Whether you’re a standout visionary or more of a team player, it’s more than just your month on the astrological calendar — the Age of Aquarius is upon us.
But where in America are revolutionary thinkers, innovators, and humanitarians — aka Aquarians — most likely to feel at home?
To mark Aquarius season (Jan. 21–Feb. 18), Lawn Love ranked 2022’s Best Cities for Aquarians. Our data research team analyzed nearly 130 of the biggest U.S. cities based on this air sign’s zodiac profile.
So, what gives a city an Aquarian flair? Sustainability, innovation, and adventure are three key qualities, in addition to important attributes like generosity and inclusivity.
Discover if your city is aligned with the times in our ranking and in-depth analysis below. Learn more about your free-spirited tendencies with our infographic, expert insights, and your famous counterparts.
In this article
City rankings
See how each city fared in our ranking:
Results in depth
West is best for water-bearers
Aquarians may be air signs, but they take on the symbol of a water-bearer for their ability to heal communities through water (life). No wonder the Best Cities for Aquarians are along the Pacific Coast, with San Francisco sailing to the top.
Aquarians can be neighbors with their fellow tech-loving Capricorns in San Fran, join the hipsters in Portland, Oregon (No. 2), or they can thrive in other tech-loving cities like Seattle (No. 3), and San Jose, California (No. 4).
Our top cities scored particularly well in Sustainability, Humanitarianism, and Adventure. San Fran landed in first place for Sustainability, hardly a surprise considering the city is nationally recognized for its green efforts like breaking records for recycling 77% of its municipal waste.
Local tip: Aquarians in The Golden City should schedule a trip to Crystal Way, a metaphysical store where you can pick up your birthstone, the amethyst, and have a professional astrological reading done in one of the Best Cities for Witches.
Rebels and scholars, head northeast
Rebellious Aquarians will quickly find a home in Pittsburgh (No. 5), where 20th-century working-class revolutionaries formed labor unions for better work conditions and hours. Pittsburgh rides high on its Independence ranking, but Steel City also has a deep history of innovation — from children receiving the first polio vaccine to McDonald’s customers eating their first Big Mac.
Few U.S. cities have a revolutionary history like Boston’s (No. 6), which made its way to the top, thanks to its Intelligence ranking. As a leading city for medical research with more than 30 colleges, including Harvard and MIT, it’s no surprise that Boston is one of the most educated and innovative cities in the country, placing sixth in Intelligence.
Pittsburgh and Boston are both making strides in Sustainability by either planning or working to divest from fossil fuels. Boston has committed to a Green New Deal, and Pittsburgh has plans to reduce waste to zero citywide.
Local tip: Looking for a unique spot to hang out with your Aquarian friends in Pittsburgh? Randyland is a vibrant museum full of public art by Randy Gilson.
In Boston, take your favorite Aquarian on a date to one of the city’s many museums, or browse the stacks at the Boston Public Library.
Noncoastal conformity
It’s best for Aquarians to avoid landlocked cities like Wichita, Kansas (No. 127), Montgomery, Alabama (No. 126), and Sioux Falls, South Dakota (No. 124). These cities fared poorly in most categories, landing at the bottom of our ranking as the Worst Cities for Aquarians.
While each of these cities demonstrates plenty of room for improvement, some have begun to take action, especially in Sustainability. Wichita’s sustainability efforts are underway, and Sioux Falls is working toward net-zero emissions by 2050. In 2016, Montgomery implemented a sustainability program, which has brought down utility expenses across the city.
The bottom-ranking cities are all on the smaller side. A few more Aquarians could bring a boost of innovation to their sustainability efforts.
Infographic: All about Aquarians
Famous Aquarians
Claim to Fame:
Author
Birthdate: Jan. 25
Image source: George Charles Beresford, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
Talk show host
Birthdate: Jan. 29
Image source: MILWAUKEE, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
Actor
Birthdate: Jan. 30
Image source: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
Singer
Birthdate: Feb. 1
Image source: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
Professional footballer
Birthdate: Feb. 5
Image source: Анна Нэсси, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
Musician
Birthdate: Feb. 6
Image source:
Warinhari, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
Actor
Birthdate: Feb. 7
Image source: David Shankbone, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
Astronomer
Birthdate: Feb. 15
Image source: Justus Sustermans, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Claim to Fame:
NBA player
Birthdate: Feb. 17
Image source: DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Methodology
We ranked 127 of the biggest U.S. cities from best to worst (1-127) based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below.
Independence
- Hipster-Friendliness
- Weight: 3
- Best = Smallest value
- State Freedom Index
- Weight: 2
- Best = Smallest value
- State Rebellion Index
- Weight: 2
- Best = Smallest value
Sustainability
- Sustainability Index
- Weight: 3
- Best = Smallest value
- State Waste Management Index
- Weight: 2
- Best = Smallest value
- State Food Wastefulness Index
- Weight: 1
- Best = Biggest value
Humanitarianism
- Generosity Index
- Weight: 3
- Best = Smallest value
- Inclusivity Index
- Weight: 3
- Best = Smallest value
Intelligence
- Innovation Index
- Weight: 3
- Best = Smallest value
- Share of Population Aged 25+ with a Bachelor’s Degree
- Weight: 1
- Best = Biggest value
Adventure
- Carless Weekend Trip-Friendliness
- Weight: 3
- Best = Smallest Value
- Hiker-Friendliness
- Weight: 1
- Best = Smallest value
Sources
Cato Institute, Innovation Cities™ Index, LawnStarter, and Urban Institute
Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock
