​Top 10 fittest US cities of 2025: Is yours on the list?​

Across the United States, more people are taking their health seriously, but the picture is not perfect. A new report from the American College of Sports Medicine takes a sweeping look at how the country’s 100 largest cities are faring when it comes to fitness, well-being, and access to healthy environments.


This annual Fitness Index doesn’t just track gym habits. It factors in everything from green space availability and local infrastructure to lifestyle indicators like smoking, mental health, physical activity levels, and even diet.


Encouragingly, the data shows that most cities are moving in the right direction: more individuals are getting regular aerobic and strength-based exercise, and many local governments have increased investments in public recreation.

But not all the trends are positive. Air quality is slipping in several areas—much of it blamed on wildfire smoke, and food insecurity is rising again, potentially linked to the winding down of pandemic-era assistance programs.

For the eighth straight year, Arlington topped ACSM’s fitness rankings. It leads in both personal-health and community-environment categories, driven by high activity and healthy behaviors. Only about 3.3% of Arlington adults smoke, and 76% get 7+ hours of sleep nightly, among the best in America.

Washington consistently ranks No.2, reflecting how city design promotes activity. It leads all cities in trail mileage (about 235 miles) and has an extensive network of bike paths and greenways for active commuting. District residents also eat especially well, consuming more fruits and vegetables than any other city.

Seattle holds No.3 with a robust fitness profile. Residents report very high levels of aerobic and strength activity, aided by plentiful parks, trails and recreation centers. The city’s outdoors-oriented culture boosts participation, giving Seattle the third-highest personal-health rank in 2025. It also maintains strong community-environment scores thanks to its green spaces and bike-friendly infrastructure.

San Francisco continues to rank among the very fittest (No.4). It has unusually low obesity and cardiovascular disease rates, and a high share of residents who meet activity and diet guidelines. Walking and biking are common, thanks to a dense transit system and bike-path network.

Denver sits at No.5. Its mountainous backdrop and extensive open space encourage outdoor activity: the city offers abundant park acreage and trails per resident. Denver consistently ranks in the top ten for exercise participation as residents take advantage of its mild climate.

Minneapolis is No.6, thanks to a very active infrastructure. It offers about 61 trail miles per 100,000 people (one of the nation’s highest), and leads the country in recreation centers per capita. It also boasted the nation’s highest bicycling score. These features support an active population: 32% of Minneapolis adults met both aerobic and strength exercise guidelines, and over 60% met basic aerobic targets.

Madison held No.7 on the list. The city’s strong performance reflects its bike-friendly streets, abundant parks and supportive health culture (aided by the university community). These factors keep Madison comfortably in the top tier of fitness rankings, although its rank slipped two spots from 2024’s #5 position.

Atlanta remains in the top 10, ranking No.8. Its warm climate and large park system (including extensive trails like the BeltLine) encourage year-round outdoor activity. While Atlanta still trails some peers in key health metrics, recent investments in bike lanes, sidewalks and fitness campaigns are expanding opportunities.

Sacramento surged to No.9 this year, up dramatically from its 32nd-place ranking in 2024. This jump reflects major new investment in parks, trails and recreation programs. Many more Sacramento residents met activity and nutrition benchmarks as facilities and programming expanded.

San Diego re-entered the top 10 at No.10, marking a notable rebound from 2024. Its gain was driven by higher rates of strength-training activity and a growing network of shared-use sports facilities and trails.