Insider Monkey
20 Most Trustworthy Cities in the US
Afifa Mushtaque
11 min read

In This Article:

In this article, we will look at the 20 most trustworthy cities in the US. We have discussed the relevance of trustworthiness with businesses in detail. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 Most Trustworthy cities in the US. 

According to the US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, small businesses form the backbone of the American economy, comprising 99.9% of all businesses nationwide, totaling 33.3 million enterprises. 

Despite their size, these small ventures play a crucial role in job creation, employing 61.6 million people, which translates to 45.9% of the entire US workforce. Surprisingly, over 80% of these small businesses are operated by solo entrepreneurs, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit and self-sufficiency prevalent in the sector.

While the majority of small businesses operate without any employees, approximately 16% employ between one and 19 staff, totaling over 5.4 million businesses. Despite their modest sizes, small businesses have added over 12.9 million jobs in the past 25 years. 

Since entrepreneurship relies heavily on establishing trust with customers, a study by the Better Business Bureau found that 82% of American consumers consider trust fundamental for a successful business. To delve deeper into this, ZenBusiness conducted research using data from the Better Business Bureau, mapping out the trustworthiness of businesses across major cities and states in the USA.

According to the study, smaller states tend to have higher percentages of trusted businesses. States like North Dakota, Minnesota, Maine, and Alaska ranked among the top due to their smaller populations fostering strong community bonds. This close-knit environment encourages businesses to uphold their promises and prioritize customer satisfaction, as word-of-mouth travels fast in these areas. To read about small cities with similar culture, see 20 Best Small Cities to Live in the US.

Conversely, states like Nevada, Utah, California, and New York exhibited lower percentages of trusted businesses. Factors such as Nevada's gambling-centric industry and other regional nuances contribute to this trend. Moreover, industries like car dealerships often struggle with low trust ratings, while sectors such as banking thrive in states like North Dakota, New Mexico, and Hawaii, where they enjoy perfect trust scores, highlighting the significance of trust in consumer-business relationships.

Moreover, in 2014, Honest Tea conducted a countrywide social experiment to evaluate honesty in drink purchases which revealed intriguing statistics. Alabama and Hawaii were named the states with the most integrity, with a perfect 100% honesty rate. Following closely, Indiana and Maine had 99% honesty. Overall, Americans uphold honesty 92% of the time, while Washington, DC, fell behind at 80%. 

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