Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas sits.
Pro sports in Las Vegas
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Las Vegas hosts 2 major-league teams across 2 leagues.
- NFL Las Vegas Raiders
- NHL Vegas Golden Knights
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Las Vegas 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
- –
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.
Las Vegas's strongest factors are Events, City Vibe and Live Music. Its heaviest drawbacks are Crime, Air Quality and Going-Out Cost.
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.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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).
-
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.
-
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).
-
Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
-
Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
-
Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
-
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.
-
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 Las Vegas
The Las Vegas read Free
A written read on Las Vegas, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Las Vegas 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.
Las Vegas, NV earns a Fun Score of 35, placing it in the "Some Fun" category, and stands out nationally for its unparalleled events scene.
Why it scores high
Las Vegas truly shines as a destination for major happenings, with its Events score of 93, ranking it #1 nationally out of 134 cities. This means you'll find an abundance of festivals, fairs, and ticketed events, making it a prime location for those seeking constant entertainment (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events). The city also boasts a vibrant atmosphere, reflected in its exceptional City Vibe score of 91, which places it tied for #5 nationally (GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)). This indicates a city that is frequently in the news and generates significant public interest, contributing to a lively and dynamic environment.
For music lovers, Las Vegas offers an impressive Live Music scene, scoring 88 and tying for #13 nationally. This high score suggests a thriving array of concerts and performances, from major headliners to local acts (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues). Beyond the stage, the city also has notable Culture with a score of 59, tying for #55, indicating a respectable presence of museums, galleries, and theaters (OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). The city's ability to attract prominent figures is also evident in its Star Power score of 56, tied for #59 nationally, suggesting a good number of popular headliners and notable residents (SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)).
When it comes to getting around, Las Vegas offers decent public transportation, with a Transit Quality score of 65, tying for #47 nationally (GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share). This means residents and visitors can expect a reasonably efficient public transit system. The city also has moderate Walkability, scoring 50 and tying for #67 nationally, suggesting that some areas are quite pedestrian-friendly (EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)).
Where it falls short
Despite its strengths in entertainment, Las Vegas faces significant challenges in other areas. The city struggles with Crime, scoring a low 7 and ranking #134 nationally, indicating a less safe environment compared to most other cities (FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals). Air quality is also a concern, with an Air Quality score of 10, tying for #125 nationally, suggesting that residents may experience frequent poor air conditions (EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)).
For those who enjoy spending time outdoors, Las Vegas's offerings are limited, as indicated by its low Outdoors score of 11, tying for #119 nationally (OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities). This suggests fewer parks, nature reserves, or recreational areas within the city. The cost of entertainment can also be a factor, with Going-Out Cost scoring 18, tying for #87 nationally, meaning that dining out, recreation, and transportation services are relatively expensive (Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services).
The city's Eats scene, surprisingly for a major tourist destination, scores a modest 14, tying for #115 nationally, suggesting that while there are dining options, the overall quality and quantity may not be as high as in other cities (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). Similarly, the Coffee scene scores 23, tying for #103 nationally, indicating fewer cafes or lower-rated options (OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). The city also has a low Higher Education presence, scoring 23 and tying for #103 nationally, which may impact the availability of academic resources and a vibrant student community (NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data).
Who it's for
Las Vegas, NV is ideal for individuals who prioritize a vibrant and event-filled social calendar, enjoy live entertainment and a bustling city atmosphere, and are less concerned with outdoor activities, air quality, or the cost of going out.
Cities like it
- Dallas, TX: Similar in its strong event scene and city vibe, but with better outdoor options.
- Philadelphia, PA: Shares a comparable cultural offering and transit quality, but with a more established food scene.
- Phoenix, AZ: Another city with a notable events calendar and star power, but with similar challenges in air quality and outdoor recreation.
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
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
Las Vegas’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 Las Vegas, NV: 35/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/las-vegas-nv
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