Sleep is an integral part of our lives. It helps relax the body, repair cells and boost memory, but it can be hard to get enough sleep if you live in a city with lots of stressors such as traffic congestion or high unemployment rates. Lack of sleep is one of the most common health problems in the USA. The amount of time people spend sleeping has dropped from about eight hours per night in 1910 to less than seven hours today. That’s not nearly enough sleep for optimum health and well-being.
A lack of sleep also causes severe problems on the job and at home because it reduces productivity and increases errors while raising blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of stress hormones like cortisol that impair immune function over time. In this article, we will explore what factors influence your ability to get a good night’s rest so you can make informed decisions about where to live based on your needs for better sleep!
Your City Affects Your Sleep:
You have a hard time falling asleep at night because you’re worried about all the things you need to do tomorrow. The truth is that your sleep quality is affected by where you live, but not in the way you might think it would be. This guide can help by giving some tips on how different types of cities affect sleep quality.
The 10 Best Cities for Sleep:
- Ft. Collins, Colorado
- Loveland, Colorado
- Boulder, Colorado
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Arvada, Colorado
- Plymouth, Minnesota
- Lakewood, Colorado
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Longmont, Colorado
- Iowa City, IA
The 10 Worst Cities for Sleep:
- Gary, Indiana
- Detroit, Michigan
- Camden, New Jersey
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Newark, New Jersey
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Albany, Georgia
- Mount Vernon, New York
- Macon, Georgia
- Youngstown, Ohio
The 10 Best Cities for Sleep and Why?
1. Ft. Collins, Colorado
Ft. Collins, Colorado, is the best U.S city for sleep with its mild weather and low air pollution, making it a great place to live without losing the quality of life from environmental factors.
Ranking at number one on the list, this town has an unemployment rate of just over two percent, which means less anxiety about finding work or being in danger of economic hardship. There are also plenty of family-friendly activities available here, including several museums like The Butterfly Pavilion and Penrose Library Museum.
2. Loveland, Colorado
Loveland, Colorado, is one of the best U.S cities for sleep because it has a low population density. As a result, its residents enjoy an average commute time of just over eleven minutes which means less stress from getting to work or school on time. This town also offers plenty in terms of outdoor activities with great fishing spots like Trout Creek Reservoir and Mount Aetna Wilderness Park and some scattered ski slopes at Loveland Basin Ski Resort that are open seasonally.
3. Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is another great U.S city for healthy sleep because it also has a low population density and even lower unemployment rate at less than four percent, which means residents are more likely to get enough rest each night without worrying about work-related stress. The town’s average commute time of just over 22 minutes can be relaxing as well, since the people who live here have plenty of time to enjoy their surroundings like Boulder Creek Path or Emma McCrary Nature Area before getting in on the office grind.
4. Overland Park, Kansass
Overland Park is a great place to sleep due to its small, quiet, and low-stress population. In addition, the average commute time in the city for residents is just over 18 minutes, so they can enjoy the nature that surrounds them, like Shawnee Mission State Park or Quail Creek Reservoir, before engaging with other people during work hours.
5. Arvada, Colorado
Arvada, Colorado is another finalist for the Best U.S Cities for Sleep because it has a low crime rate and one of the best commute times in this list at only 25 minutes on average, which means residents are less likely to be tired by the time they get into an office job. The unemployment rates here also hover around two percent. Hence, people can work hard each day without worrying about financial issues, and their stress levels will be lower as well, thanks to living in such a beautiful part of the country where there’s plenty of green space that includes high mountains perfect for hiking or skiing depending on what season it is. Finally, Arvada tends not to have any air pollution as well.
6. Plymouth, Minnesota
Plymouth, Minnesota, is one of the Best U.S Cities for Sleep because it has a low unemployment rate and extremely short commute times (only nine minutes on average) which means residents are more likely to be feeling awake by the time they get into an office job. Plymouth also doesn’t have any air pollution, so breathing will always feel clean even if you walk outside. Finally, there’s plenty of green space nearby, including beautiful parks with locals often gathering at these places in large groups after working hard all week long too.
7. Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado, is one of the Best U.S Cities for Sleep because it has a low crime rate. In addition, neighbors in this city are generally friendly to each other, which means there’s less stress when living here and more time for sleep! Lakewood also offers plenty of nearby parks with areas to picnic or jog around too – perfect before bedtime!
8. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a beautiful city for sleep because it has low-stress levels thanks to the laid-back atmosphere in this place. As a result, you can be more productive and have better relationships with other people when you’re less stressed – meaning that Santa Fe residents will sleep very well at night!
