Turns out that when it comes to friendliness, not all cities are created equal. There’s over 300 main cities in the US, but these top 50 are home to the nation’s friendliest folk. We set out to find “what are the friendliest cities in America?”
From strangers helping you find your way when your phone doesn’t work to making new best friends in a local bar, these are the cities across the USA where you’ll be made to feel the most welcome.
The Friendliest Cities in United States America
50th. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Big 7 Travel readers praised Colorado Springs for it’s family-friendly atmosphere and welcoming attitude towards newcomers. In a nutshell, it’s a top city to move to! Sure, it’s not the biggest city, but it has a lively social scene and plenty of outdoorsy opportunities to make friends.
49th. Providence, Rhode Island
Providence perfectly combines the friendliness of a small town with the culture and sophistication of a big city. It’s a close knit community here but that’s not to say that people from out of town or visitors are any less welcome. It’s quite the opposite: Providence is one of the friendliest cities in America.
48th. Baltimore, Maryland
With a nickname like Charm City, you can absolutely bet that there are going to be some charming things around here. Its openness to outsiders means that it’s a vibrant and social place to spend some time. You’ll easily find yourself making new best friends in a bar in Baltimore.
47th. San Jose, California
Sure, the traffic in San Jose might not friendly, but the people sure are. It’s a vibrant and buzzing city that has all the best elements of LA and San Francisco but with a much friendlier attitude. There’s light-hearted banter between the various suburbs, with a positive attitude towards tourists and other visitors.`
46th. Charleston, West Virginia
West Virginians are some of the most welcoming and friendly people you’re likely to meet on your travels across the USA. There’s a chilled out pace of life here that lends itself to a warm atmosphere. The mountains act as somewhat of a protective wall between Charleston and the outside world, so there’s a strong community.
45th. Salt Lake City, Utah
People from Utah are famously friendly, so you’re sure to be made to feel right at home here. Salt Lake City is a wonderfully vibrant and social place to be, and is also rated one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly major cities in the country.
44th. Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is well known for being a generally friendly and kind state, with people regularly waving hello to strangers and saying hello on the street. Cashiers will greet you with a smile, roadside farmers will tell you all about their tasty crops and there’s a real sense of community.
43rd. Tampa, Florida
Family-friendly, dog-friendly, and people-friendly? Tampa ticks all the boxes. People in the Tampa Bay area are some of the friendliest in the States. Residents here are genuinely warm and friendly, with a great hospitality scene.
42nd. Wichita, Kansas
The famous Kansas friendliness can come as a surprise for visitors from other states, so be prepared to engage in random conversations with just about everyone you meet here. Local’s openheartedness towards strangers makes this city such a beautiful place to visit.
41st. Fort Wayne, Indiana
One of the two cities in Indiana to make it onto our list of the friendliest cities in America, Fort Wayne is a top city for all. Its low-crime rate and general friendliness of locals make it a popular city to live, and our readers seem to agree.
40th. Nashville, Tennessee
Music City has more than just an incredible music and arts scene – the people here make it extra special. There’s a chilled out pace of life here that lends itself to a warm atmosphere.
39th. Portland, Maine
You’ll instantly fall in love with this seaside city in Casco Bay. New Englanders are often thought to be reserved, but Portlanders are open and warm. You’ll see this as soon as you arrive here.
38th. Dublin, Ohio
Nationally recognised as one of the best cities to live in the US, Dublin a friendly and vibrant city. There’s plenty of lovely neighborhoods here, with locals that have good manners, a tight-knit sense of community and a fun attitude.
37th. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is laidback and culturally diverse; once a colonial city, there’s legendary history and culture around every corner. No matter where you come from, people here will welcome you into their lives instantly. They are incredibly warm and the hospitality here is unbeatable.
36th. Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is a charming city with plenty of Southern sweetness. One thing that surprises most out-of-towners about Mississippi is how friendly the people are here. Locals are polite as can be and will welcome you as one of their own – once you don’t try to tell them how much better “up North” is!
35th. Charlotte, North Carolina
One of the nicest things about Charlotte is that it’s large enough to meet new people, yet small enough to still feel like you’re in a real community. If you love a big city with a small town heart then this is perfect. Charming, friendly locals are always willing to make more friends.
