These Are the Best Places to Ring in the New Year, According to a New Survey

Counting down to midnight, watching the ball drop, and toasting with Champagne are all classic parts of the New Year celebration. Where and how you decide to ring in 2022 will impact your festivities, though. According to WalletHub, 65 percent of Americans are planning to spend a minimum of $50 on food and drinks for their parties and 60 percent will spend the day with friends or family. The site went a step further to find out where the best places are to celebrate the new year. WalletHub assessed by comparing the 100 biggest cities across 28 key metrics, which included entertainment and food, cost, and safety and accessibility. From there, the team graded each metric on a 100-point scale (100 meaning the best conditions for New Year's Eve celebrations). As for the top city? New York City, which held a number one ranking in entertainment and food (contributing to the 24 percent of Americans who plan to attend public events or parties), a 99 rank in cost, and a 10 rank in safety and accessibility.

To round out the top five cities: Las Vegas, Nevada (a four rank in entertainment and food, an 80 rank in cost, and a 48 rank in safety and accessibility), Orlando, Florida (a six rank in entertainment and food, a 57 rank in cost, a 68 rank in safety and accessibility), Atlanta, Georgia (a two rank in entertainment and food, a 69 rank in cost, a 96 rank in safety and accessibility), Miami, Florida (a three rank in entertainment and food, a 96 rank in cost, and a 24 rank in safety and accessibility).

The survey also analyzed other metrics, like the cities with the lowest average New Year's party tickets: Bakersfield, California; Raleigh, North Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; Columbus, Ohio; Orlando, Florida. The majority of cities with lowest average wine price came from the same state. The top five locations included Indianapolis, Indiana; Phoenix, Arizona; Mesa, Arizona; Chandler, Arizona; and Gilbert, Arizona. Birmingham, Alabama; Wichita, Kansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Buffalo, New York all topped the list for the lowest price of three-star hotel rooms on New Year's Eve.

WalletHub found that the cities with the most nightlife options per capita include Las Vegas, Nevada; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; San Francisco, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Orlando, Florida. The most restaurants per capital are Miami, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; and Houston, Texas. Orlando, Florida had a place in another list, as well: the most luxury shops and gourmet-food stores per capita. The following cities are Honolulu, Hawaii; Tampa, Florida; St. Louis, Missouri; and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.