9. Longmont, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado, is a great place to live if you’re looking for peaceful sleep. Longmont has low levels of stress and crime, making it less likely that people will have insomnia or other sleep disorders!
10. Iowa City, IA
Iowa City, IA, is a place worth living for a good sleep because there are plenty of paths through the city that people can walk on before bed. It’s also helpful that Iowa City has low levels of pollution and crime – both risk factors when it comes to insomnia!
The 10 Worst Cities for Sleep and Why:
1. Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana, is a terrible place to live for sleep. Gary has high levels of pollution, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and higher rates of insomnia. Gary also has high traffic levels, which can lead to sleep deprivation!
2. Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is a terrible place to live for sleep. Detroit has high levels of pollution, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and higher rates of insomnia. In addition, traffic in the city is one of the worst in the country – that’s less time spent sleeping!
3. Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey, is a terrible place to live for sleep. Camden has high levels of pollution, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and higher rates of insomnia. In addition, unemployment in the city is one of the worst – that’s less time spent sleeping!
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii, is a terrible place to live for sleep. Honolulu has high levels of pollution, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and higher rates of insomnia. In addition, long commutes in the city are one of the worst – that’s less time spent sleeping.
5. Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey, is a terrible place to live for sleep. Newark has high levels of pollution, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and higher rates of insomnia. In addition, long commutes in the city are one of the worst – that’s less time spent sleeping!
6. Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham has one of the worst traffic congestion rates in America. The average commute time is about 30 minutes, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep and have enough time for work, errands, or personal obligations. Birmingham also ranks as having one of the highest unemployment rates, with an employment rate at only 69%. This means that many people live below the poverty level, making them more susceptible to health risk factors like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Related: How Obesity Affects Sleep
7. Albany, Georgia
Albany is one of the worst cities for sleep in America, with a population that has an average commute time of 37 minutes. In addition, many people have insomnia due to stress which can be attributed to Albany’s high levels of unemployment, obesity, and diabetes.
The city ranks as having some of the least affordable housing rates on this list because it takes about 47% more income than the national average salary to keep up mortgage payments, according to 2016 data by HomeStart Finance Corporation.
8. Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is ranked as one of the worst cities for sleep because it has an average commute time of 35 minutes. In addition, the crime rate here is higher than those found around other places on this list. It also ranks as one of America’s most polluted cities, which isn’t great for your health in general and can be detrimental to people who suffer from allergies or asthma specifically.
9. Macon, Georgia
Macon is ranked as the ninth-worst city for sleep because it has an average commute time of 27 minutes. Unfortunately, it also ranks in the top 15% nationally, meaning that this city doesn’t offer many opportunities to unemployed people – not having employment can take its toll on your mental health and overall quality of life, which may be part of why it’s so difficult to get some decent shut-eye here.
10. Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown ranks as the tenth worst city for sleep in America because it has a population with an average commute time of 36 minutes. It also falls below 50% when looking at unemployment rates, leading to mental health issues and lack of quality sleep – not what you want from your hometown!
Factors Determining Sleep
Lack of sleep has been linked to weight gain and obesity, aging skin, diabetes, and heart disease. Not getting a good night’s rest also makes us feel more tired during the day. It can even lead to depression or anxiety in some people. The factors determining sleep infographic will help you better understand how different factors influence sleep to improve yours!
The Environment We Live In:
Most people don’t realize that your environment can significantly impact your sleep quality and quantity. Unfortunately, this lack of awareness leads to poor decisions about optimizing your sleeping conditions, which can lead to chronic insomnia or even sleep apnea.
Noise Pollution:
Noise pollution is a significant factor in determining sleep. While some people need it to sleep, others find themselves more awake and stressed out by the noise. Traffic-related sounds are a prevalent cause of stress because they’re often associated with danger or fear. And while any sound can make a person’s heart rate rise, sudden loud noises–like those from explosions–are even worse; we become alarmed when we hear them, making our hearts pump faster and increasing blood pressure levels.
Lighting:
Lighting also plays a significant role in how well people sleep. One of the most common issues is that light pollution from street lamps, neon signs, and other sources mean we’re exposed to too many stimuli late at night when it’s time to wind down for bed.
Lighting is essential in the home environment, too. When we’re trying to fall asleep or stay asleep, experts recommend dimming lights at night and making sure they aren’t too bright when it’s time for bed.
While some studies show that exposure to natural light helps us feel energized throughout the day, others find that getting too much light at night messes up our circadian rhythm and, as a result, disrupts sleep patterns.
Light pollution can also be an issue if you live in a city with lots of street lamps–even though they were installed for the safety of pedestrians. If this is your situation, it may help to invest in blackout curtains or window shades, so the lights from outside won’t affect how well you fall asleep.
