Society has a funny way of tagging some activities as ‘sinful.’ Some are obviously bad—like shootings, DUIs, or identity theft. Then there are those that don’t seem so terrible in moderation but can become a total train wreck if they’re left to spiral out of control, like alcohol or gambling. In fact, U.S. consumers lose over $100 billion a year to gambling.
A recent study by WalletHub looked at U.S. cities’ tendency to excessively partake in the seven traditional religious sins, which include pride, envy, lust, greed, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Whatever your beliefs are on the moral considerations of these things, it’s still interesting to see which places come in at the top.
Las Vegas isn’t the only place with a less-than-stellar reputation. These top cities have earned their spot on the sinful list for one reason or another.
Las Vegas, Nevada
They don’t call it Sin City for nothing! The number one King of Sin Cities is not just a nickname. It has the most casinos per capita, drawing people to lose money in the hope of hitting it big. The city ranks high in fraud and identity theft complaints, proving it’s not just gamblers who are looking to take advantage. From adult entertainment to plastic surgery searches, Sin City is the heart of greed and envy.
Everything is on the table. Arrive broke, leave with dreams—or a pile of regrets. You might trade a dingy motel for a luxe suite, marry a stranger at four in the morning, or blow it all on the roulette wheel.
Houston, Texas
If Las Vegas is the king of greed, Houston takes the crown for lust. The city ranks fifth in adult entertainment spots per capita and has sky-high Google searches for gentleman’s clubs and affairs. Houstonians struggle with vices, from gambling issues to drunk driving fatalities. Even plastic surgery is a big obsession here, showing that envy runs deep.
But it’s not just about lust—there’s anger, too. This Texas metropolis has one of the highest violent crime rates in the U.S. and ranks seventh in mass shootings.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles seems like a city of self-obsession and vanity. People are really into their appearance, spending countless hours in tanning salons, med spas, and plastic surgery offices. But when it comes to generosity, unfortunately, LA falls short. Only 24% of residents volunteer, ranking near the bottom nationwide, and charitable giving barely reaches 4% of their income.
While some are busy primping and preening, others are consumed by anger and hatred. LA has the third-highest rate of students bullied on school grounds, ranks seventh for hate crimes, and had the 11th-most mass shootings recently.
Atlanta, Georgia
When it comes to jealousy, Atlanta leads the pack. But this isn’t about love triangles—it’s about crime. Georgia sees high rates of property crimes like theft, fraud, and vandalism. You’ll want to stay alert here, as Atlanta ranks ninth for anger and hatred, including violent crimes and aggravated assaults.
Atlanta’s no stranger to indulgence either. It has one of the most adult entertainment options per capita. No wonder it used to be the Strip Club Capital of America.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia ranks second for anger and hatred, with high rates of violent crimes, assaults, and bullying. It’s also third for property crimes like theft and fraud. Addiction is a complicated disease, and sadly, Philadelphia has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths, with nearly 79 per 100,000 residents.
The city ranks 11th for adult entertainment options, and residents frequently search online for affairs and adult content.
Denver, Colorado
Denver may not be in its adult entertainment heyday anymore, but it’s still a mile-high city of temptation. The city ranks eighth for adult entertainment per capita, and there are a high number of online searches for adultery and gentleman’s clubs. Plastic surgery is popular, too, showing where some of that vanity goes.
But beneath the surface, there’s an even darker side. Denver is a city of anger and aggression. Tragically, domestic violence offenses are up 4% this year, according to the police.
Phoenix, Arizona
In Phoenix, you either end up sunburned or seek out that perfect tan. The city has one of the highest numbers of tanning salons per capita and ranks fifth for adult entertainment options. Some people seem more interested in pleasure than in anything else.
The streets are dangerous, and you’ve got to be careful where you go. Phoenix has a violent crime rate of 7.8 per 1,000—nearly double the national average. This includes serious offenses like assault and murder. 65% of people feel unsafe walking alone at night.
Miami, Florida
The Magic City may not have the same gambling or violent crime issues as other cities, but it still claims its spot as the eighth most sinful city. Some even call it America’s real capital of sin.
Miami ranks fifth for tanning salons and plastic surgery, showing its obsession with appearances. The city also ranks ninth for lust, with locals frequenting adult entertainment venues.
Dallas, Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas—even the sin. The study has done the math, and Dallas doesn’t have the best reputation. It’s the ninth most sinful city in the U.S.
Dallas ranks sixth for adult entertainment options, with residents searching for adult content. It’s also ninth for tanning salons and plastic surgery searches and 10th for theft and fraud complaints. Stay alert—dangerous neighborhoods like South Boulevard–Park Row, and South Dallas are ones you’ll want to avoid.
St. Louis, Missouri
There’s really no competition here, but St. Louis beats Las Vegas when it comes to excess and vices. This covers the highest rates of fast food spots, heavy drinking, DUI deaths, smoking, and marijuana use. And you just can’t overlook the cases of drug overdoses.
St. Louis ranks highest for thefts per capita and sees over 1,400 robberies and nearly 4,000 aggravated assaults every year. Seeing police lights or someone stopping cars on the street is all too common.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland’s bad reputation might be blown out of proportion, but the facts don’t lie. The city ranks fourth for anger and hatred, with high rates of violent crime, assaults, shootings, and bullying. It also has a big problem with theft, fraud, and other crimes.
The town’s violent crime rate is 466 per 100,000 residents, and 71% of reported violent crimes went unsolved last year. Some areas are best avoided after dark, so don’t look for trouble there.
New York City, New York
The city that never sleeps, right? Well, some people here also never stop looking for trouble. New York is the 12th most sinful city, with the third-highest numbers for tanning salons and plastic surgery and seventh for adult entertainment.
The good news is that NYC doesn’t have major issues with gambling, theft, or fraud. But, if you’re looking for a city with a little less temptation, this one might not be it.
Source: WalletHub
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