U.S. Cities Compassion Benchmark · 2026
Top U.S. Cities Compassion Benchmark Index 2026
Comparative benchmark of major American cities across the institutional compassion framework, including governance, equity, healthcare access, and structural care capacity.
144Cities ranked
36.3Mean score
33.9Median score
8Dimensions
2026Publication year
Band distribution
| Band | Range | Count | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| exemplary | 81-100 | 0 | 0% |
| established | 61-80 | 4 | 3% |
| functional | 41-60 | 38 | 26% |
| developing | 21-40 | 85 | 59% |
| critical | 0-20 | 17 | 12% |
Full rankings
Search, filter by region, and sort the complete U.S. cities benchmark index.
| Rank | City | Region | AWR | EMP | ACT | EQU | BND | ACC | SYS | INT | Score | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington | Northeast | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 76.4 | established |
| 2 | Montpelier | Northeast | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 63.9 | established |
| 3 | Boulder | Mountain | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 63.9 | established |
| 4 | Fort Collins | Mountain | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 63.9 | established |
| 5 | Portland | Northeast | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 60.8 | functional |
| 6 | Madison | Midwest | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 60.8 | functional |
| 7 | Minneapolis Saint Paul | Midwest | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 60.8 | functional |
| 8 | St. Paul | Midwest | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 60.8 | functional |
| 9 | Boston | Northeast | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | 57.8 | functional |
| 10 | Seattle | West | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 54.7 | functional |
| 11 | Minneapolis | Midwest | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 51.6 | functional |
| 12 | New York City | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 48.4 | functional |
| 13 | Concord | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 48.4 | functional |
| 14 | Washington DC | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 48.4 | functional |
| 15 | Fargo | Midwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 48.4 | functional |
| 16 | Lincoln | Midwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 48.4 | functional |
| 17 | Austin | Southwest | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 48.4 | functional |
| 18 | Denver | Southwest | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 48.4 | functional |
| 19 | San Jose | West | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 48.4 | functional |
| 20 | Portland | West | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 48.4 | functional |
| 21 | Juneau | West | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 48.4 | functional |
| 22 | Helena | West | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 48.4 | functional |
| 23 | Missoula | West | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 48.4 | functional |
| 24 | Augusta | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 48.4 | functional |
| 25 | Santa Fe | Southwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 46.9 | functional |
| 26 | Eugene | West | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 46.9 | functional |
| 27 | Flagstaff | Mountain | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 46.9 | functional |
| 28 | Duluth | Midwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 46.9 | functional |
| 29 | Providence | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 30 | New Haven | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 31 | Charlotte | Southeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 32 | Raleigh | Southeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 33 | Columbus | Midwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 34 | Pittsburgh | Midwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 35 | Salt Lake City | Southwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 36 | Honolulu | West | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 37 | Worcester | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 38 | Annapolis | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 39 | Durham | Southeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 40 | Chandler | Southwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 45.3 | functional |
| 41 | San Francisco | West | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2 | 44.9 | functional |
| 42 | Houston | Southwest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 43.8 | functional |
| 43 | San Diego | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 40.6 | developing |
| 44 | Sacramento | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 40.6 | developing |
| 45 | Long Beach | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 40.6 | developing |
| 46 | Philadelphia | Northeast | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 40.2 | developing |
| 47 | Atlanta | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 37.1 | developing |
| 48 | Richmond | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 35.5 | developing |
| 49 | Detroit | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 35.5 | developing |
| 50 | Manchester | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
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| 51 | Nashville | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 52 | Charleston | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 53 | Columbia | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 54 | Tallahassee | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 55 | Savannah | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 56 | Norfolk | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 57 | Knoxville | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 58 | Lexington | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 59 | Fayetteville | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 60 | Chicago | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 33.9 | developing |
| 61 | Indianapolis | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 62 | Kansas City | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 63 | Omaha | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 64 | Des Moines | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 65 | Sioux Falls | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 66 | Bismarck | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 67 | Springfield | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 68 | San Antonio | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 69 | El Paso | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 70 | Oklahoma City | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 71 | Tucson | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 72 | Reno | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 73 | Cheyenne | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 74 | Los Angeles | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 33.9 | developing |
| 75 | Oakland | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 33.9 | developing |
| 76 | Tacoma | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 77 | Spokane | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 78 | Boise | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 79 | Billings | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 80 | Colorado Springs | Mountain | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 81 | Provo | Mountain | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 82 | Carson City | Mountain | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 83 | Casper | Mountain | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 84 | Great Falls | Mountain | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 85 | Buffalo | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 86 | Syracuse | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 87 | Tampa | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 88 | Orlando | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 89 | Huntsville | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 90 | Dover | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 91 | Grand Rapids | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 92 | Toledo | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 93 | Dayton | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 94 | Wichita | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 95 | Topeka | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 96 | Cedar Rapids | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 97 | Springfield | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 98 | Fort Wayne | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 99 | Green Bay | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 100 | Corpus Christi | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
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| 101 | Riverside | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 102 | Santa Ana | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 103 | Aurora | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 104 | Virginia Beach | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 33.9 | developing |
| 105 | Hartford | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 32.4 | developing |
| 106 | Albany | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 32.4 | developing |
| 107 | Newark | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 108 | Miami | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 109 | Louisville | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 110 | New Orleans | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 111 | Milwaukee | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 112 | Cincinnati | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 113 | Dallas | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 114 | Fort Worth | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 115 | Albuquerque | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 116 | Phoenix | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 117 | Las Vegas | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 118 | Anchorage | West | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 119 | Rochester | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 120 | Wilmington | Southeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 121 | Akron | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 30.8 | developing |
| 122 | Baltimore | Northeast | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 29.2 | developing |
| 123 | Cleveland | Midwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 29.2 | developing |
| 124 | Tulsa | Southwest | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 26.2 | developing |
| 125 | St. Louis | Midwest | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 21.6 | developing |
| 126 | Fresno | West | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 21.6 | developing |
| 127 | Stockton | West | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 21.6 | developing |
| 128 | Laredo | Southwest | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 20 | critical |
| 129 | Brownsville | Southwest | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 20 | critical |
| 130 | Jacksonville | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18.4 | critical |
| 131 | Little Rock | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18.4 | critical |
| 132 | Rapid City | Mountain | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18.4 | critical |
| 133 | Trenton | Northeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18.4 | critical |
| 134 | Mobile | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18.4 | critical |
| 135 | Lubbock | Southwest | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18.4 | critical |
| 136 | Bakersfield | West | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18.4 | critical |
| 137 | Memphis | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 16.9 | critical |
| 138 | Birmingham | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 16.9 | critical |
| 139 | Baton Rouge | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 16.9 | critical |
| 140 | Shreveport | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 16.9 | critical |
| 141 | Jackson | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 15.3 | critical |
| 142 | Montgomery | Southeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 15.3 | critical |
| 143 | Camden | Northeast | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 15.3 | critical |
| 144 | Flint | Midwest | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 15.3 | critical |
Showing 144 of 144 entities
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