34th. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu has a keen focus on tourism, so visitors are really looked after here hospitality-wise. It’s known for its “Aloha Spirit”. Living in paradise must do something good for the soul, as you’ll be greeted with a warm smile from everyone you meet here.
33rd. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is full of vibrant, forward-looking communities filled with engaged and friendly people. Even in the big city, people will openly chat to strangers about everything from the weather to football. The people here practically define the meaning of ‘Midwest Nice’.
32nd. Tucson, Arizona
It could be the 250+ days of glorious sunshine a year, or it could just be the overall vibe, but Tucson is one of the friendliest cities in America.
31st. New Orleans, Louisiana
Despite its recent tumultuous past with natural disasters, locals go above and beyond to make you feel welcome here. While the state is ethnically diverse, Louisianans all have one thing in common: they make the city one of the friendliest and best places to be in America.
30th. Boise, Idaho
You’ll hear over and over again that Boise is home to some of the friendliest people in the USA, and our readers agreed with this. People here really are friendly, and not in an annoyingly nosy way. It lives up to its reputation for warm hospitality and a genuine openness towards strangers.
29th. Virginia Beach, Virginia
The low-crime rate and general friendliness of locals make it a popular state to move to, and our readers seem to agree. The beautiful beach city exudes a welcoming atmosphere right from the moment travellers arrive. No wonder it’s such a popular tourist destination.
28th. Grand Rapids, Michigan
In general, people here have a good sense of humour and are easy-going with Midwest politeness. The city is a melting pot of people from all over the state and country, which is a real highlight.
27th. Tulsa, Oklahoma
This former oil town has a convivial atmosphere, that continues everywhere through the suburbs. It’s beautiful and is a safe city for travellers. The people here are genuinely helpful and will give you directions, tips for local places to eat and more.
26th. Savannah, Georgia
The locals are super friendly. It’s easy to get to know people here, even in larger cities such as Atlanta, but Savannah takes top spot. Big 7 Travel readers thought Georgia as a whole was pretty peachy. Look lost? Chances are a good-natured local will help you out.
25th. Burlington, Vermont
People in Burlington are friendly and sociable, making this an easy state to make new friends in. Tourism is huge here, so overall, locals will go out of their way to help visitors to the area. Small town Vermonters might take a while to fully accept new residents, but once they do you’ll have friends for life.
24th. Louisville, Kentucky
You’ll quickly find that people are nice no matter what. Whether you’ve been born and raised here or are just passing through, locals will treat you with the same kind attitude. Residents in Louisville have a particular kind of friendliness that will make you want to move here immediately.
23rd. Cincinnati, Ohio
People who live in Cincinnati are super friendly, and is also among the 20 most immigrant-friendly big cities in the U.S. Locals are polite as can be and will welcome you as one of their own. No wonder it’s voted among the friendliest cities in America!
22nd. Denver, Colorado
Denver’s progressive atmosphere makes it an enjoyable city to visit, with some of the friendliest people in the world to boot. It’s family-friendly and safe, with heaps of culture and makes visitors soon feel like locals. You’ll get an instant feel for the friendliness here.
21st. Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth folk are laid back and happy to help in any situation, without expecting anything in return. Their openheartedness towards strangers makes the city such a beautiful place to visit. Our readers scored the state highly on its neighbourly vibe.
20th. Birmingham, Alabama
If you’re friendly, then everyone you meet in Alabama will be friendly to you. Stick to that golden rule and you’ll see that Birmingham is one of the friendliest cities in America. Strangers will hold the door open for you and even help you carry groceries to your car – just for the sake of being nice.
19th. Indianapolis, Indiana
Locals in Indianapolis pride themselves on their exceptional ‘Hoosier hospitality’, going above and beyond for other people. People here are good-natured, with a good sense of humour. So much more than just a “fly over” place, Indianapolis will hold a special place in your heart after just one visit.
18th. Kansas City, Missouri
People in KC will tell you their entire life story before you’ve even had the chance to say ‘hello’. They’re nice and tend to actually be interested in what strangers have to say – there’s no fakeness here.
