Each year, the magazine allows online readers to rank large cities throughout America in categories including Cleanliness, Safety, Ethnic Dining and Architecture. In the most recent America’s Favorite Cities survey, New York City received the lowest score by non-residents in the Friendly category.

Whether or not New Yorkers truly have a bad attitude or it just appears that way to outsiders has yet to be determined. NYU sociology professor Dalton Conley said it may be the diversity and pace of the city that gives people this impression.

“First, New York City is fast-paced, so we don’t reserve a lot of time for nicities,” Conley said.

“Also, it’s huge and anonymous, which means it’s not only not expected that you’d tip your hat and say hi to someone passing you on the street,” he added. “It would in fact be downright weird. Third, we are a city with a high percentage of foreign born [residents].”

Different cultures and languages represented in the city by tourists and residents from other countries lead to quick and basic communication that often appears rude, according to Dalton.

Los Angeles, Boston, Miami and Washington D.C., accompanied New York City as rude cities whereas New Orleans, San Juan, P.R., and Nashville, Tenn., topped the Friendly category.

NYU freshman Carlos Perez, a San Juan native, compared the New York lifestyle with the one back home.

“People are infinitely nicer back home,” Perez said. “Even just riding in an elevator, people usually say ‘good morning.’ I hardly ever see that happen here in the city.”

“In San Juan, people are generally just a lot warmer,” he added. “They take time out of their day to brighten yours.”

New York residents have a different perspective of New York City’s friendliness.

“From a service perspective, I don’t think it’s a very rude place,” resident Samantha Bullock, 31, said. “But from a ‘people-on-the-subway’ perspective — absolutely. There’s no chivalry there, either.”

But resident Doris Gerdes, 21, does not think New York City is rude.

“I think it’s harder for some people to survive here,” she said.

Not only was New York City rated the least friendly, but it was also voted last place in the Affordability, Cleanliness and Peace and Quiet categories.

Despite low scoring in the four other categories, Travel + Leisure reported that New York City ranked number 1 in the Theater/performance art, Diverse, Stylish, Classical music and Luxury stores categories.