Are Upstate New Yorkers really that lazy?

A new study released by WalletHub looked at 2024's "Hardest-Working Cities in America." And the bad news is, one Upstate New York City was nearly dead last, meaning it's one of the laziest in the nation.

On a whole, though, it's worth mentioning that Americans are pretty hard workers compared to other nations. The report says Americans work an average of 1,811 hours per year, which outpaces Japan by 204 hours, the U.K. by 279 hours, and Germany by 470 hours. No wonder we're so depressed!

Hard work is one of the main reasons why America has become so successful, but it can also lead to negative consequences if it crosses into overwork territory. In other words, even though people in the hardest-working cities are the backbone of our economy, they shouldn't forget to take the occasional break for their mental and physical health.

via GIPHY

BUT NOT ALL CITIES WORK AS HARD

Despite America's overall productivity, WalletHub was still able to assess the difference in work ethic over 116 major U.S. cities using 11 different metrics. And the resulting scores means that one Upstate New York city should be a little embarrassed.

#114 out of #116 • Buffalo, New York

Canva
Canva
loading...

Buffalo, the second largest city in New York state, needs to get off the couch and do something, apparently. With an overall score of just 39.22, the only two cities to score lower were Detroit, Michigan and Burlington, Vermont.

Check out the full ranking below, and let us know-- do you think Buffalo deserves its spot?

Hardest-Working Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank* CityTotal Score Direct Work Factors Rank Indirect Work Factors Rank 
1Washington, DC76.9749
2Irving, TX76.39146
3Cheyenne, WY76.15727
4Virginia Beach, VA75.79811
5Anchorage, AK75.55385
6Norfolk, VA75.27914
7Dallas, TX75.21532
8San Francisco, CA74.67640
9Denver, CO73.931222
10Austin, TX73.82279
11Sioux Falls, SD73.561174
12Corpus Christi, TX73.441076
13Plano, TX72.841438
14Fort Worth, TX72.141630
15Arlington, TX72.121531
16Chesapeake, VA71.85307
17Aurora, CO71.682416
18Laredo, TX70.982362
19Garland, TX70.902521
20Nashville, TN70.521377
21Manchester, NH70.243435
22Omaha, NE70.003625
23Raleigh, NC69.922929
24Charlotte, NC69.893324
25Chandler, AZ69.742064
26Scottsdale, AZ69.701778
27Houston, TX69.242651
28Gilbert, AZ68.753150
29Tampa, FL68.551997
30Boston, MA68.45493
31Fremont, CA68.223733
32Seattle, WA68.05516
33Atlanta, GA67.863269
34Portland, ME67.724057
35Colorado Springs, CO67.435217
36Oklahoma City, OK66.9522101
37Indianapolis, IN66.914718
38St. Petersburg, FL66.7828100
39Orlando, FL66.7121107
40Jacksonville, FL66.4218109
41Lubbock, TX66.403998
42Baltimore, MD66.38712
43San Antonio, TX66.143586
44Salt Lake City, UT66.02665
45Phoenix, AZ65.904154
46Durham, NC65.804388
47Fargo, ND65.524863
48Little Rock, AR65.3238115
49Kansas City, MO65.255041
50San Jose, CA65.194255
51Miami, FL64.9127114
52Oakland, CA64.675342
53Boise, ID64.186348
54Portland, OR64.17831
55El Paso, TX64.136443
56Jersey City, NJ63.895837
57Louisville, KY63.825734
58Honolulu, HI63.7246110
59Tulsa, OK63.5745111
60Billings, MT63.486266
61Minneapolis, MN62.777713
62Des Moines, IA62.756967
63Lexington-Fayette, KY62.5254102
64Wichita, KS62.3656105
65Glendale, AZ62.347047
66Jackson, MS62.1160106
67San Diego, CA61.955980
68Columbus, OH61.946559
69Irvine, CA61.625589
70Fort Wayne, IN61.566893
71Hialeah, FL61.4444112
72Santa Ana, CA61.296187
73Lincoln, NE61.258228
74Mesa, AZ61.137261
75Long Beach, CA60.697465
76St. Louis, MO60.658136
77St. Paul, MN60.568512
78Anaheim, CA60.497375
79Reno, NV60.457590
80Los Angeles, CA60.147660
81Chula Vista, CA60.117853
82Winston-Salem, NC59.597992
83Henderson, NV59.198071
84Philadelphia, PA58.52988
85Birmingham, AL58.2967108
86North Las Vegas, NV58.148449
87Chicago, IL57.718939
88Las Vegas, NV57.288858
89Cincinnati, OH57.239720
90Bakersfield, CA56.299372
91Albuquerque, NM56.169284
92Memphis, TN55.919173
93Riverside, CA55.369468
94New Orleans, LA55.268796
95Greensboro, NC55.089694
96Sacramento, CA54.969095
97Wilmington, DE54.609581
98Pittsburgh, PA54.4110419
99New York, NY53.7010144
100Baton Rouge, LA53.4310091
101Madison, WI52.9899104
102Milwaukee, WI52.8510810
103Charleston, WV52.6186116
104Stockton, CA52.2810615
105Tucson, AZ51.9410299
106Providence, RI51.6010726
107San Bernardino, CA50.6210583
108Columbia, SC50.33103113
109Cleveland, OH50.0011023
110Fresno, CA48.8610982
111Bridgeport, CT48.311124
112Toledo, OH47.5011152
113Newark, NJ43.1911345
114Buffalo, NY39.22114103
115Detroit, MI39.0811570
116Burlington, VT34.4311656

The 10 Dumbest Cities In New York [RANKED]

Varying levels of education do not always correlate with one's intelligence. Regardless, the data miners at Roadsnacks compiled education data from New York cities with a population of over 5,000. Of the 163 Empire State cities analyzed, these are the 10 dumbest cities in the state based on the rate of high school dropouts and higher education of adults 25 and older.

Gallery Credit: Matty Jeff

The Most 'Unpopular Opinions' Locals Hold About Central New York

Some of us have been holding in some unexpected viewpoints about the things our region is known for.

Gallery Credit: Will Phillips

See The 10 Trashiest Cities In New York State [RANKED]

Here we go again...it's another list picking on some great New York cities and towns. Let's face it, if you approach something looking for trash - you will find what you are looking for in any city or town in any state. And while the municipalities on this list have their scars like any other city or town, those who live in and around them know there is plenty to love about all ten. While we in no way endorse this list, we still need to see which 10 New York Cities Roadsnacks says arethe state'sTrashiest based on crime data, drug use, the prevalence of dollar stores, welfare rates, and more.

Gallery Credit: Matty Jeff