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A 2025 WalletHub study of 182 U.S. cities placed Washington, D.C. at No. 34 on the nationwide stress index, with an overall score of 47.99 on a 100‑point scale (where higher equals more stress). The study evaluated urban stress using 39 metrics across four categories: work, financial, family, and health & safety.
In work stress, D.C. ranked exceptionally high at No. 5, reflecting long average work hours, substantial commute times, and a strong culture of unused vacation time, a trend consistent with previous rankings naming D.C. among the nation’s hardest-working cities. Meanwhile, in financial stress, the city ranked much lower, No. 130, indicating relatively less pressure in that category. Family stress placed the city around No. 28, and it ranked 65th in health & safety stress, suggesting moderate performance across those dimensions…