This Indiana City is One of the Worst in America for an Active Lifestyle

Every January, WalletHub rolls out one of those rankings that makes you think about your fitness goals — and wonder if where you live is actually helping you achieve them. The 2026 Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle study looked at 100 of the biggest U.S. cities. They scored them using 35 different metrics - from “bike score” and “physically inactive adults” to playgrounds, parks, walkability, gym fees, and more.

Cities That Ranked Highest For Staying Active

Leading the way on WalletHub’s ranking were cities like Honolulu, New York City, and San Francisco – places where walking, biking, and outdoor activities are almost built into everyday life. Big cities with strong infrastructure, accessible green spaces, and lots of active residents dominated the top of the list.

Where Fort Wayne Landed In The 2026 Study

Now let’s talk about Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the 2026 WalletHub study, it ranked 98th out of 100 cities for supporting an active lifestyle. Yep – that puts Fort Wayne second to last on the list.

That ranking doesn’t necessarily mean Fort Wayne residents are couch potatoes, but the city’s overall score suggests there’s room for improvement in how the local environment supports physical activity. From limited features in some outdoor activity categories to fewer sports-oriented amenities compared with bigger metros, the data paints a picture of a city that might need to lace up its sneakers and make some upgrades.

Why Rankings Do Not Tell The Full Story

Let’s be real: rankings don’t tell the whole story of a place. Fort Wayne has beautiful parks, trails, and a growing community of folks passionate about health and wellness. Locals can still find plenty of ways to stay active — but when compared with top-ranked cities that have more extensive infrastructure and lifestyle opportunities, Fort Wayne just doesn’t stack quite as favorably on paper.

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Check out the map below to see some of the highest-ranked cities, and you can see all of the results in the FULL REPORT here.