The 50 Hardest Working Cities in the U.S.
The locales where citizens really put their noses to the grindstone.
![hardest working cities](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/09/hardest-working-cities.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
As anyone who's worked in a hyper-competitive job environment knows, hard work is truly infectious. But what many workers may not have realized: apparently that hyper-competitiveness can apply to more than just your team.
It applies to your entire city.
There are some places in the U.S. where people are really putting their noses to the grindstone. We know. We've compiled all of the relevant data on America's 200 largest cities, factoring in, among other things, the average hours most workers log, their commute times, and even the amount of time they spend volunteering on their off-hours when they're not content simply clocking out. So read on, and let the work ethics of your fellow citizens inspire you. And if you find yourself working more than usual, make sure you're maximizing your space with these 20 Office Essentials.
To determine these rankings, we analyzed data from the U.S. Census and Corporation for National & Community Service, giving significant weight to the mean usual hours worked per person while taking into consideration the length of commute and how much time locals put into volunteer work in their off-hours.
50
Pasadena, TX
![Pasadena, TX, worst singles scenes, kayak](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Pasadena-TX.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 153,351
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.80
Percent fully employed: 65.60%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 25.90
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 67.10
49
Bellevue, WA
![Bellevue, longest-living cities, best singles scenes](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Bellevue-WA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 141,400
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.20
Percent fully employed: 67.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 22.60
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 33.40
Hard Work Score: 67.13
48
Baltimore, MD
![Baltimore, drunkest cities, fattest cities, longest commutes, commute, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/baltimore-md.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 614,664
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.60
Percent fully employed: 64.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.50
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 29.50
Hard Work Score: 67.30
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47
Garland, TX
![Garland, happiest cities, worst singles scenes](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Garland-Texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 234,943
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.20
Percent fully employed: 67.60%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.90
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 67.37
46
Orlando, FL
![Orlando, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, best singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_426841417.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 277,173
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.60
Percent fully employed: 65.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 25.10
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 34.60
Hard Work Score: 67.40
45
Phoenix, AZ
![Phoenix, happiest cities, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Phoenix-Arizona.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 1,615,017
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.80
Percent fully employed: 66.80%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 24.80
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 33.30
Hard Work Score: 67.50
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44
Glendale, AZ
![Glendale, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_433715455.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 245,895
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.20
Percent fully employed: 66.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.20
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 33.7
Hard Work Score: 67.77
43
Scottsdale, AZ
![Scottsdale, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, best singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_154635344.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 246,645
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.20
Percent fully employed: 67.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 21.90
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 33.30
Hard Work Score: 67.77
42
Killeen, TX
![Killeen, drunkest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Killeen-TX.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 143,400
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 42.50
Percent fully employed: 69.20%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 21.10
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 67.83
41
Midland, TX
![Midland, drunkest cities, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Midland-TX.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 134,610
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 42.90
Percent fully employed: 71.20%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 18.50
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 67.90
40
Lakewood,CO
![Lakewood, drunkest cities](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Lakewood-CO.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 154,393
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.40
Percent fully employed: 66.40%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 25.80
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 34.7
Hard Work Score: 67.90
39
Irving, TX
![Irving, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Irving-Texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 238,289
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.30
Percent fully employed: 71.50%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 23.40
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 67.90
38
Charlotte, NC
![Charlotte, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Charlotte-North-Carolina.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 842,051
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.50
Percent fully employed: 64.80%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 24.90
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 35.00
Hard Work Score: 67.90
37
Elk Grove, CA
![](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/09/shutterstock_327741134.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 169,743
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 37.90
Percent fully employed: 65.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 31.10
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.2
Hard Work Score: 67.93
36
Kansas City, MO
![Kansas city, fattest cities, drunkest cities, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/kansas-city-mo.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 481,420
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.90
Percent fully employed: 66.10%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 21.60
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 38.40
Hard Work Score: 67.97
35
Chicago, IL
![Chicago, happiest cities, drunkest cities, longest commutes, commute, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Chicago-Illinois.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 2,704,958
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.60
Percent fully employed: 64.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 34.10
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 27.90
Hard Work Score: 67.97
34
Pembroke Pines, FL
![Pembroke Pines, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Pembroke-Pines-Florida.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 168,587
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.70
Percent fully employed: 67.60%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.60
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.8
Hard Work Score: 68.13
33
Naperville, IL
![Naperville, longest-living cities, statue, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Naperville-IL.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 147,122
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.80
Percent fully employed: 65.50%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 33.60
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 27.90
Hard Work Score: 68.20
32
Mesquite, TX
![Mesquite, Texas, suburb, worst singles scenes](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Mesquite-TX.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 143,736
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.40
Percent fully employed: 68.50%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.50
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 68.33
31
Overland Park, KS
![overland park happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_102820823.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 188,966
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.60
Percent fully employed: 68.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 20.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 34.8
Hard Work Score: 68.33
Fort Worth, TX
![Fort Worth, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house, longest commutes, commute, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Fort-Worth-Texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 854,113
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.80
Percent fully employed: 67.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.30
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.60
Hard Work Score: 68.40
29
Grand Prairie, TX
![Grand Prairie, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Grand-Prairie-Texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 190,682
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.60
Percent fully employed: 70.90%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.10
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 68.47
28
San Jose, CA
![San Jose, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, flip a house, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_406159129.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 1,025,350
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 37.90
Percent fully employed: 64.60%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.50
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 38.00
Hard Work Score: 68.63
27
Dallas, TX
