This article covers 30 Friendliest Cities in America, uncovering some of the top destinations in the country that have courteous, welcoming, and friendly locals, and are known for their good reputations. For a quick overview of the top 10, read our article 10 Friendliest Cities in America.
The United States has become a successful center of cultural blending over the years. Its diversity is a key driver of its success. The 2020 Diversity Index shows that the racial and ethnic diversity within the United States is 61.1%. This index measures the likelihood that two people chosen at random will be from different races or ethnicities. This diversity not only fosters a climate of freedom in terms of political and cultural beliefs but also serves as a magnetic force, drawing people from all corners of the world to immigrate to the United States.
According to a Pew Research Center's 2023 survey, 59% of people voted Americans as friendly, indicating that America's soft power remains strong.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the US receives a large influx of foreign visitors each year from Canada, Europe, and other regions and is one of the most visited countries in the world.
A Peak into the US Tourism Industry
Tourism is one of the major contributors to the US economy, with its contribution projected to be$2.6 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) over the next decade. According to the State Comptroller, New York City is among themost popular destinations globally and is especially popular with digital nomads.
Moreover, international travel spending in the country has been predicted to surge even further than the$112.1 billion recorded in September of 2022. Experts believe that the figure could go up to$1.39 trillion by the end of 2025.
United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) published performance reports for the second quarter of 2023 in July, which showed athree-fold growth in its profit. The impressive performance and higher revenue generation of the carrier have been credited to a busy summer international travel season.
As reported in aNews Release by United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL), the airline recorded operating revenue of $14.2 billion from April to June, which was a 17.1% increase from the same time period in 2022. Meanwhile, billings surged to $1.1 billion, a substantial increase from $329 billion recorded in 2022. United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) entered into a commercial agreement in March 2023 with Emirates Airlines to enhance the network for each airline. The agreement will also open up newer destinations for customers.
Meanwhile, American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) has raised its earnings outlook due to the company closing the second quarter of 2023 on a strong note. It recorded a revenue of$14.01 billion, which exceeded analysts’ expectations and was 4.7% higher than the figure from 2022.
The high airline revenues clearly suggest that tourism in the US is booming. Tourists are attracted to the beautiful beaches, rich history, and helpful locals of America. Moreover, volunteering and other Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) activities from US companies further boost the positive image of the country.
Charitable Efforts from Companies in the US
Major companies in the US lead the way when it comes to charitable efforts. For example, Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)'s Disney Family Volunteering Reward Program in 2020 offered free tickets to people in exchange for a day of volunteer service, which motivated more than 1 million people in the US to participate.
In February 2023, the company announced that it would be providing access to its diverse portfolio of innovative programs that have been uniquely developed for children's hospitals. These include complimentary access to digital content, in-hospital installations, and mobile cinema complexes.
Another company that is playing its part in enhancing the positive image of the US is Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), a digital travel platform also known as booking.com. It joined hands with a climate tech company, CHOOOSE, in October 2022 to encourage people to travel more mindfully. Its primary aim for this partnership was to educate travelers on the carbon implications of their actions and help them find environmentally friendly products and services.
We have defined ‘friendliest cities in the US’ as ones that are home to friendly locals who are nice to foreign travelers when asked for help. To assess which cities in the US are perceived to be the friendliest, we scoured several Reddit threads pertaining to locations where tourists felt welcomed.
We used search terms like “friendliest cities,” “friendliest citizens”, “nicest citizens” and “helpful citizens” to find relevant threads. To ensure the authenticity and relevance of our research, we focused on cities that were most frequently mentioned by Redditors across various threads and discussions.
Threads consisting of over 25 comments were considered, and cities were ranked based on the number of times they were mentioned. Consequently, we formed a list of the 30 friendliest cities in America, with 1 being the most friendly and 30 being the least friendly city on our list.
Friendliest Cities in America According to Reddit
30. Knoxville
US News has listed Knoxville as one of the top places to live in 2023-2024. The city boasts of high desirability to live in the area and a good quality of life. Consequently, the US News & World Report gave the city a rating of 6.5 out of 10.
