The Most Sinful City in the U.S. Is … (Hint: It’s Not Vegas)

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When people talk about “Sin City” in the United States, they’re most likely referring to Las Vegas. But a new study says America’s most sinful city is known by a different nickname: The Big Easy (or the City That Care Forgot, or the Crescent City).

Online real estate site Trulia recently ranked major U.S. cities based on the seven deadly sins, also called the cardinal sins. According to Trulia, New Orleans is America’s true “Sin City” while Provo, Utah, is the nation’s most saintly city.

Here’s how Trulia measured each city’s sinfulness:

  • Lust: Number of adult entertainment venues
  • Gluttony: Rates of obesity, binge drinking and smoking
  • Greed: Number of racing and gambling venues and residents’ reported charitable donations
  • Sloth: Number of residents who have not exercised in 30 days
  • Wrath: Per capita violent crime
  • Envy: Inequality in home prices
  • Vanity: Number of beauty and tanning salons and plastic surgery offices

“With nearly three times the national rate of adult entertainment establishments and twice the number gambling establishments per household, [New Orleans] scores highly in lust and greed,” Trulia explains. “Additionally, above-average rates of smoking, binge- and heavy-drinking and obesity, as well as high incidents of violent crime make the Crescent City a great place for those looking to explore gluttony and wrath.”

According to Trulia, these are the 10 most “sinful” cities in the country:

  1. New Orleans, Louisiana
  2. Atlantic City, New Jersey
  3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  4. Tampa, Florida
  5. Toledo, Ohio
  6. Louisville, Kentucky
  7. Shreveport, Louisiana
  8. Las Vegas, Nevada
  9. San Antonio, Texas
  10. Columbus, Ohio

On the other hand, these are America’s most “saintly” cities (those that scored as the least sinful):

  1. Provo-Orem, Utah
  2. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
  3. Fort Collins, Colorado
  4. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  5. Raleigh, North Carolina
  6. Claremont, New Hampshire-Lebanon, Vermont
  7. Boise, Idaho
  8. Asheville, North Carolina
  9. Greeley, Colorado
  10. Cambridge, Massachusetts

Did your city show up on Trulia’s sinful or saintly list? What do you think about the rankings? Sound off below or on our Facebook page.

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