Is Your City As Stingy As Mine?

Mike Potter — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:47:36 +0000

What’s your town known for? Mine? Well, Albuquerque is known for – among other things – its famous stretch of Route 66, having the longest passenger tram in the world, being voted the fittest city in the U.S. in 2007, the famous 1945 quote from Bugs Bunny when he said, “I should have made a left toin at Albukoykee,” and for being one of the stingiest cities in America.

Albuquerque is tied with Toledo, Ohio as the fourth least generous city in America. The extensive 60-city study was done by the Albuquerque-based Tijeras Foundation in 2008. Through their research, they were able to discover the average percentage of household income given to charity by people in these cities.

The most generous city in America? Birmingham, Alabama. The least generous city? San Antonio, Texas. The Tijeras Foundation commented that even Birmingham and other top cities have a long way to go, noting that few Americans (evangelical Christians included) approach the biblical tithe of ten percent.

Here’s the top 10 and bottom 10 lists with the percentage of household income given to charity in each city:

TOP 10 MOST GENEROUS CITIES IN THE US

1. Birmingham 3.6%
2. Memphis 3.4%
3. Columbia, SC 3.2%
4. Greenville, SC 3.1%
5. Atlanta 3.1%
6. Grand Rapids 3.1%
7. New York 3.1%
8. Naples 3.1%
9. Charlotte 3.1%
10. Tulsa 3.1%

TOP 10 LEAST GENEROUS CITIES IN THE US

1. San Antonio 1.7%
2. Pittsburgh 1.8%
3. Tampa 1.8%
4. Albuquerque 1.9%
5. Toledo 1.9%
6. Austin 2.0%
7. Boston 2.0%
8. Honolulu 2.0%
9. Ft. Lauderdale 2.0%
10. Orlando 2.0%

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Is Your City As Stingy As Mine?