![Dallas, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fattest cities, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/dallas-tx.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 1,317,929
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.90
Percent fully employed: 69.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.00
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.60
Hard Work Score: 68.80
26
Newport News, VA
![Newport News, longest-living cities, arch](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Newport-News-VA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 181,825
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.70
Percent fully employed: 63.60%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 23.00
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 42.50
Hard Work Score: 68.83
25
Miramar, FL
![Miramar, palm trees, sunrise, longest-living cities, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Miramar-FL.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 138,449
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.90
Percent fully employed: 69.50%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.8
Hard Work Score: 68.93
24
Hampton, VA
![Hampton, beach, sunset, pier, longest-living cities](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Hampton-VA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 135,410
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.40
Percent fully employed: 65.60%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 22.20
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 42.3
Hard Work Score: 68.97
23
Peoria, AZ
![Peoria, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_85558792.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 164,173
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.10
Percent fully employed: 68.10%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.40
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 33.7
Hard Work Score: 69.13
22
Plano, TX
![Plano, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Plano-Texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 286,057
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.50
Percent fully employed: 72.50%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.00
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 69.23
21
San Francisco, CA
![San Francisco, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, best singles scenes, flip a house, longest commutes, commute, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_518796124.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 870,887
Mean usual hours worked for workers:39.80
Percent fully employed: 65.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 31.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.90
Hard Work Score: 69.40
20
Palmdale, CA
![Palmdale, CA, desert, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Palmdale-CA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 157,356
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 37.50
Percent fully employed: 62.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 40.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.2
Hard Work Score: 69.63
19
Lancaster, CA
![Lancaster, CA, poppies, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Lancaster-CA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 160,106
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.00
Percent fully employed: 71.60
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 31.10
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.2
Hard Work Score: 69.97
18
San Diego, CA
![San Diego, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, flip a house, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_578020126.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 1,406,630
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.30
Percent fully employed: 64.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 23.20
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 46.50
Hard Work Score: 70.10
17
Fremont, CA
![Fremont, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_559311547.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 233,136
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.30
Percent fully employed: 70.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 32.00
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.90
Hard Work Score: 70.27
16
Corona, CA
![Corona, CA, beach, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Corona-CA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 166,785
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.10
Percent fully employed: 67.80%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 35.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 31.2
Hard Work Score: 70.30
15
Sunnyvale, CA
![](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/09/shutterstock_562006840.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 152,771
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.60
Percent fully employed: 70.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 23.60
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 38.00
Hard Work Score: 70.50
14
McKinney, TX
![McKinney, suburban homes, longest-living cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/McKinney-TX.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 172,298
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.5
Percent fully employed: 73.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.10
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 70.67
13
Yonkers, NY
![Yonkers, happiest cities, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Yonkers-New-York.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 200,807
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.40
Percent fully employed: 67.20%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 33.20
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 35.3
Hard Work Score: 70.83
12
Thornton, CO
![](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/09/shutterstock_663679900.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 136,703
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.9
Percent fully employed: 68.40%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 34.7
Hard Work Score: 70.87
11
Arlington, TX
![Arlington, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Arlington-Texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 392,772
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.20
Percent fully employed: 66.90%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.60
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 41.30
Hard Work Score: 71.07
10
Frisco, TX
![Frisco, circus, longest-living cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Frisco-TX.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 163,656
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 41.20
Percent fully employed: 73.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.40
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 28.2
Hard Work Score: 71.23
9
Virginia Beach, VA
![Virginia Beach, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, house flip, rent, property](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_528432763.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 452,602
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.20
Percent fully employed: 69.40%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 23.20
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 42.50
Hard Work Score: 71.83
8
Jersey City, NJ
![Jersey City, happiest cities, longest commutes](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Jersey-City-New-Jersey.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 264,152
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.40
Percent fully employed: 70.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 36.20
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 30.5
Hard Work Score: 71.93
7
Chesapeake, V
![Chesapeake, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Chesapeake-Virginia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 237,940
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.20
Percent fully employed: 70.20%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 25.00
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 42.3
Hard Work Score: 71.97
6
Salt Lake Cit, UT
![Salt Lake City, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, best singles scenes, flip a house](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/shutterstock_126916259.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population:193,744
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 37.40
Percent fully employed: 60.40%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 19.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 62.60
Hard Work Score: 72.50
5
Washington DC
![](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/09/shutterstock_537570079.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 681,170
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 40.00
Percent fully employed: 67.70%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.70
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 41.30
Hard Work Score: 72.90
4
New York,NY
![](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/09/shutterstock_227293255.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 8,537,673
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.10
Percent fully employed: 67.10%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 39.90
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 35.00
Hard Work Score: 73.40
3
Alexandria, VA
![Alexandria, pier, longest-living cities, longest commutes, commute](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Alexandria-VA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 155,810
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 41.10
Percent fully employed: 76.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.80
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 41.3
Hard Work Score: 76.77
2
Norfolk, VA
![Norfolk, longest-living cities, wharf, boats](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/Norfolk-VA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 245,115
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 39.70
Percent fully employed: 67.50%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 42.50
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 42.3
Hard Work Score: 77.23
1
West Valley City, UT
![West Valley City, UT, worst singles scenes](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/08/West-Valley-City-UTah.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Population: 136,574
Mean usual hours worked for workers: 38.20
Percent fully employed: 65.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 22.00
Volunteer Hours Per Resident: 80.8
Hard Work Score: 81.50
And now, be sure to check out the 100 Happiest Cities In America.
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