Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Sedona 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 Sedona sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Sedona 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.
Sedona's strongest factors are Coffee, Eats and Outdoors. 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.
-
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).
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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.
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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 Sedona
The Sedona read Free
A written read on Sedona, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Sedona 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.
Sedona, AZ: A Fun Score of 55 for this Outdoor and Coffee Lover's Paradise
Sedona, AZ earns a Fun Score of 55, placing it among the top half of cities for fun, and is particularly notable for its exceptional coffee scene.
Why it scores high
Sedona truly shines in its offerings for those who appreciate a good cup of joe and the great outdoors. The city boasts an outstanding Coffee scene, scoring an impressive 92 out of 100 and ranking tied for #2 nationally out of 134 cities (OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This indicates a vibrant and high-quality selection of coffee establishments, perfect for residents and visitors alike.
Beyond its coffee, Sedona is a haven for food enthusiasts, with its Eats scoring 91 out of 100. This places it tied for #5 nationally out of 134 cities, suggesting a diverse and highly-rated culinary landscape (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). Whether you're looking for fine dining or casual bites, Sedona offers a strong array of options.
For nature lovers, Sedona is an undeniable draw, with its Outdoors factor also scoring an excellent 91 out of 100. This ties it for #5 nationally out of 134 cities, highlighting the abundance and quality of its natural spaces, from parks to nature reserves (OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities). Residents can expect easy access to breathtaking landscapes and recreational opportunities. The city also demonstrates a strong commitment to arts and heritage, with its Culture score of 90, ranking tied for #8 nationally out of 134 cities (OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality).
Where it falls short
While Sedona excels in several areas, it does have some limitations, particularly for those seeking a bustling urban environment or a strong celebrity presence. The city scores very low in Star Power, with a score of 1 out of 100, ranking #133 nationally out of 134 cities (SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)). This suggests it's not a hub for major celebrity events or a place where many famous individuals reside.
Furthermore, Sedona is not a center for higher education, with its Higher Education score at 2 out of 100, tied for #131 nationally out of 134 cities (NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data). This indicates a limited presence of universities or colleges. Similarly, public transportation options are quite limited, as reflected by a Transit Quality score of 3 out of 100, ranking #130 nationally out of 134 cities (GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share). This means residents are likely to rely on personal vehicles for getting around. The city also scores low in Unique Hangouts with a score of 3, tied for #125 nationally (OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality), suggesting fewer niche entertainment options.
The cost of going out in Sedona is also a factor to consider, with a Going-Out Cost score of 18, tied for #87 nationally (Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services). A lower score here indicates higher costs, meaning that dining out and entertainment can be relatively expensive.
Who it's for
Sedona, AZ is ideal for individuals who prioritize a high-quality food and coffee scene, coupled with abundant access to natural beauty and cultural experiences. It's a perfect fit for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, and those seeking a serene environment with a strong sense of community and artistic expression, rather than a bustling urban center with extensive public transit or a vibrant celebrity scene.
Cities like it
If you appreciate the blend of natural beauty, strong culinary offerings, and a relaxed pace, you might also enjoy Santa Fe, NM, which shares a similar emphasis on culture and outdoor activities. Aspen, CO offers a comparable focus on outdoor recreation and a high quality of life. For those who value outdoor access and a more laid-back atmosphere, Colorado Springs, CO could also be a good match.
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
Sedona’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 Sedona, AZ: 55/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/sedona-az
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.