Top U.S. Cities Where Work Takes Over Life, New Study Says

An April 2026 report on work burnout trends across the US found that Los Angeles residents have the worst work-life balance in the country. With 1 in 4 American workers reporting overworking, a new study by Affordable Contractors Insurance reveals which cities leave people with almost no life outside of work.

• Los Angeles residents take just 7 vacation days per year, the fewest in America, plus face the longest commutes.

• People in Austin struggle with work-related stress the most, with more than 1 in 10 residents searching online for how to deal with burnout. 

• Most Texans are overworked, spending nearly 36 hours in the office every week, leaving barely any time for themselves.

The research examined work conditions across 30 major American cities to find where residents struggle to balance work with personal time. The study tracked multiple labor factors such as weekly working hours, percentage of overworked employees, and online searches for work stress relief. It also looked at disposable income after paying rent and living costs, traffic commute times, quality of life ratings, and vacation days taken annually. Cities received Work-Life Balance Index scores from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating an overwhelmed workforce. 

Here's a look at the top 10 cities with the worst work-life balance:

City	State Weekly Working Hours	Overworked Population (%)	Search Count: Work Stress & Work-Life Balance per 100K	Disposable Income ($)	Traffic Commute Time Index	Commute Burden Level	Quality of Life	Vacations Taken (Days)	Work-Life Balance Index
Los Angeles	32.9	11.8	6,848	-112	57.06	Very High	130.95	7.0	99
New York City	32.8	11.6	8,266	-725	43.34	High	134.28	11.4	66
Austin	35.8	12.0	14,194	1,781	40.48	Moderate	191.28	8.5	57
Houston	35.8	12.0	8,568	1,739	41.83	High	177.67	8.5	55
Dallas	35.8	12.1	8,898	1,488	35.34	Moderate	180.98	8.5	53
Washington	35.7	11.9	9,542	1,918	41.18	High	177.55	8.1	48
Nashville	34.4	12.0	8,420	1,334	38.36	Moderate	181.97	8.3	46
Las Vegas	34.4	11.8	12,383	1,014	27.14	Low	160.17	8.4	44
Philadelphia	34.5	11.8	7,370	1,069	39.73	Moderate	166.99	9.2	43
Phoenix	34.0	12.0	5,862	935	32.75	Low	157.53	9.0	42

You can access the complete research findings here.

1. Los Angeles, California

• State weekly working hours: 32.9

• Overworked population: 11.8%

• Work stress searches per 100K: 6,848

• Disposable income: -$112 (negative)

• Traffic commute time index: 57.06

• Commute burden level: Very High

• Quality of life: 130.95

• Vacations taken: 7 days

• Work-Life Balance Index: 99

Los Angeles has the worst work-life balance in America. Workers here end each month $112 in the red after covering rent and basic living costs, one of the few major cities where typical salaries don't cover expenses. Traffic makes things worse, as LA scores 57 on the commute index, meaning residents spend hours every day stuck in cars. On top of this, LA workers get just 7 vacation days yearly, the fewest among major cities, leaving almost no time to recover.

2.  New York City, New York

   
   

New York comes in second with an even bigger income problem than LA. After paying rent and living costs, the typical NY worker falls short of $725 monthly, making it impossible to save and build financial security. As Los Angeles residents, people here also face long commutes, and more than 11% of the workforce feels overwhelmed with all these. As a result, nearly 1 in 10 searches online for how to manage work-related stress. 

3.  Austin, Texas

Austin ranks third, with residents showing the clear signs of burnout. More than 1 in 10 residents here search for work-life balance tips, double the rate that most cities see. That desperation makes sense given that Austinites work nearly 36 hours weekly, while 12% qualify as overworked by health standards. The one bright spot is income, as workers here keep $1,781 monthly after expenses, though that comes at the expense of emotional stress.

4.  Houston, Texas

Houston follows in fourth place. Workers here spend nearly 36 hours in the office every week, and as a result, 12% of employees fall into the overworked category. Like those in LA and NY, Houston residents also have to spend hours every day in traffic jams, making it harder to balance work with life. Plus, similar to other Texas cities, people in Houston get just 8 vacation days yearly, which is clearly not enough to fully recharge. 

5.  Dallas, Texas

Dallas rounds out the top five with the highest overwork rate in the country. More than 12% of workers here put in hours that cross into dangerous territory for physical and mental health. They work nearly 36 hours weekly and usually get only 8 days of vacation time. This work rate obviously affects locals’ emotional well-being. As a result, 1 in 10 residents here is now looking up stress help online. 

Sean O'Keefe, CEO & Founder of Affordable Contractors Insurance, commented on the study: 

"Americans are taking fewer vacation days than workers in almost any other developed country, and even those days are shrinking. Seven days a year in LA is less than what most Europeans get in a single month. Your body and brain need recovery time. Without it, productivity drops, health problems spike, and burnout becomes inevitable. Companies think they're getting more out of workers by limiting time off, but they're actually getting less."