A look at this year’s rudest top 20 reveals one overarching trend: the bigger the city, the bigger the attitude — or at least its perceived attitude. “People in big cities tend to be very direct,” says Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and owner of Protocol Etiquette School of Texas. While that alone can be fine, she adds, “it’s no excuse for being rude. ”

Smaller cities often have a slower pace, which may help explain why New Orleans, Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., all ranked in the top five for friendliness. They are also literally warmer cities, which may further mellow the locals.

But don’t give too much credit to southern hospitality. Atlanta made it into the rudest top 10 — perhaps because it’s a sprawling metropolis, or because visitors expected more charm from the Georgian capital.