America's 25 Best Cities for a 2019 St Patrick's Day Celebration

More than 31 million people in the U.S. claim Irish ancestry, according to WalletHub, which recently compared 200 of the country's largest cities across 17 key metrics to determine the best places for a St. Patrick's Day celebration in 2019. The study takes into account traditions, costs, safety and accessibility and even weather forecast and considers important aspects like the number of Irish pubs and restaurants per capita as well as the lowest price for a three-star hotel on March 17. Here are the top 25 American cities to dress up in a whole lot of green and make some lasting memories this St. Patrick's Day without blowing up your budget.

Chicago is perhaps best known for dyeing its namesake river green for St. Patrick's Day. However, the Windy City has much more to offer March revelers. It's tied for first for most St. Patrick's Day parties and festivals per capita and fourth for most Irish pubs and restaurants per capita, WaletHub found.

There might not be a better American city for a St. Patrick's Day-themed pub crawl than Philadelphia, which ranks fifth overall for traditions and beats out Northeast rivals such as Boston, New York City and Pittsburgh in terms of costs.

The Wisconsin capital is easily the biggest surprise in the top five but the numbers don't lie. Madison ranks inside the top 50 in all four categories, including 10th for costs and 13th for traditions as well as safety and accessibility. It's tied for first in terms of lowest average price for a St. Patrick's Day party ticket and ranks fourth for lowest average beer price.

Boston ranks first in the all-important St. Patrick's Day traditions category but costs and weather hold it back from taking the top spot. Still, it's tied for first in terms of most St. Patrick's Day parties and festivals per capita and hosts one of the country's most anticipated Irish-themed parades each year.

Sunny Tampa boasts the best St. Patrick's Day weather forecast of any city in the top 10 and ranks a respectable sixth for March 17 traditions. Only New York City can offer travelers more Irish pubs and restaurants per capita.

A suburb of Chicago, Naperville has the highest percentage of Irish population among the cities compared, tying Pittsburgh, according to WalletHub's research. It also ranks third-best for lowest crime rate among the 200 cities that were analyzed.

Costs are the biggest obstacle to an unforgettable St. Patrick's Day celebration in New York City as it ranks dead-last for lowest average beer price. The Big Apple ranks 198th in the cost category overall. Nonetheless, only Boston tops it in terms of St. Parick's Day traditions and no other city has more Irish pubs and restaurants per capita.

The Steel City not only ranks first for highest percentage of Irish population but is also tops in terms of highest "access to bars" grade, even edging out iconic party destinations such as Las Vegas and Miami.

Despite ranking 40th for St. Patrick's Day traditions, Rockford checks in at ninth overall on WalletHub's list thanks to its impressive standing in the costs and weather categories, where it ranks 25th and 36th, respectively. Rockford is a relatively cheap place to indulge on March 17 as it ranks third-best for lowest average beer price.

There's no better St. Patrick's Day destination for college basketball fans than Dayton, which kicks off March Madness by hosting the First Four matchups of the NCAA Tournament. It's also home to numerous Irish pubs and festive events that include things like St. Patrick's Day parties and 5K runs.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Beer Capital of the World is a phenomenal place to spend your St. Patrick's Day. Of the cities in the top 15 overall, only Madison fares better than Milwaukee in terms of St. Patrick's Day costs (13th). Plus, only Oklahoma City boasts a lower average beer price.

Cleveland's famous St. Paddy's Day party hosts nearly a half-million revelers so it's no surprise it ranks 15th for traditions. What's more, it features one of the country's liveliest parades in addition to plentiful food, beverage and fun activities.

Elsewhere in the Midwest, Minneapolis ranks as the 13th-best American city for a St. Patrick's Day celebration as a result of top 50 rankings in traditions (21st), costs (40th) and weather forecast (49th). It's tied for first in terms of both lowest average price for a St. Patrick's Day party ticket and fewest DUI-related fatalities per capita.

Home to a large Irish-American population and locals who really know how to party, Buffalo is a no-brainer for travelers seeking out an under-the-radar place that isn't short on tradition to celebrate St. Patrick and Irish heritage on March 17.

Wallet-friendly Omaha is home to a sizable population of people who claim Irish ancestry and it's also tied for first for fewest DUI-related fatalities per capita, putting it 42nd among the 200 cities analyzed in terms of safety and accessibility.

Cedar Rapids ranks fourth in terms of highest percentage of Irish population and 12th for St. Patrick's Day weather forecast. The city will host a slew of shenanigans this year, including a parade, a St. Paddy's bash at Cedar River Landing and a festive 5K run, among other events.

Ranking 18th for traditions and 19th for safety and accessibility, Rochester comes to life to celebrate St. Patrick's Day every mid-March. Kick off the fun at the ShamRoc Bash at City Grill on March 16, where guests can indulge in $5 Guinness on downtown's only heated outdoor patio.

Only nine other U.S. cities fare better than St. Louis when it comes to St. Patrick's Day traditions and only two rank higher in terms of highest "access to bars" grade. The city hosts multiple parades in addition to offering a plethora of pubs to keep the celebration going afterward.

Located just south of Kansas City, Overland Park celebrates St. Patrick's Day throughout the month of March with parades, pub crawls and all sorts of entertaining events. It ranks 20th for traditions, according to WalletHub's research.

St. Paul joins its neighbor Minneapolis in the top 20 in large part because it starts celebrating St. Patrick's Day a week early to give green-clad visitors plenty of options. The excitement includes the annual St. Patrick's Day Irish Celebration featuring regional and local Irish entertainment as well as Irish dance, Celtic vendors, Irish cuisine, pipe bands and much more. Travelers will also want to catch the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown.

Beer lovers will get more for their money in Grand Rapids this St. Patrick's Day as it ranks fifth in terms of lowest average beer price. The budget-friendly city of nearly 200,000 also ranks 12th overall for costs around the March 17 holiday.

Syracuse is the fourth city to represent New York in the top 25 in 2019. Of the destinations in the top 25, only Madison fares better in terms of safety and accessibility (14th). Just a 90-minute drive from Rochester and two-and-a-half-hour drive from Buffalo, why not make Syracuse the final stop on your St. Patrick's Day tour of Upstate New York?

Despite ranking a dismal 200th in terms of St. Patrick's Day costs, Seattle comes in at 23rd overall thanks to its fourth-ranked holiday traditions. It also finished third for most Irish pubs and restaurants per capita.

El Paso ranks first among the 200 cities WalletHub compared in terms of St. Patrick's Day weather forecast, propelling it into the top 25 for 2019. However, no city in the top 25 ranks worse in terms of traditions (107th).

Columbia offers St. Patrick's Day travelers the country's fifth-best weather forecast this year. Plus, the 2019 St. Pat's in Five Points festival on March 16 features a stellar lineup, including Dashboard Confessional, lovelytheband, Walker Hayes and Mitchell Tenpenny.