Photo: joe daniel price / Moment / Getty Images
Jacksonville, FL - A new nationwide ranking has labeled Jacksonville the most boring city in America due to its lack of nightlife, cultural attractions, and dining diversity, sparking backlash and renewed debate over how urban excitement is measured.
FinanceBuzz evaluated 75 major cities, assigning each an excitement score based on nightlife, dining variety, cultural landmarks, outdoor recreation, and festivals.
Jacksonville received just 14.3 points, the lowest in the entire study.
Reports highlight that the city’s vast size paired with low population density leaves many areas lacking vibrant commercial hubs.
According to reports, 54% of Jacksonville’s restaurants are chains and the city ranks near the bottom nationally for nightclubs and concert venues per capita.
Tallahassee also performed poorly, scoring 20.5 points despite being a college town.
In contrast, Miami and Orlando landed among the top 5 most exciting cities in the U.S., thanks to Michelin-starred restaurants, booming tourism, and world-famous theme parks.
City leaders in Jacksonville have pushed back, arguing the report overlooks gems like the St. Johns River, local art walks, and a growing craft beer scene.
FinanceBuzz analysts tell NPR that the scoring system favors densely packed attractions, and acknowledged that Jacksonville’s sprawling layout may skew results downward.
Whether locals agree or not, the report has put Jacksonville in the national spotlight and reignited conversations about the city’s cultural investment and entertainment future.