City Efficiency Rankings
WalletHub study ranks U.S. cities for efficiency; Jacksonville leads Florida, Provo tops nationwide.
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Jacksonville has been ranked the best-run city in Florida, coming in at 18th place nationally in WalletHub's 2026 "Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America" report, according to Palm Beach Post. The study examined 148 of the largest U.S. cities, measuring how well local governments deliver services relative to what they spend per resident.
Provo, Utah, claimed the top spot nationally, while San Francisco ranked dead last at 148th. In Florida, Fort Lauderdale finished at the bottom of the state, landing at 108th overall, according to Naples News.
How WalletHub Measured Government Efficiency
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo built the rankings around a simple idea: how much does each city deliver per dollar spent? The study divided a quality-of-services score across 36 metrics by each city's total budget per capita. The six service areas measured included safety, education, health, infrastructure, economy, and recreation.
This "return on investment" approach penalizes cities that spend heavily but deliver average results. San Francisco's per-capita debt is roughly 57.5 times higher than top-ranked cities like Nampa, Idaho, according to Jacksonville.com. Cities with lean, consolidated governments tend to score well.
Jacksonville's 18th-Place Finish Reflects Decades of Lean Governing
Jacksonville scored a quality-of-services rank of 97th but a budget-per-capita rank of just 8th — meaning it spends far less per resident than most large cities. That combination pushed it to 18th overall. Tallahassee came in close behind at 19th, while St. Petersburg ranked 42nd, according to Jacksonville.com.
Analysts credit Jacksonville's consolidated city-county government structure with cutting administrative waste. Mayor Donna Deegan's push to streamline permitting and revitalize the riverfront has added to those gains. She has maintained roughly a 62% approval rating since taking office in 2023, according to Palm Beach Post.
Fort Lauderdale's 108th Rank Tied to Visitor Costs and Safety Woes
Fort Lauderdale ranked 108th — the lowest of any Florida city on the list. City officials argue the methodology is unfair. As a major tourist hub, the city must fund infrastructure for millions of visitors each year. But the per-capita budget calculation only counts full-time residents, making spending look bloated, according to Naples News.
The city also faces steep costs tied to sea-level rise and hurricane preparation. Mayor Dean Trantalis has defended high spending as a coastal necessity. Still, Fort Lauderdale ranked 177th out of 180 cities in a separate WalletHub safety study, citing high traffic fatalities and natural disaster risk, according to Jacksonville.com.
High Efficiency Does Not Always Mean Happier Residents
The rankings come with a notable paradox. Jacksonville ranked 18th for efficiency but only 119th nationally for resident happiness. Fort Lauderdale, ranked 108th for efficiency, placed 46th nationally for happiness. Being well-run on paper does not always match how people feel about living there, according to Tallahassee Democrat.
Jacksonville also still ranks 128th in health and 90th in safety nationally, despite its strong overall score. The city's efficiency win gives Mayor Deegan a boost heading into the 2027 election cycle. Jacksonville was also recently ranked 3rd in Florida for starting a business, suggesting broader economic momentum, according to Palm Beach Post.
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