WalletHub Ranks Columbia Best U.S. City for Women

Columbia, Maryland, ranked the best U.S. city for women in WalletHub’s 2026 analysis, marking its third consecutive year at No. 1 among 182 cities evaluated across 15 economic, social, health and safety measures. The city scored well for women’s median earnings, low poverty and unemployment rates, healthcare access and life expectancy; Seattle ranked second and Fremont, California, third. Raleigh was the eighth-best city nationally and the top-ranked city in North Carolina, followed by Durham at No. 20 and Charlotte at No. 25, while Greensboro ranked No. 125. Huntington, West Virginia, and Jackson, Mississippi, were among the lowest-ranked cities, with Jackson placing last overall. The rankings also highlight persistent national disparities, including women earning less than men on average and particularly large pay gaps affecting Black and Latina women, while experts emphasized the importance of affordable child and elder care, paid family leave and workplace flexibility.