AK | 37.15 | 97 | 76 | 75 | 94 | 51 |
97 | New Orleans, LA | 36.63 | 88 | 88 | 84 | 83 | 94 |
98 | Newark, NJ | 36.36 | 94 | 97 | 79 | 49 | 50 |
99 | Hialeah, FL | 36.10 | 89 | 99 | 29 | 84 | 57 |
100 | Stockton, CA | 30.40 | 22 | 100 | 98 | 98 | 8 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
An In-Depth Lookat the Top Places for 2023
San Francisco
San Francisco is the best place for Thanksgiving this year, especially for people who plan to go out for the holiday instead of staying in. The city features many highly-rated, yet affordable restaurants for enjoying a Thanksgiving dinner out on the town. If you want to stretch your legs after your holiday feast while avoiding the shopping crowds, San Francisco has some gorgeous walking areas to check out, including the JFK Promenade and Stow Lake Loop at Golden Gate Park, as well as the pedestrian-only section of the Great Highway.
For those looking to give back for the holiday, the Golden City has the second-most charity organizations per capita out of the cities studied. Many nonprofits in the area host street dinners and other events, providing additional opportunities to get into the giving spirit.
San Jose
San Jose ranks as the second-best place for Thanksgiving, sharing a similarly pleasant forecast and a prevalence of affordable, highly-rated restaurants with its top-ranked neighbors. With many pumpkin patches and decoration shops, it is easy to get into the holiday spirit while visiting the Capital of Silicon Valley.
If you’re looking for something to do with the family over the holiday weekend, you can take in the thriving arts and culture scene, including the San Jose Museum of Art and The Tech Interactive.
San Diego
San Diego is the third-best place for Thanksgiving this year. As you might imagine, it has a few similarities to the other California cities at the top of the list, such as a good weather and many affordable, highly-rated restaurants. Yet staying in America’s Finest City for Thanksgiving will cost you more than you’d spend in the Bay Area, with the lowest price for a three-star hotel room on Thanksgiving coming in at $99, and a Thanksgiving dinner running around $92.
- Lowest
- 1. Laredo, TX
- T-2. Oklahoma City, OK
- T-2. Toledo, OH
- 4. St. Louis, MO
- 5. Memphis, TN
- Highest
- T-70. Fremont, CA
- T-70. New York, NY
- T-70. San Jose, CA
- T-70. San Francisco, CA
- T-70. Honlolulu, HI
- Highest
- T-1. Portland, OR
- T-1. Miami, FL
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- T-1. San Jose, CA
- T-1. Boise, ID
- Lowest
- 44. Denver, CO
- 45. Fort Worth, TX
- 46. Jacksonville, FL
- 47. Houston, TX
- 48. New York, NY
- Highest
- T-1. Louisville, KY
- T-1. Las Vegas, NV
- T-1. Orlando, FL
- T-1. Tampa, FL
- T-1. Atlanta, GA
- Lowest
- 80. Cleveland, OH
- 81. Bakersfield, CA
- 82. Tulsa, OK
- 83. Nashville, TN
- 84. Columbus, OH
- Highest
- 1. Memphis, TN
- 2. Birmingham, AL
- 3. Tulsa, OK
- 4. Lubbock, TX
- 5. Winston-Salem, NC
- Lowest
- T-96. San Diego, CA
- T-96. Chula Vista, CA
- 98. Sacramento, CA
- 99. Laredo, TX
- 100. Honolulu, HI
- Most
- T-1. Baltimore, MD
- T-1. Portland, OR
- T-1. Milwaukee, WI
- T-1. Virginia Beach, VA
- T-1. Norfolk, VA
- T-1. Chesapeake, VA
- Fewest
- T-69. New York, NY
- T-69. Newark, NJ
- T-69. Jersey City, NJ
- T-72. Miami, FL
- T-72. Hialeah, FL
- 74. Jacksonville, FL
- Best
- 1. Pittsburgh, PA
- 2. Columbus, OH
- 3. Cleveland, OH
- 4. Buffalo, NY
- T-5. Mesa, AZ
- T-5. Reno, NV
- Worst
- 96. Corpus Christi, TX
- 97. Houston, TX
- 98. Portland, OR
- 99. Seattle, WA
- 100. Lexington-Fayette, KY
Ask the Experts
The Thanksgiving holiday is a great opportunity for making memories with family and friends, but it requires a lot of planning and budgeting to go smoothly. For more insight on the holiday, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts. You can click on the experts below to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
- What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Thanksgiving Holiday?
- When evaluating the best cities for Thanksgiving celebrations, what are the top five indicators?
- What tips do you have for celebrating Thanksgiving on a budget?
- What are some of the big money wasters on Thanksgiving?
- Has the Thanksgiving Holiday become too commercialized in the past years?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the best places to go for Thanksgiving, WalletHub compared 100 of the most populated U.S. cities across five key dimensions: 1) Thanksgiving Celebrations & Traditions, 2) Affordability, 3) Safety & Accessibility, 4) Giving Thanks and 5) Thanksgiving Weather Forecast.
We evaluated those dimensions using 18 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for a Thanksgiving celebration. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case and excluded cities in the surrounding metro area.
Thanksgiving Celebrations & Traditions – Total Points: 30
- Pumpkin Patches per Capita*: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Google Search Interest for Thanksgiving Celebrations: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to find information during the month of November about “Thanksgiving activities”, “Thanksgiving dinner”, “Thanksgiving traditions”, “Thanksgiving holiday”, and “Thanksgiving parade”. - Holiday Decoration Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Affordability – Total Points: 25
- Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Prevalence of Affordable Restaurants with Ratings of 4.5+ Stars: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Lowest Price for Three-Star Hotel Room for a Thanksgiving Holiday: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Safety & Accessibility – Total Points: 20
- Crime Rate: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Perception of Safety (Safety walking alone during daylight/night): Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: These data are based on perceptions of visitors of Numbeo website in the past 3 years. If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high. - Pedestrian Fatalities per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- DUI-Related Fatalities in Motor Vehicle Crashes around Thanksgiving per Capita: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Share of Delayed Flights near Thanksgiving Holiday: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Giving Thanks – Total Points: 15
- Volunteer Opportunities per Capita: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of volunteer opportunities per 100,000 residents aged 16 and older. - Volunteer Hours per Capita: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of volunteer hours per 100,000 residents aged 16 and older. - Charity Organizations per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
- Share of Income Donated to Charity: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
Thanksgiving Weather Forecast – Total Points: 10
- Thanksgiving Temperature vs. Average Temperature: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Forecasted Thanksgiving Precipitation: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Council for Community and Economic Research, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, AmeriCorps, Google Ads, Yelp, Kayak, Numbeo, VolunteerMatch, Charity Navigator, Internal Revenue Service, Farm Bureau and AccuWeather.
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