Chandler ranked as top Arizona city to celebrate New Year’s

PHOENIX — Chandler was ranked by WalletHub as the best city in Arizona to celebrate a New Year’s holiday that will look very different amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The website stacked up the 100 biggest cities in the country on 15 key metrics, with coronavirus-related indicators like cases and deaths in the past week per capita being part of the ranking.

The availability of highly rated takeout or delivery food is also part of the determination of the two main categories of safety and accessibility and entertainment and food.

Chandler came in at No. 30 in the country, with Valley cities Gilbert (No. 38), Mesa (No. 47), Glendale (No. 56), Scottsdale (No. 71) and Phoenix (No. 88) following behind.

Tucson, meanwhile, came in at No. 53.

The Valley is the best place to be for wine lovers, according to the website, as five Valley cities (Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Glendale) are tied for the No. 2 spot for lowest average wine price in the country.

Gilbert also has the second-lowest car theft rate and lowest neighborhood security in the ranking.

Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert and Glendale all moved up the list from Wallet Hub’s 2019 ranking, while Phoenix and Scottsdale both dropped.

Scottsdale, the best place to celebrate the holiday in Arizona last year and 22nd best in the nation, according to Wallet Hub, fell 49 spots in 2020.

New York City, the top spot in the United States to celebrate New Year’s in 2019, dropped 85 spots in 2020 with Virginia Beach, Virginia, ranking as the best place to be to ring in 2021.

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