Air Pollution:
When it comes to air pollution, the World Health Organization estimates that more than seven million people die prematurely from breathing polluted air each year. And as we know from our own experience with a stuffy nose or scratchy throat, this is not just an inconvenience–it can make it difficult to fall asleep at night.
Pollution also causes inflammation, and over time this may lead to chronic diseases like asthma and heart disease. This might seem far-fetched, but research has shown links between environmental factors such as poor air quality and increased long-term risk of diabetes.
Time Spent In Travelling:
Commute times can also affect your sleep patterns because they often happen during the middle of the day when our natural circadian rhythm has us feeling sleepy. So, for example, rising just before noon for a morning shift might leave you exhausted by nightfall, even if you’re getting good sleep at night.
Mornings and evenings are times when our circadian rhythms naturally tell us to sleep. If you commute in the morning, this means that your body is telling you it’s time for a nap when you’re stuck on a crowded train or bus with no place to sit. Your evening commute could be making it difficult for you to fall asleep at night because of its timing relative to bedtime.
Cities with longer commutes often have higher rates of insomnia among residents-with Los Angeles reporting more than twice as many cases like New York City.
Diet:
An unhealthy diet could also play a role in your sleep quality. For example, Americans typically consume too much sugar and caffeine, which can lead to high blood pressure and an increased heart rate-two things that make it difficult for you to fall asleep at night.
Poor diet choices are not the only problem with nutrition when it comes to sleep. Your body needs protein from food sources rather than supplements before bedtime because of amino acid tryptophan’s ability to induce drowsiness.
Snoring, excessive daytime napping, restless legs syndrome, or apnea may point out underlying health problems leading to poor sleep hygiene; these conditions should be checked by a medical professional as soon as possible if they persist for more than two weeks.
Unemployment:
As the economy continues to struggle, more and more Americans are finding themselves unemployed. For those who are still working but have a tough time finding sleep at night, this may not come as much of a surprise. The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that unemployment is currently hovering around nine percent in the U.S., with rates being as high as 19% for specific demographics like black teens or Hispanic women.
Sleep deprivation has been linked to depression and anxiety disorders due to its lack of ability to deal with stress effectively-a problem that many people today face often; an increased risk factor for heart disease because poor sleep can increase blood sugar levels which have been shown to lead to plaque build-up on artery walls and higher cholesterol levels.
Health Risk Factors:
Sleep is one of the most important things to keep you healthy and happy. But how do different health issues affect your sleep?
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) found that people with insomnia had an increased risk for chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression compared with those without sleep issues. The study also revealed that even among adults suffering from chronic diseases, 60% reported problems sleeping at least once in three months leading up to the survey!
Smoking:
Smoking cigarettes can make it hard to sleep. Nicotine is a stimulant, meaning that smokers have more trouble falling asleep and will wake up earlier than non-smokers. Smoking also promotes poor sleep quality by reducing the amount of time spent in deep sleep and impairing REM (Rapid Eye Movement) which occurs during light phases of sleep.
Alcoholism:
Alcoholism can also be a factor in sleep disorders, with alcohol reducing the amount of time spent in deep sleep and increasing wakefulness during early mornings. Alcohol is now widely recognized as another cause of insomnia.
Lack of exercise:
Lack of exercise can also lead to sleep disorders. Exercise is important for the healthy functioning of the body and mind, including quality sleep. It promotes good night-time breathing, which then leads to better quality restful sleep by reducing stress levels.
FAQs Related to Best And Worst U.S Cities For Sleep:
How can I get better sleep in the city?
Many factors can influence your sleep quality. If you want to know how to improve your sleep, the following recommendations may be of help:
– Try not to stay up late for too long and follow a routine;
– Make sure there is enough light in the room with good natural lighting in the daytime;
– Be careful about what you eat and drink, especially before bedtime;
– Avoid stressful activities at night.
What percentage of Americans report less than 7 hours of sleep in 24 hours?
The percentage of Americans who report less than seven hours of sleep in 24 hours is 46%. This number represents over 100 million adults.
Which states sleep the most?
The states that sleep the most are Wisconsin and Minnesota on average, at eight and nine hours, respectively.
Which state sleeps less than any other?
Texas is sparsest in terms of sleeping hours, with an average of six hours per day.
Conclusion:
Where do you live? The city and state can have a significant impact on the quality of your sleep. This blog post has shared some insights into which U.S cities are best for getting a good night’s rest, as well as those that will leave you tossing and turning all evening long.
Also Read: Sleep Hygiene: Why is it Important and How to Practice?
