Which cities are ideal for a soothing soak after a draining day?
As we head into winter, the best time to use a hot tub, Pool Gnome ranked 2024’s Best Cities for Hot Tub Lovers.
We compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on 7 metrics, such as the number of hot tub dealers, average utility bills, and periods of extreme cold.
Dip into our ranking below to see the Jacuzzis of hot tub-friendly cities. To learn how we ranked them, see our methodology.
Want to cool down rather than warm up? Check out the best cities to own a swimming pool.
Contents
- Rankings
- Up Close: Top 5 Jetsetters
- Hot Take
- Under the Surface: Methodology
- Final Thoughts: Warm Up for Your Hot Tub Purchase
Rankings
See how each city fared in our ranking:
Up Close: Top 5 Jetsetters
Check out the slideshow below for steamy stats on each of our top 5 cities.
Number of Hot Tub Dealers: 12 | Rank: 1
Portion of Average Household Income Spent on Electricity: 0.24% | Rank: 215
Average Monthly Google Searches for Top Hot Tub Keywords Over Past Year: 1,190 | Rank: 40
Historical Annual Average Number of Extremely Cold Days: 161 | [Rank: 12
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Canva Pro / Canva License
Number of Hot Tub Dealers: 10 | Rank: 2 (tie)
Hot Tub Installers per 10,000 Homes: 6.3 | Rank: 1
Portion of Average Household Income Spent on Electricity: 0.2% | [Rank: 109
Average Monthly Google Searches for Top Hot Tub Keywords Over Past Year: 420 | Rank: 105
Photo Credit: jlh_lunasea / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED
Number of Hot Tub Dealers: 10 | Rank: 2 (tie)
Hot Tub Installers per 10,000 Homes: 1.8 | Rank: 135
Average Monthly Google Searches for Top Hot Tub Keywords Over Past Year: 580 | Rank: 72
Historical Annual Average Number of Extremely Cold Days: 160 | [Rank: 13
Photo Credit: Trevor Bexon | Flickr | CC BY 2.0
Number of Hot Tub Dealers: 7 | Rank: 13
Portion of Average Household Income Spent on Electricity: 0.18% | Rank: 87
Average Monthly Google Searches for Top Hot Tub Keywords Over Past Year: 3,290 | Rank: 4
Historical Annual Average Number of Extremely Cold Days: 156 | [Rank: 16
Photo Credit: Arpan Parikh / Pexels / Pexels License
Number of Hot Tub Dealers: 9 | Rank: 5 (tie)
Hot Tub Installers per 10,000 Homes: 2.4 | Rank: 74
Hot Tub Service Providers per 10,000 Homes: 3.1 | Rank: 10
Average Monthly Google Searches for Top Hot Tub Keywords Over Past Year: 2,080 | Rank: 14
Photo Credit: Julian Paefgen / Unsplash / Unsplash License
Hot Take
Colorado, Pacific Northwest, and cold Midwestern cities love a hot tub. These cities jetted to the top of our leaderboard, with Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1st place.
However, hot tubs aren’t just for cold-climate dwellers — even desert cities like Las Vegas (No. 5) and Tucson, Arizona (No. 14), made a big splash in our top 20.
Here, high demand for an in-home spa is met by close proximity to hot tub dealers (and servicers). Why does this matter? Pricy long-distance shipping can sap your budget dry.
Hot tub water and electricity bills are less affordable in our top cities, though. Keep an eye on them, especially during winter, when those expenses spiral in frigid areas like Sioux Falls, South Dakota (No. 18).
Meanwhile, remote Texas cities and small California suburbs landed in hot water — and not in a good way. Edinburg, Texas, plunged to last place.
Our worst performers’ small appetite for jetted tubs means lack of wholesalers, except in Honolulu (No. 486). Among our bottom cities, the Big Pineapple has both the highest demand and best access but the steepest costs to keep the tub sizzling.
Under the Surface: Methodology
First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the best cities for hot tub lovers. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 4 categories: Access, Utilities Cost, Demand, and Extreme Cold. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
For each of the 500 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 500). Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 500 due to ties.
Sources: Electricity Local, Energy Sage, Google Ads, Hot Tub Insider, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, Yellow Pages, and Yelp
Final Thoughts: Warm Up for Your Hot Tub Purchase
Hot tubs are a great way to relax year-round but especially in winter or after an exhausting day.
If you’re seriously considering buying a hot tub, it’s important to know beforehand how much you need to budget — up front and over the life of your tub, not to mention for any unforeseen expenses.
According to our analysis, a brand-new hot tub could set you back an average of $6,900. That can go as high as $25,500 for a top model with all the features or as low as $1,000 for an inflatable one.
That’s just the price tag. Don’t forget to factor in tax, shipping (if you aren’t buying from a local dealer), and labor (installation and maintenance). Check out Pool Gnome’s hot tub costs guide for more details.
Ready to buy a hot tub or already own one? Let Pool Gnome connect you with a top-quality pool and spa professional in your area to take care of installation or maintenance.
Pool Gnome is part of the Home Gnome family of home services sites.
Media Resources
Main Photo Credit: bluecinema / Canva Pro / Canva License
