Mattress Firm, Sleep Score Labs Release Report on Sleep-Deprived Cities

May 10, 2021  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

Using data from SleepScore Labs, the list was compiled using data from the 10 largest U.S. cities to see who is sleeping the best, who is sleeping the worst, who is staying up the latest and more.

Making the top of the list as most sleep-deprived is Atlanta with an average of five hours and forty-five minutes of sleep per night, and Boston closes out the list as the most sleep- efficient with just over six hours of sleep per night.  Based on the data, it also might be time for New York City to drop its signature tagline of "the city that never sleeps." According to SleepScore's analysis, New York City is more accurately the city that stays up the latest with an average bedtime of 11:55 p.m.; but New Yorkers also wake up later than other cities, still giving them just shy of six hours of time in bed. 

One thing that is clear is no major city is clocking in the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep per night. Experts recommends that adults obtain seven or more hours to reap the benefits of a healthy night's sleep, meaning many Americans are sleep deprived. Additional SleepScore data captured from their in-app polling also suggests that bedtime procrastination, especially doomscrolling, could be key factor of why Americans are staying up later, with 73% of SleepScore poll respondents saying they always use electronics before going to bed – a known disruptor of falling and staying asleep. 

1. Atlanta (5 hours, 45 minutes) 
2. Dallas Fort-Worth (5 hours, 46 minutes) 
3. Houston (5 hours, 48 minutes) 
4. Los Angeles (5 hours, 51 minutes) 
5. New York City (5 hours, 55 minutes) 
6. Philadelphia (5 hours, 58 minutes) 
7. San Francisco (5 hours, 59 minutes) 
8. Chicago (6 hours, 1 minute) 
9. Washington DC (6 hours, 2 minutes) 
10. Boston (6 hours, 3 minutes)

There's also a clear connection between exercise and sleep. Experts say getting at least 30 minutes of daytime exercise five days per week can help your body relax more in the hours leading up to bedtime, and the data reinforces that notion. At number seven on the list, San Franciscans spend an average of 32 minutes exercising and get nearly 15 more minutes of precious shuteye than number two on the list, Dallas, who spends an average of 27 minutes per day getting some form of exercise. 

"Getting a minimum of seven hours of sleep is essential for a quality night's rest, which is one of the many tips I share on Mattress Firm's wellness site, Sleep.com, where I offer foundational sleep advice to help Americans get their best rest," said Dr. W. Chris Winter, Sleep.com's sleep advisor. "Having a consistent bedtime routine and exercising each day for at least 30 minutes are two easy ways to kickstart a healthy lifestyle and improve one's emotional, mental and physical well-being. If your city is listed as sleep-deprived, consider adjusting your sleep schedule and implementing healthy habits to get a good night's sleep."