Tallahassee Ranks in Top 20 Best-run Cities in America

June 18, 2025

Tallahassee ranked as one of the top 20 Best-run Cities in America by WalletHub, taking the top spot among Florida cities. This acknowledgement comes on the heels of the community being named a finalist for the 2025 All-America City Award, recognizing efforts that harness the power of local collaboration to drive meaningful change.

"Thanks to our dedicated and forward-thinking professional City Manager, we continue to be recognized as one of the best places to live, work and play in the country," Mayor John Dailey said. "Our strategic, focused approach is setting the standard by which other cities aspire and yielding results for our community."

"I'm thrilled to see our City's delivery of best-in-class services through efficient budgeting, process improvements and innovative solutions earn Tallahassee a spot among the best-run cities in the country, and the best in Florida," City Manager Reese Goad said. "This recognition is a testament to the high-quality of our services – from parks and planning to utilities and public safety – and the foundation they provide for our unparalleled quality of life."

WalletHub compared the operating efficiency (comparing the quality of the services residents receive against the city's total budget) of 148 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal which among them are managed best. According to the article, they "constructed a 'Quality of Services' score made up of 36 metrics grouped into six service categories, which [they] then measured against the city's per-capita budget."

"The best-run cities in America use their budgets most effectively to provide high-quality financial security, education, health, safety and transportation to their residents. Many of the top cities also have a very low amount of outstanding government debt per capita, which can prevent financial troubles in the future," said Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst.

Follow the City's All-America Cities Award journey via social media at Facebook.com/CityofTLH. Learn more and view the full list of Best-run Cities in America at WalletHub.com.