29. Denver
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Denver as one of the best cities in Colorado. Therefore, tourism is stronger than ever in the city. In 2022, Denver recorded 36.3 million visitors, which was a 15% increase from 2021.
28. Boston
AmeriCorps carried out a survey of 12 major metro areas in 2021 and ranked all the cities based on informal helping and formal volunteering. Boston ranked number 1 on this list, with locals displaying an informal helping rate of 57.9%, which was the highest out of 12 locations.
27. Baltimore
Baltimore has been nicknamed Charm City and has several wonderful traits that make it one of the friendliest cities in the US. It is applauded for its openness and welcoming nature when it comes to outsiders. Hence, Baltimore is often regarded as a good social place to spend some time.
26. Pittsburgh
The locals in Pittsburgh are generally regarded as friendly, helpful, and affluent. This is one of the reasons why tourism is booming in the city. In July 2023 alone, Pittsburgh recorded 1.7 million visitors, which indicated a 97% recovery rate as compared to July 2019.
25. Savannah
In 2022, Savannah was deemed to be the friendliest city in America, beating out cities like Nashville and Chicago. The reason behind the city's ranking was the welcoming nature of its locals, as indicated by tourists in a study conducted by CN Traveler.
24. Des Moines
The residents of Des Moines are known to be civic-minded and friendly. The city has a vibrant community that loves arts and the outdoors and fosters a sense of belonging in all those who visit it.
23. Dublin
Dublin has been ranked as one of the friendliest places to live in the USA and is nationally recognized as a vibrant and welcoming city. It has numerous lovely neighborhoods, with well-mannered locals and a tight-knit community.
22. Madison
In 2022, a survey revealed that 76% of travelers said they go on vacation to boost their mood. Thus, it makes sense why they want to visit friendly places, such as Madison. For the last three years, this city has been deemed to be one of the most welcoming cities, as per this survey.
21. Buffalo
Buffalo is referred to as the City of Good Neighbors, which is an ode to its friendly and welcoming residents. Consequently, the city records a substantial number of travelers each year. In December 2022 and January 2023, Buffalo reported over 400,000 local and international visitors.
20. Burlington
Burlington is famous among foreign travelers for being a fun place to enjoy a sociable adventure. They also love the welcoming and friendly vibe of the locals, where everyone is treated like they are a part of the family.
19. Milwaukee
In 2022, National Geographic named Milwaukee as one of the best destinations for travel. One of the reasons for this ranking was the city’s inviting aura and close-knit community. Milwaukee is known for housing loving and supportive locals who welcome others with open arms.
18. Grand Rapids
In 2022, the US News & World Report iterated that Grand Rapids exudes small-town warmth, which is why travelers are attracted to the city. It is also home to people from diverse backgrounds and a strong LGBTQ community.
17. Chicago
The Readers’ Choice Awards 2022 named Chicago as the best destination for travelers. According to the government of the city, the diverse and inviting neighborhoods of Chicago are one of the reasons for its good reputation.
16. Nashville
Nashville, a city in Tennessee that is also known as the Volunteer State, is considered to be one of the friendliest cities in America. The high rating given to Nashville was due to its locals being known for giving compliments and engaging in friendly conversations with travelers.
15. Atlanta
Overall, Atlanta has the reputation of a welcoming city and is open to travelers from diverse backgrounds and households. The city is recognized for being friendly to singles, pets, as well as the LGBTQ community.
14. Omaha
The residents of Omaha are perceived to be friendly and inviting people. They also enjoy having visitors and are known to be ready with a greeting, smile, and conversation. The city’s locals have made a name for themselves for being helpful to travelers as well.
13. Cincinnati
Readers’ Choice Awards 2022 ranked Cincinnati in the top 10 friendliest cities. One of the reasons is that the residents of the city are considered to be the embodiment of the term ‘Midwest-nice’. Moreover, Cincinnati is well-known for giving off a homey vibe that attracts visitors.
12. Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City was designated as the second friendliest city in the US by Travel+Leisure Magazine, which applauded the good nature of the locals. They are outdoorsy and adventurous and treat all visitors like they are family.
11. Boise
The locals of Boise take pride in the fact that they are welcoming and friendly toward all those who travel to the city.
