If you are considering relocating, knowing where the worst places to live is important. The last thing you want to do is move and then have regrets because of high crime rates, dilapidated properties, or even the cost of living. So here are the top 50 worst cities in America to live in, in all fifty states.
1. Alabama: Bessemer
The violent crime rate in Bessemer, Alabama, is a whopping six times the state’s violent crime rate. On top of that, the quality of life, affordability, and economy make it the worst Alabama city to live in.
2. Alaska: Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska, has an extremely high violent crime rate compared to other cities in the state and a very high cost of living. The Mountain View neighborhood can be dangerous.
3. Arizona: Douglas
Douglas, Arizona, is a small city in southern Arizona along the U.S. / Mexico border. The city has a far lower concentration of restaurants, bars, and cultural attractions than others, and a relatively large share of area residents are struggling financially with the poverty rate, making it the worst city in Arizona to live in.
4. Arkansas: Helena-West Helena
Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, is considered a dangerous city due to the extremely high violent crime rate. It is pushing people out as the population is dropping rapidly.
5. California: Mendota
Nearly half of all area residents live below the poverty line, more than triple California’s poverty rate. Even though homes are relatively inexpensive in Mendota, incomes are so low that the typical home costs over five times what the typical area household earns. In addition, there is little in the way of entertainment options in the Californian city, making it the worst in the state to live in.
6. Colorado: Pueblo
Nearly one in every four Pueblo residents lives below the poverty line, more than double the state poverty rate. Pueblo is a relatively dangerous city as well.
7. Connecticut: Bridgeport
More than twenty percent of the population of Bridgeport, Connecticut, lives below the poverty line, likely due to the weak job market in the area. There is a lot of financial strain on residents because of the city’s high cost of living.
8. Delaware: Wilmington
Wilmington is the state’s largest city and also ranks as one of the worst places to live in Delaware. Crime can be detrimental to the quality of life in any town, and Wilmington is far and away the most dangerous city in Delaware.
9. Florida: Florida City
The worst city to live in the state, Florida City’s unemployment rate is more than triple the state unemployment rate. It also has a very high violent crime rate.
10. Georgia: Union City
While much of the country has been adding jobs recently, Union City has been shedding them. Union City is also considered one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Property crimes like larceny and motor vehicle theft are common in the city, as well as violent crimes.
11. Hawaii: Makaha
Hawaii has the highest cost of living of any state in the country. Makaha ranks as the worst city to live in — in Hawaii primarily because of its unaffordability. The typical home is worth over three times as much as the median annual income.
12. Idaho: Rexburg
Housing affordability is a significant obstacle to the quality of life for many in Rexburg, Idaho. The typical area home is worth about seven times the median annual household income, making it the worst city to live in — in Idaho.
13. Illinois: East St. Louis
East St. Louis is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. This city also has a high crime rate and unemployment rate, making it the worst city to live in — in Illinois.
14. Indiana: Gary
More than one in every three Gary, Indiana residents live below the poverty line. Gary’s violent crime rate exceeds at least twenty-five percent of all American cities. On top of all that, the unemployment rate is relatively high.
15. Iowa: Keokuk
As is the case in many of the cities on this list, Keokuk’s population is shrinking. When it comes to those who stuck around, more than one in every four residents lives below the poverty line.
16. Kansas: Arkansas City
A high incidence rate of property crime like burglary and motor vehicle theft can be found in Mayfield, Kentucky. Widespread joblessness is also a problem in this city.
17. Kentucky: Mayfield
A high incidence rate of property crime like burglary and motor vehicle theft can be found in Mayfield, Kentucky. Widespread joblessness is also a problem in this city.
18. Louisiana: Bastrop
Louisiana is one of the most dangerous states in the United States. In Bastrop, a small city in the northern part of the state, crime is even more concentrated. Bastrop has also been shedding jobs in recent years, with the number of people working falling nearly seven percent.
19. Maine: Orono
Orono is by far the poorest city in Maine due to widespread financial hardship caused by a weak job market. Orono residents also do not have much in the way of culture and entertainment options, with a low concentration of bars, restaurants, and museums.
20. Maryland: Cambridge
Maryland is the wealthiest state in the country by median income, but not all parts of the state are equally prosperous. In Cambridge, a small city in the Delmarva Peninsula, about one in every four residents live below the poverty line. Violent crimes like robbery and aggravated assault are relatively common here as well.
21. Massachusetts: New Bedford
The typical household in New Bedford earns well below the national median household. Housing and the overall cost of living are less affordable in this Massachusetts city.
22. Michigan: Highland Park
Highland Park has suffered for decades from the decline of the region’s auto manufacturing industry. The area’s low incomes are reflected in the depressed real estate values. On top of this, crime is also a problem here.
23. Minnesota: St. Paul
Violent crimes like robbery and homicide are common in St. Paul, with a rate of more than double that of Minnesota. Over twenty percent of the residents here live below the poverty line.
24. Mississippi: Yazoo City
Did you know that Mississippi is the poorest state in the country? It’s true; nearly fifty percent of Yazoo City residents live below the poverty line.
25. Missouri: St. Louis
St. Louis is the most dangerous city in Missouri and one of the most dangerous in the United States. The typical household in the town earns well below the median household income.
26. Montana: Havre
Crime is much more common in Havre than it is across the state of Montana. Unemployment will likely be a growing problem in Havre in the coming years as job growth has not kept pace with the population growth.