17th. Fargo, North Dakota
This is one of the least-populated and visited cities in America, but it’s certainly nothing to do with its great locals. North Dakotans are down-to-earth and willing to help, without expecting anything in return. Our readers scored the state highly on its community vibe.
16th. St. Petersburg, Florida
As well as fantastic beaches in St. Petersburg, there’s also fantastic people. Whether you’ve been born and raised here or are just passing through, locals will treat you with the same kind attitude. Residents have a particular kind of friendliness that will make you want to move here ASAP.
15th. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is a Midwestern gem where people have good manners, a tight-knit sense of community and a fun attitude. It’s a city that’s constantly growing and changing, and with the revival of streets and neighborhoods around the city, there’s a new energy in the air.
14th. Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne might be a a quiet-ish city, but the people here make it a fun and vibrant place to spend some time. There’s a real sense of community here, where it’s common for a stranger to help you unstick your car from the snow or carry your groceries. Leave your keys in your car? Chances are it will be safe and sound.
13th. Houston, Texas
Houston’s enthusiastic locals and greetings of ‘Howdy!’ everywhere you go have surely helped it secure its place among the friendliest cities in America. Its large city buzz is boosted with small town vibes from locals, who will welcome you with open arms.
12th. Asheville, North Carolina
Locals in the charming city of Asheville are good-mannered, eager to help and friendly to both other locals and visitors alike. People will say ‘hi’ just about anywhere: Walmart, the parking lot or even when stopped at a red light.
11th. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
You might not instinctively think of cities such as Philadelphia as being friendly, but they really are. Citizens here are truly friendly – the slogan “You’ve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania” was created for a reason. Our readers ranked it highly in terms of helpfulness from strangers.
10th. Washington D.C.
The cultural haven of Washington D.C . and other metro areas make it a positive place to be. Its most famous resident might not be internationally recognised as being the most welcoming, but locals here certainly are. It’s an easy city to find your way around, with plenty of bars and social spots where you will find yourself chatting to locals.
9th. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is in the heart of the Midwest, with super friendly locals. It is known for being one of America’s most tourist-friendly cities, knocking NYC out of the water. It has a reputation for being dangerous, but people here are some of the nicest in the States.
8th. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City doesn’t have the nickname of ‘The Big Friendly’ for no reason: this is one of the friendliest cities in America. People here are always keen to strike up conversation and will look after their own community no matter what. They’re equally nice to visitors, too.
7th. Omaha, Nebraska
Locals in Omaha are some of the sweetest people you’ll meet in America. You’ll see people helping each other out everywhere you glance, with a strong community feel. Learn to master the ‘one finger’ wave while driving, and you’re practically a local.
6th. Chattanooga, Tennessee
That classic Southern charm is in full swing in Chattanooga, where locals have a buzzing attitude and an eagerness to show off their city to out-of-towners. Add in the lively music scene and it’s clear why it’s one of the friendliest cities in America.
5th. Buffalo, New York
They don’t call Buffalo the ‘City of Good Neighbors’ for no reason – this place is really charming. Locals are quite keen to share the city highlights with newbies, so expect to be shown all the best places. The vibe here feels like it’s a homely Midwestern city but on the east coast.
4th. Cambridge, Massachusetts
You’ll be surrounded by friendly, diverse and all-round lovely people in Cambridge. Locals here have all the bubbling charm of Boston but with a softer and friendlier attitude. It has a cosmopolitan vibe with a large community of locals and expat residents who make the city welcoming for all.
3rd. Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Minneapolis/St. Paul takes third-top spot, thanks to its extraordinarily friendly residents. It’s called ‘Minnesota Nice’ for a reason – the atmosphere in the Twin Cities is hard to match, with a homey feel and locals who go the extra mile to welcome tourists.
2nd. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston’s residents are famously welcoming, making it such a friendly place to spend some time in. The Southern states are well known for their hospitality and kindness and Charleston has both in spades.
1st. Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is a classic example of Midwestern manners and a genuinely positive attitude towards other people. Locals are open-minded and will eagerly share their favourite place to eat or drink with out-of-towners. It’s a great place for families too, with lots of kid-centric activities.
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