NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) — According to Buddy the Elf, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
WalletHub tried a more scientific methodology for ranking the best cities for Christmas though.
The website took the 100 most populated cities in the United States and compared them by looking at traditions and fun, observance, generosity, shopping and costs. Three of those 100 cities are in Hampton Roads.
Source: WalletHub
Virginia Beach came in at 50. Norfolk was ranked 67. Chesapeake was placed at 78.
The score for traditions and fun came from looking at advanced hotel reservations made, Christmas events per capita, google search interest for 'Christmas Celebration,' Christmas Tree Farms per capita, restaurants per capita, diversity of restaurants, number of attractions, ice skating rinks per capita, nightlife options per capita, bars per capita, and music venues per capita. Of the three Hampton Roads cities, Norfolk ranked the highest at 31 in this category while Virginia Beach was 44 and Chesapeake was 62.
To measure observance, the website considered share of Christian population and churches per capita. Norfolk was ranked the highest among the three Hampton Roads cities in this category coming in at 64. Chesapeake was 73 and Virginia Beach was 85.
Generosity was measured by considering food banks per capita, share of income donated to charity, share of population collecting and distributing food and clothes for the needy, online giving per capita, and Christmas Spirit. Virginia Beach, ranked at 18, led our local area. Chesapeake was ranked 25 in generosity while Norfolk came in at 65.
The experts considered shopping by looking at Christmas markets per capita, gift shops per capita, shopping centers and outlets per capita, toy stores and hobby shops per capita, candy stores and chocolatiers per capita, cards and stationary shops per capita, and holiday decoration shops and services per capita. Locally, Virginia Beach was ranked at 57, Chesapeake was ranked at 85, and Norfolk was ranked at 87.
The final dimension considered in ranking the best cities for Christmas was costs. Costs was measured by average price per Christmas party ticket, cost of three-star hotel room, restaurant meal costs, number of affordable, high-quality restaurants, average beverage price, and average price for two tickets to the theater. Ranked first in Hampton Roads at 33 was Virginia Beach. Chesapeake was ranked at 72 and Norfolk was ranked at 81.
Orlando, Florida was ranked first overall followed by Las Vegas, Nevada and New York City.