Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Jackson lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Jackson sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Jackson fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Jackson's strongest factors are Sports, Unique Hangouts and Eats. Its heaviest drawbacks are Going-Out Cost, Weather Extremes and Air Quality.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
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Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Jackson
The Jackson read Free
A written read on Jackson, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Jackson scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Jackson, WY: An Exceptional Hub for Sports and Outdoor Enthusiasts
Jackson, WY earns an Exceptional Fun Score of 85, tying for #13 nationally out of 134 cities, and stands out as the top city in the nation for its Sports scene.
Why it scores high
Jackson truly shines for those who love an active lifestyle, boasting the #1 spot nationally for Sports with an outstanding score of 93 (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres). This indicates a vibrant environment for both participating in and spectating sports. Beyond traditional sports, the city also offers an impressive array of Unique Hangouts, scoring 92 and tying for #2 nationally (OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This suggests a diverse and high-quality selection of unconventional entertainment options for residents and visitors alike.
The culinary scene in Jackson is also a major draw, with Eats scoring 91 and tying for #5 nationally (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This high score means that the city offers a fantastic variety of dining experiences, from casual to fine dining, with a strong emphasis on quality. Complementing the food scene, Coffee also scores very well at 87, tying for #16 nationally (OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality), ensuring that residents have access to excellent cafes and coffee shops. For those who enjoy a good drink, the Drinks scene scores 74, tying for #35 nationally (OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality), indicating a solid selection of places to unwind.
Furthermore, Jackson is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with its Outdoors factor scoring 91 and tying for #5 nationally (OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities). This points to abundant natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation. The city also demonstrates a strong commitment to alternative transportation, with Bike & Micromobility scoring 90 and tying for #8 nationally (OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog), making it easy and enjoyable to get around without a car. Safety is also a major plus, as Crime scores a perfect 100, ranking #1 nationally (FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals), making Jackson an exceptionally safe place to live.
Where it falls short
While Jackson excels in many areas, there are a few factors where it doesn't perform as strongly. The city's Climate scores 0, ranking #134 nationally (NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days), suggesting that the number of comfortable days throughout the year is very low. Additionally, the overall City Vibe scores a low 2, tying for #131 nationally (GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)), which could indicate a less vibrant or less talked-about atmosphere compared to other cities. Higher Education also scores low at 3, ranking #130 nationally (NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data), meaning there are limited opportunities for higher education within the city.
The cost of going out in Jackson is also a significant consideration, with Going-Out Cost scoring a low 18, tying for #87 nationally (Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services). This indicates that entertainment and dining out can be quite expensive. The Live Music scene scores 46, ranking #73 nationally (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues), suggesting a moderate but not exceptional offering of live performances.
Who it's for
Jackson is ideal for outdoor adventurers, sports enthusiasts, and those who prioritize safety and unique local experiences. It's a perfect fit for individuals and families who appreciate excellent dining, a strong coffee culture, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, even if it means braving less comfortable weather and a higher cost of living for entertainment.
Cities like it
- Park City, UT is similar due to its strong outdoor recreation scene and high quality of life.
- Portland, ME shares a similar appeal with its excellent food and drink scene and strong sense of community.
- Aspen, CO also offers a high-end outdoor and culinary experience, catering to a similar demographic.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Jackson’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Jackson, WY: 87/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/jackson-wy
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.