Two Minnesota Cities Are Now Among the ‘Most Sinful’ in the Country, Here’s Why

Two Minnesota cities are making headlines for their spots on WalletHub’s new list of America’s Most Sinful Cities for 2024. While these cities may not have neon lights and slot machines at every corner like Las Vegas, they are still racking up a little extra karma for their vices.

How Were The 'Most Sinful' Cities in America Determined?

WalletHub just released its list today ranking 182 U.S. cities using data across seven sinful dimensions.

It’s a spicy mix that includes everything from violent crime rates to excessive drinking, and even the number of adult entertainment establishments. No stone was left unturned in their pursuit of America’s darkest corners.

1. Anger & Hatred: violent crime, sex offenders, bullying rate, shooting deaths
2. Jealousy: Theft, fraud, and other complaints
3. Excesses & Vices: excessive drinking, DUI rate, obese adults, fast food per capita, marijuana users, drug overdoses
4. Greed: Casinos per capita, gambling problems
5. Lust: Adult entertainment per capita, teen birth rate, google traffic for "Tinder" and "XXX entertainment
6. Vanity: Tanning salons per capita, Google searches for "top 5 plastic surgeries"
7. Laziness: Adults not exercising, volunteer rate, time spent watching TV, high school dropouts

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“Regardless of any particular religious tenets, certain activities are considered ‘sinful’ by society as a whole," explains Wallethub Analyst Chip Lupo. "Sometimes, these activities are always bad, like violent crimes or identity theft. In other cases, they may be relatively harmless in moderation but incredibly destructive when not kept under control, such as alcohol use or gambling," Lupo adds.

Minneapolis and St. Paul Are Two of America's 'Most Sinful' Cities, But Why?

Minneapolis ended up at #45 on the list largely due to its rankings in Vanity, Lust, and Greed.

• Vanity (24th): With a high density of tanning salons and significant interest in cosmetic procedures, Minneapolis residents seem to prioritize looking good.
• Lust (31st): A notable number of adult entertainment establishments and strong search interest for Tinder and online adult content show the city embraces a more indulgent nightlife.
• Greed (31st): While Minneapolis isn’t home to many casinos, factors such as charitable giving as a share of income and potential gambling disorders influence its ranking in this dimension.
• Anger and Hatred (88th): Violent crime, hate-crime incidents, and firearm deaths play into the city’s score here, reminding us there’s work to be done.
• Excesses and Vices (122nd) and Laziness (163rd): Minneapolis shows a little more restraint in areas like smoking, binge drinking, and lack of exercise, which keeps its rankings lower in these dimensions.

New Study: Minneapolis One of the Happiest Cities in the World

St. Paul, a bit more buttoned-up but no less intriguing, landed at #105, proving that even the quieter sibling has its moments, with Greed and Jealousy leading the way for the city:

• Greed (33rd): Like Minneapolis, St. Paul’s ranking in this category stems from charitable giving rates and potential gambling-related issues.
• Jealousy (88th): A combination of theft, fraud, and identity theft complaints show that crime beyond just violent acts is a bit of an issue.
• Anger and Hatred (137th): St. Paul fares better than Minneapolis in this dimension but still struggles with issues like assault and firearm deaths.
• Excesses and Vices (119th): Moderate binge drinking and smoking rates show that people know how to have a good time without going overboard.
• Lust (116th): St. Paul’s nightlife and interest in adult entertainment are less pronounced than in Minneapolis, but the city still has its desires on display.
• Vanity (94th) and Laziness (158th): With lower interest in tanning salons and a strong volunteer rate, St. Paul earns less sinful scores in these dimensions.

Being on this list isn’t necessarily all bad. It just reminds us that we’re all human and the Twin Cities are living life unapologetically. (Well, except for the crime. No excuses for that. Let's cut that out, okay?)

Also Interesting: Twin Cities Make List of Best Places For Recreation in the U.S.