A new study by SolitaireStreak has ranked Miami, Florida, as the rudest city in America, with Las Vegas, Nevada, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, close behind.
Top rankings and local sentiments
Miami scored 99.29 out of 100 on the survey’s rudeness scale, recording the highest average local rating for resident discourtesy at 6.55 out of 10.
Las Vegas ranked 2nd with a score of 97.77 out of 100. Its residents were the most likely in the country to consider people in their city the rudest in the state, at 62%. Overall, 1 in 4 Americans share this view about their own city, with the sentiment particularly strong in Miami, where 57% of respondents agreed.
Philadelphia ranked 3rd with a score of 89.93 out of 100. In the city, 75% of respondents reported seeing people use speakerphones in shared spaces, while 85% said they had witnessed drivers ignoring basic road rules.
Common behaviors and problem locations
Roads and highways were identified as the main locations for rude behaviour by 56% of respondents, followed by
- Public transport: 12%
- Grocery shops: 10%
- Retail shops: 7%
Nationwide, the most common rude behaviours witnessed frequently were
- People being absorbed in their phones: 74%
- Drivers waiting until the last moment to merge: 71%
- Drivers not allowing others to merge: 67%
- A lack of self-awareness in public spaces: 62%
- Ignoring basic rules of the road: 61%
Trends and impact on relocation
The survey found that 1 in 3 Americans believe people in their city have become ruder over the past year. Although population changes can influence local dynamics, 48% of respondents said long-term residents are ruder than newcomers.
The findings also show that 70% of Americans believe people living in cities are ruder than those in rural areas. This may be linked to denser urban environments, although the survey suggests rural communities may simply be perceived as more welcoming.
While some people may dismiss rude encounters, 1 in 5 Americans said such experiences had made them consider moving elsewhere. This sentiment was strongest in Miami at 42%, followed by Las Vegas at 34% and Baltimore, Maryland, at 32%.
SolitaireStreak surveyed residents across 40 of the most populated cities in the US about the frequency and location of rude behaviour, as well as changes over the past year. Points were awarded based on reported instances of discourtesy, averaged for each city, and converted to a 0–100 scale, with 100 representing the highest level of rudeness.
The findings highlight everyday frustrations, from phone use to aggressive driving. However, the data reflects public perceptions based on self-reported observations rather than an objective measure of residents’ character. The results nevertheless suggest that minor acts of discourtesy remain common in American cities and may affect perceptions of community satisfaction.