City Score, Q4 2026

The Joy Project City Score for Q4 2026 (methodology v1.0), published . 2 cities ranked out of 22,463 scored, mean City Score 49. The first release: no earlier quarter to compare, so "on the move" starts next quarter.

Highest City Score

  1. Sarasota, FL — 50, Liberty
  2. Bradenton, FL — 47, Liberty

Highest City Score, metro areas

  1. St. George, UT metro area — 57, Liberty
  2. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area — 54, Liberty
  3. Logan, UT-ID metro area — 54, Liberty
  4. Ogden, UT metro area — 53, Liberty
  5. Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area — 53, Liberty
  6. Hattiesburg, MS metro area — 52, Liberty
  7. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metro area — 51, Liberty
  8. Coeur d'Alene, ID metro area — 50, Liberty
  9. Lancaster, PA metro area — 50, Liberty
  10. Boise City, ID metro area — 49, Liberty
  11. Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area — 49, Liberty
  12. Jackson, MS metro area — 49, Liberty
  13. Jacksonville, FL metro area — 49, Liberty
  14. Punta Gorda, FL metro area — 49, Liberty
  15. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area — 49, Liberty
  16. Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL metro area — 49, Liberty
  17. Rochester, MN metro area — 48, Liberty
  18. Jonesboro, AR metro area — 47, Liberty
  19. Paducah, KY-IL metro area — 47, Liberty
  20. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area — 46, Liberty
  21. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area — 46, Liberty
  22. Gainesville, GA metro area — 46, Liberty
  23. Gettysburg, PA metro area — 46, Liberty
  24. Appleton, WI metro area — 45, Liberty
  25. Bowling Green, KY metro area — 45, Liberty

Highest City Score, micro areas

  1. Corinth, MS micro area — 57, Liberty
  2. Brigham City, UT-ID micro area — 55, Liberty
  3. Brookhaven, MS micro area — 54, Liberty
  4. Harrison, AR micro area — 54, Liberty
  5. Price, UT micro area — 52, Liberty
  6. Tupelo, MS micro area — 52, Liberty
  7. Vernal, UT micro area — 52, Liberty
  8. Lewisburg, PA micro area — 51, Liberty
  9. Cedar City, UT micro area — 50, Liberty
  10. Cornelia, GA micro area — 50, Liberty
  11. Heber, UT micro area — 50, Liberty
  12. Batesville, AR micro area — 49, Liberty
  13. Columbus, MS micro area — 49, Liberty
  14. Jefferson, GA micro area — 48, Liberty
  15. Key West-Key Largo, FL micro area — 48, Liberty
  16. Russellville, AR micro area — 48, Liberty
  17. Selinsgrove, PA micro area — 48, Liberty
  18. Starkville, MS micro area — 48, Liberty
  19. Vicksburg, MS micro area — 48, Liberty
  20. Calhoun, GA micro area — 47, Liberty
  21. Crossville, TN micro area — 47, Liberty
  22. Lake City, FL micro area — 47, Liberty
  23. Laurel, MS micro area — 47, Liberty
  24. Natchez, MS-LA micro area — 47, Liberty
  25. Oxford, MS micro area — 47, Liberty

By state

Florida

  1. Sarasota, FL — 50, Liberty
  2. Bradenton, FL — 47, Liberty

Download and cite

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, United States, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/reports/2026-q4

Methodology changes in this release

  • v1.0 (2026-10-29): First version: the four indexes (Burden, Grace, Family, Liberty) over Census, FBI, CDC, IRS, Religion Census and Religious Liberty in the States data, blended 60/40 with the City Pulse; the Liberty → Revival → Reformation ladder.

Once published, a release's numbers never change; a correction is a new release with a note. City rows are the city proper's own snapshot; a live city page shows its metro area's score when the city sits in one (with the city proper's number under it), so the two can differ.

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