Methodology

For the list, WalletHub compared 182 U.S. cities, including the 150 most populated cities and at least two of the most populated cities in each state. The cities were evaluated using 39 metrics across four key dimensions:

1.       Work stress, which includes average weekly work hours, job security, traffic congestion, and unemployment rate

2.       Financial stress, which includes median annual household income, foreclosure rate, and personal bankruptcy rate

3.       Family stress, which includes separation and divorce rate, share of single parent household, and childcare cost

4.       Health and safety stress, which includes the share of adults in fair or poor health, mental health, share of insured population, and physical-activity rate

Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest levels of stress. A weighted average across all metrics was used to determine a city's overall score, and these scores were used to rank-order all the cities.

The most (and least) stressed US cities

According to WalletHub, the 10 most-stressed U.S. cities are:

1.       Cleveland, OH (Score: 60.37)

2.       Detroit, MI (Score: 59.72)

3.       Baltimore, MD (Score: 58.30)

4.       Memphis, TN (Score: 57.12)

5.       Gulfport, MS (Score: 57.12)

6.       Philadelphia, PA (Score: 56.03)

7.       Birmingham, AL (Score: 55.96)

8.       Akron, OH (Score: 54.86)

9.       New Orleans, LA (Score: 54.02)

10.   Jackson, MS (Score: 53.43)

In comparison, the least-stressed U.S. cities are:

1.       Fremont, CA (Score: 27.52)

2.       South Burlington, VT (Score: 27.81)

3.       Fargo, ND (Score: 27.93)

4.       Lincoln, NE (Score: 28.77)

5.       Bismarck, ND (Score: 29.49)

6.       Sioux Falls, SD (Score: 29.98)

7.       Boise, ID (Score: 30.03)

8.       Nashua, NH (Score: 30.57)

9.       Portland, ME (Score: 30.76)

10.   Overland Park, KS (Score: 30.95)

WalletHub also ranked the most- and least-stressed cities based on health and safety. The five most-stressed cities based on health and safety are:

1.       Detroit, MI

2.       Cleveland, OH

3.       Birmingham, AL

4.       Charleston, WV

5.       Huntington, WV

In comparison, the five least-stressed cities based on health and safety are:

1.       Fremont, CA

2.       Columbia, MD

3.       Irvine, CA

4.       San Francisco, CA

5.       San Jose, CA

How to reduce stress, according to experts

To help people reduce stress, WalletHub spoke to several experts about how employers can reduce work stress, how to manage financial stress, and more.

According to Ralph McKinney, an associate professor of management at Marshall University's Lewis College of Business, some work-related stress can be alleviated by creating positive relationships among leadership and employees.

McKinney recommended that employers engage with individual employees to determine the level of the support they need when they're stressed. "This can be reducing workloads, providing coping strategies, and in some cases, referrals to counseling services," he said.

When it comes to managing financial stress, Patty O'Grady, a retired professor of developmental psychology, educational neuroscience, and special education at the University of Tampa, recommends identifying measurable financial goals and allocating your income/expenditures based on that.

"Create specific spending objectives and timelines. Find a financial partner to plan together and report to each other. Include 'reward categories' and 'investment categories'. Write it all down the 'old school' way in a notebook with a pencil (can transfer to technology later)," O'Grady said. "This helps you to process your stress in a tactile way that is organically stress-reducing."

Finally, Stuart Sidle, dean and professor at the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Mercy University, noted that "[r]elaxation does not have to be a luxury." For people looking to relax on a budget, he recommends talking a brisk walk through nature, practicing meditation, or drinking a cup of tea while listening to music.

"The key to relaxation is understanding what personally brings you peace and joy. It is about finding those activities that allow you to stay absorbed in the present and not worry about the future or ruminating on the past," Sidle said. "For some people, a 'staycation' at home with their gardens and hobbies is more relaxing than a luxury cruise." (McCann, WalletHub, 7/8, Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 7/8)

Use this tool to  help identify staff who may be experiencing emotional stress and prepare leaders to conduct a well-being check-in. This check-in is not aimed at solving the staff member's emotional stress in the moment, but rather is to address concerning behaviors, and ensure the staff member has the right support, connecting them to existing resources within the organization.