Work It
Dallas-Fort Worth outpaces the rest with some of nation's hardest workers
Dallas-Fort Worth residents are being recognized right and left for their intense work ethic. First it was SmartAsset pointing out the impressive number of hours Dallasites log at their jobs each month, and now WalletHub is doubling down by awarding five DFW cities spots near the top of its hardest-working cities list.
Out of 116 cities that the personal finance website ranked, we snagged five in the top 20. And not just that: Plano landed in second place overall, closely followed by Irving (No. 5), Dallas (No. 12), Fort Worth (No. 16), and Garland (No. 20).
In order to determine a city's score, WalletHub compared direct and indirect work factors. Direct work factors, which could be worth up to 80 of the total 100 available points, were the average workweek hours and labor-force participation rate of each city's residents, aged 16-64 (pulled directly from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Corporation for National and Community Service).
Indirect work factors were weighted far less heavily and compared data for average commute time, share of workers with multiple jobs, annual volunteer hours per resident, and average leisure time spent per day. Combined, they equaled the city's score for the other available 20 points.
Plano looks pretty good with a total score of 81.49, though its No. 2 ranking for direct work factors alone is extra impressive. The No. 42 ranking for indirect factors is slightly less so, but it does tie that category with Dallas.
Austin and Houston are nipping at our heels overall at Nos. 17 and 18, respectively, while Corpus Christi makes it all the way up to No. 8. It's impossible to catch No. 1 Anchorage, Alaska, though, which scored first in each category for a nearly untouchable total sum of 90.76.
And where should you move if you're seeking a slower pace? Burlington, Vermont, which not only landed on the bottom of the list but also scored lowest in direct work factors.
