PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia has claimed the title of Pennsylvania’s earliest-rising city, while Erie landed near the bottom, according to a new analysis that digs into America’s obsession — and unease — with pre-sunrise productivity.
The study, released by PDF Expert, examined roughly 10,000 Instagram posts per city using the #5amclub hashtag to gauge how often residents publicly embrace ultra-early mornings. The movement draws inspiration from The 5 AM Club, popularized by author Robin Sharma, which champions discipline and focus through early starts.
Among Pennsylvania cities, Philadelphia ranked highest, placing 24th nationally with 79.9 #5amclub hashtags per 10,000 posts. Pittsburgh followed at No. 43 with 70.5.
At the other end of the spectrum, Erie ranked 232nd nationwide with just 8.9, while Allentown placed 189th at 21.1, suggesting far fewer residents are broadcasting early-morning ambition.
Nationally, the earliest-rising cities were led by New York, which topped the list with 92 hashtags per 10,000 posts. Los Angeles followed closely at 91.4, with Chicago at 90.8, Houston at 90.1, and San Diego at 89.5 rounding out the top five.
Beyond social media posts, the study also surveyed 500 Americans to understand how people really feel about the early-rise culture. The results point to a nation torn between ambition and exhaustion.
Nearly 48% of respondents said they negatively judge people who boast about their 5 a.m. routines, suggesting that early rising may earn productivity credibility but not universal admiration. Still, incentives matter: 51% said they would wake up before 5 a.m. if their employer paid them to do so.
Work, it turns out, often starts before the alarm clock. About 52% of Americans said they check emails or messages every day before getting out of bed. Employer attitudes are split, with 34% saying their workplace strongly encourages early starts and 32% describing their employer as neutral.
Asked why waking early is so difficult, respondents most often cited stress or poor sleep quality, followed by going to bed too late and a lack of motivation. Only a slim majority — 51% — said they wake up at the same time every day, while nearly one-third admitted their schedules are inconsistent.
When asked what would actually help them rise earlier, respondents pointed to better sleep routines, less stress, reduced late-night screen time, and, for some, simply more motivation.
“Our data shows that while Americans love the idea of mastering their mornings, real life is more complicated,” said John Woods, vice president of marketing at PDF Expert. “Between stress, screens, and demanding work cultures, people are trying to balance ambition with reality.”
The takeaway from the data appears clear: for many Americans, productivity is less about beating the sunrise — and more about finding routines that work without burning out.
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