Behind Bostonians’ brittle exterior lies a genuine care for others, according to a recent Wallethub study that named Boston one of the most caring cities in the nation.

Based on criteria like community, provisions for the vulnerable and number of citizens in caring professions like nursing, Wallethub ranked Boston No. 2 in the country, second only to Virginia Beach.

Financial generosity helped boost the city’s ranking, as Boston residents donate more money online per capita than anyone else in the nation. Plus, Boston ranked third for sheltering the homeless, another example of the way Boston residents care for one another, and ranked second for insuring its residents.

Bostonians care about the environment too: The city ranked as the fourth-most energy-efficient city in the country, despite having a cold climate that might drive higher energy use during the winter months.

Lastly, many caring professionals like social workers, teachers, firefighters, doctors and nurses call Boston home. In fact, Boston outranked every other U.S. metro as the city where teachers care the most for the well-being of students.