27. Nebraska: Bellevue
Though Bellevue does not struggle with some of the more serious problems common in other cities, like high poverty and violent crime rates, there are aspects of life in Bellevue that make it less preferable than other Nebraska cities. This city has low access to grocery stores, and the unemployment rate is about four percent.
28. Nevada: Cold Springs
Cold Springs has a low poverty rate, strong employment, and rapid population growth. It’s ranking as the worst city to live in — in Nevada — is attributable primarily to its lack of cultural and entertainment attractions.
29. New Hampshire: Derry
Derry is a relatively safe place, and few residents face serious financial hardship. One of the reasons Derry ranks as the worst city to live in New Hampshire is the city’s high cost of living. Property taxes are also high in Derry, giving it another cause to be the worst city to live in — in New Hampshire.
30. New Jersey: Bridgeton
Bridgeton is one of the most dangerous cities in the state and more dangerous than over ninety percent of American cities. Nearly one in every three Bridgeton residents lives below the poverty line.
31. New Mexico: Gallup
Gallup, New Mexico, is one of the poorest places in the United States, with about thirty percent of the city living below the poverty line. The violent crime rate exceeds over ninety percent of other American cities.
32. New York: Newburgh
Newburgh ranks as the worst city to live in New York state, primarily because of its high violent crime rate and widespread financial hardship. The violent crime rate is more than triple the state violent crime rate, and more than thirty percent of residents live below the poverty line.
33. North Carolina: Lexington
The typical Lexington, North Carolina household earns less than thirty thousand dollars a year, which causes over thirty percent of residents to live below the poverty line. It is ranked as the worst city in North Carolina to live in.
34. North Dakota: Grand Forks
Though it ranks as the worst city to live in North Dakota, Grand Forks is a far better place to live than most cities on this list. Poverty is relatively high in Grand Forks, but the violent crime and unemployment rates are quite low.
35. Ohio: Cleveland
A dangerous city, Cleveland’s violent crime rate is among the highest in the country and five times higher than Ohio’s. Joblessness is also a problem, as the city’s unemployment rate is well above the statewide rate.
36. Oklahoma: Okmulgee
The population decline and reduced housing demand in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, have reduced property values. High crime rates may also be suppressing real estate values and detract from the overall quality of life in the city.
37. Oregon: Sweet Home
Don’t be fooled by the name, Sweet Home is not a sweet place to live in Oregon. Its ranking as the worst place to live in the state is due largely to economic conditions.
38. Pennsylvania: Chester
The area’s low incomes are partially attributable to the high jobless rate in Chester, Pennsylvania. The typical home is worth less than the median home value in over ninety percent of U.S. cities.
39. Rhode Island: Central Falls
The typical Central Falls, Rhode Island household earns well below the national median household income. The area’s low incomes make housing particularly unaffordable.
40. South Carolina: Georgetown
Georgetown is one of the poorest cities in South Carolina and the entire United States. Crime is often concentrated in lower-income areas, and Georgetown is no exception. The high crime and widespread financial hardship may be pushing some residents out of Georgetown.
41. South Dakota: Box Elder
Though it ranks as the worst city to live in — in South Dakota, it is a preferable place to live than the vast majority of cities on this list. However, Box Elder has a higher cost of living than every other city in the state; goods and services are still less expensive than nationwide on average. However, the city has a far lower than-typical concentration of places like restaurants, nature parks, museums, and movie theaters.
42. Tennessee: Memphis
Memphis is the most dangerous city in Tennessee and one of the most dangerous in the United States. As is the case in many high-crime cities, Memphis is also home to a largely poor population, as joblessness is an issue here.
43. Texas: Robstown
Robstown, Texas, has struggled with high joblessness for years. Likely due to the weak job market, Robstown is losing residents rapidly.
44. Utah: Grantsville
Though Grantsville ranks as the worst city in Utah, it is safer and has a lower poverty rate than the state as a whole; it is also a far preferable place to many other cities on this list. Grantsville’s status as the worst city in Utah is attributable primarily to factors relating to community and quality of life.
45. Vermont: Barre
The unemployment rate in Barre, Vermont, is the highest of any city considered in the state and half a percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate. The relative lack of jobs may partially explain the city’s recent population decline.
46. Virginia: Franklin
Nearly ten percent of workers in Franklin, Virginia, are unemployed. Property crimes like burglary and motor vehicle theft are relatively common in Franklin.
47. Washington: Yelm
Though residents of Yelm, Washington, are far less likely to live below the poverty line or be the victim of a violent crime than those in most cities on this list, other conditions in the town detract from the quality of life. Property crime is relatively common in this city.
48. West Virginia: Martinsburg
Struggling economically, the city’s unemployment rate stands at nine percent. The lack of jobs in the area may partially explain the widespread financial hardship in Martinsburg.
49. Wisconsin: Beloit
Nearly one in every four area residents lives below the poverty line in Beloit, Wisconsin. The area’s low incomes are partially attributable to the high jobless rate.
50. Wyoming: Green River
Though Green River does not struggle with some of the more serious problems common in other cities on this list, like high poverty and violent crime rates, some aspects of life in Green River make it less preferable than other Wyoming cities. Area residents have little in the way of entertainment options, and employment options are relatively limited here.
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