The best and worst cities for money management skills

Money management is the process of budgeting, saving, investing, and spending money wisely to achieve financial goals. It involves creating a plan to make the most of one’s resources and to make informed decisions.

By studying over 2,500 cities based on 10 key indicators of money management from two categories: debt level and financial behavior, WalletHub has identified the cities with the best and worst money-management skills.

Topping the list are Cupertino, California; Lexington, Massachusetts; and Scarsdale, New York. These financial-savvy cities are home to residents who have developed smart money habits and know how to manage their finances with ease. On the other hand, the cities with the worst-money-management skills include Conyers, Georgia; Jacksonville, North Carolina; and Columbus, Mississippi.

Check out the list below to see if your city ranks:

Cities with the Best Money-Management Skills

1. Cupertino, California

2. Lexington, Massachusetts

3. Scarsdale, New York

4. Los Altos, California

5. Chevy Chase, Maryland

6. Redmond, Washington

7. Deerfield, Illinois

8. Bronxville, New York

9. McLean, Virginia

10. Chesterfield, Missouri

11. Palo Alto, California

12. Leawood, Kansas

13. Sammamish, Washington

14. Libertybille, Illinois

15. Northbrook, Illinois

16. Needham, Massachusetts

17. Saratoga, California

18. Powell, Ohio

19. San Carlos, California

20. Sunnyvale, California

Cities with the Worst Money-Management Skills

1. Conyers, Georgia

2. Jacksonville, North Carolina

3. Columbus, Mississippi

4. Troy, Alabama

5. Austell, Georgia

6. Walterboro, South Carolina

7. Miami Gardens, Florida

8. Rio Grande City, Texas

9. Covington, Georgia

10. Hope Mills, North Carolina

11. Dolton, Illinois

12. Hampton, Georgia

13. Lithonia, Georgia

14. Jonesboro, Georgia

15. College Park, Georgia

16. Ruston, Louisiana

17. Fairburn, Georgia

18. Maple Heights, Ohio

19. Bastrop, Louisiana

20. Canton, Mississippi