Thanksgiving is about family, friends and food. But like any holiday, it can be both stressful (we’re thinking of anyone on edge about seeing in-laws) and expensive. Neither a turkey day outfit nor a multi-side dinner comes cheap these days.
Though it’s bound to be chaotic wherever you celebrate, a new report identifies the best places to spend the occasion in 2025. The study, released Tuesday, November 11, comes from WalletHub, a personal finance company. Researchers analyzed 100 of the nation’s largest cities across 18 metrics that impact the holiday, including the availability of traditional festivities, affordable dining and volunteerism — a true sign of a community’s gratefulness.
One Texas town beat out all the rest. San Antonio ranked No. 1 overall with a score of 65.70, topping major metros such as New York, Los Angeles and Nashville, as well as its other Texas neighbors.
Cities were judged across five dimensions: Thanksgiving Celebrations & Traditions, Affordability, Safety & Accessibility, Giving Thanks and Thanksgiving Weather Forecast. They were then graded on a 100-point scale, with a higher number indicating “the most favorable conditions for a Thanksgiving celebration.”
When it came down to the numbers, San Antonio placed No. 2 for its predicted weather forecast. The methodology awarded up to 10 points to places with a favorable Thanksgiving temperature compared to their local average. Five of those points were given to spots with a low chance of precipitation on the big day.
Additionally, the 210 took a No. 4 slot for its affordability, determined by the average cost of preparing a Thanksgiving dinner, the number of affordable restaurants with ratings of 4.5 or more stars, and the lowest price for a three-star hotel room over the holiday.
It wasn’t all positive. San Antonio fared worse in safety and accessibility, according to the report, coming in at No. 58. WalletHub researchers considered an area’s crime rate, pedestrian fatalities per capita and DUI-related fatalities in crashes around Thanksgiving, among other factors.
The city ranked No. 71 for giving thanks, measured by volunteer opportunities per 100,000 residents age 16 and older, and the number of charity organizations per capita.
On the positive side, San Antonio earned a No. 9 position for celebrations and traditions, a category that includes the number of pumpkin patches and holiday decoration shops per capita. Whether you’re staying in or hitting the road, there are several options for getting your grub and fellowship on.