The Best U.S. Cities for Time Travel [2024 Data Study]

Ever wish you could step into a time machine and explore the past or sneak a peek into the future? Well, pack your bags and set your flux capacitor because we’ve rounded up the best U.S. cities that offer a taste of bygone eras and futuristic vibes.

We ranked the 50 largest U.S. cities against 7 historical ranking factors — think charming historical homes, top-rated museums, and easy access to historical tours — to uncover the best cities for time traveling to the past. On the flip side, we evaluated the same cities against 10 future-focused factors — like sustainable infrastructure, a booming tech talent pool, AI job opportunities, crypto payment options, renewable energy use, and more — to find the top cities for time traveling to the future. 

Ready to journey through time? Read on!

The 15 Best U.S. Cities To Travel to the Past

The top 5 U.S. cities to travel back in time and their respective city scores are: 

1. Washington, D.C. — 45.32

Washington, D.C., leads the pack, boasting the highest number of historic sites (16.6) and museums per 100K residents (28.3) in the country. From the iconic monuments on the National Mall to the treasure trove of artifacts in the Smithsonian museums, every corner of the nation’s capital is steeped in history. What’s more, D.C. has the fifth-most registered historic houses and buildings in America — 621 total and 86.4 per 100K residents. 

2. Boston, Massachusetts — 39.63

Boston follows closely behind, blending colonial charm and revolutionary landmarks. Beantown has the second-highest-rated museums in the country, with an average museum star rating of 4.41, and the fourth-most historical tours per 100K residents (28.4). Walk the Freedom Trail, explore the Boston Tea Party Ships, and lose yourself in the stories of America’s early days. 

3. New Orleans, Louisiana — 39.52

New Orleans shines with the most historical tours per 100K residents (99.4) and the highest-rated museums in the U.S., boasting an average museum star rating of 4.44. Wander through the French Quarter, soak in the jazz history, and experience the storied past of the Big Easy.

4. Richmond, Virginia — 35.68

With its tobacco roots and Civil War sites, Richmond ranks fourth. It claims the second-most historical districts (34) and museums per 100K residents (27) in the country, making it a haven for history buffs. 

5. Cincinnati, Ohio — 35.38

Rounding out the top 5, Cincinnati offers a unique glimpse into the past with its well-preserved historic neighborhoods and landmarks, making it an ideal destination for time travelers. Queen City has the sixth-most registered historic houses and buildings per 100K residents (77.5) and the fifth highest-rated museums in America (4.38 average star rating). 

A few cities didn’t quite make the top 5 but deserve a special mention. Hartford, Connecticut, ranks sixth overall and holds the title for the most historical districts per 100K residents (54.7). Salt Lake City, Utah, has the most historical buildings and houses (per 100K residents) in the country (105), and Portland, Oregon, has the second most (104).

Explore the interactive table below to see the full data for all 50 U.S. cities analyzed. Search for your city of interest and click on the column headings to sort the data by your preferred category!

The 15 Best U.S. Cities To Travel to the Future

The top 5 U.S. cities to travel to the future and their respective city scores are:

1. San Francisco, California — 43.14

Despite the Bay Area exodus during the pandemic and its sky-high cost of living, San Francisco still tops the list for time traveling to the future. With a thriving tech scene and a strong commitment to renewable energy, this city is shaping the future in real-time. 90.94% of its energy usage comes from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower.

On the career front, nearly 10% of the city’s workforce is employed in the tech industry, earning it the second spot for tech employment in the country. It also ranks fourth for job opportunities in AI. Plus, San Francisco boasts the third-highest number of businesses accepting crypto payments per 100K residents and leads the nation in Google search interest for AI and robotics.

2. Seattle, Washington — 42.49

Seattle takes the second spot, ranking highest in the nation for renewable energy consumption at an impressive 91.84%. This city is a green powerhouse, paving the way for sustainable urban living. What’s more, the Emerald City ranks fifth in the nation for the highest LEED-certified building square footage per 100K residents (19,468,187 square feet). LEED is a certification program for energy efficiency and environmental design and is used worldwide. 

3. San Jose, California — 39.34

San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, is a techie’s dream. It has the most electric vehicle charging ports per 1,000 road miles (402), the highest percentage of IT employees (16%), and the most AI-related job opportunities in the country. Additionally, 76% of San Jose’s energy consumption comes from renewable sources, underscoring the city’s commitment to sustainability. If you want to live on the cutting edge, San Jose is the place to be.

4. Austin, Texas — 38.82

Austin is not just about live music and great food; it’s also a tech-savvy city with the most smart homes per 100K residents. It also ranks third-highest in AI search volume and overall quality of life, making it a perfect blend of innovation and livability. Austin enjoys a quality of life score of 192.35, well above the study’s average of 174. This score considers factors such as healthcare quality and access, safety, crime rates, purchasing power, and cost of living.

5. Sacramento, California — 34.42

The California state capital ranks fourth in the nation for EV charging ports per 1,000 road miles (147.9), well above the study’s average of 65.5. Additionally, it has the fourth-highest percentage of renewable energy usage (47.70%) and ranks ninth for the percentage of job opportunities that are AI-related. Overall, Sacramento offers a compelling glimpse into the future of urban living.

Special mention goes to Washington, D.C., which boasts the most LEED-certified square footage per 100K residents in the country (42,861,816 square feet), highlighting D.C.’s commitment to a greener future. Additionally, California as a whole stands out with 160.93 electric vehicles per 10K total vehicle registrations — the highest of any state. This impressive statistic is another reason why many California cities made it to the top 10.

Find the full data for all 50 U.S. cities analyzed in the interactive table below!

Methodology

This study explores the best U.S. cities for time travel to both the past and the future. To determine the best cities to travel to the past, we evaluated the 50 most populous U.S. cities on 7 different criteria that would impact a history buff or someone aiming to go back in time. Ranking factors include registered historical houses, buildings, and districts, along with museum ratings and historical tours.

To find the best cities for time travel to the future, we evaluated the same cities against 10 criteria relevant to future-focused living. Ranking factors include sustainable infrastructure, the tech talent pool, AI job opportunities, crypto payment methods, renewable energy usage, robotics search interest, quality of life indices, and more. 

We assigned cities with a score of 0 to 5 for each ranking factor, with a score of 5 representing the most favorable conditions for past or future time travel. We determined each city’s total score from the total of its individual factor scores, which were weighted according to their impact on the time traveler. Individual factor scores were then added together to give each city a final score from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicated cities are better for past or future time travel. 

The ranking factors for both city rankings and their respective sources and weights are listed below.

Time Travel to the Past:

Time Travel to the Future:

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re yearning to stroll through history or leap into the future, these U.S. cities have you covered. From the timeless charm of Washington, D.C., and New Orleans to the forward-thinking innovation in San Jose and Austin, there’s a perfect destination for every type of time traveler. Ready for your next adventure? Consider adding one of these destinations to your travel bucket list.