There are so many cities in the U.S. that you can find just about any quality you want in a city. Some are great places to live with thriving communities. Others are a mess of abandoned buildings and high crime. Most are in the middle of these examples.
There are a lot of factors that go into making a city miserable, and many cities demonstrate through their data that they’re miserable places to live. According to Business Insider, these are the most miserable cities in America.
1. Gary, Indiana
More and more people are leaving Gary. The people left behind are largely poor with 36% living in poverty. Only half the population is working. There are so many abandoned buildings that they’re being sold for $1.
2. Port Arthur, Texas
This city has oil refineries all about it, adding to the depressing look and acrid smell of the place. It’s been losing a lot of residents lately, has a high poverty rate, and has been hit hard by multiple hurricanes.
3. Detroit, Michigan
Detroit has long had problems since the collapse of its auto industry. It has 38% of its residents in poverty, and the median household income here is just $27,838. About 43,000 homes sit abandoned.
4. Passaic, New Jersey
With drugs and crime major problems, this city is difficult to live in. About a third of the city’s residents live in poverty, and only 58% of the residents work. The city is known for a high level of violence.
5. Newark, New Jersey
The 35-minute average commute is miserable enough, but 28% of the city lives in poverty. The city has a high rate of violent crimes, and there are problems with race relations that keep the citizens divided.
6. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
This small city has seen a large number of its residents leave. The deteriorating conditions have led to 14% of the city leaving between 2010 and 2018. Flooding and the loss of manufacturing jobs have both contributed to the misery.
7. Flint, Michigan
As the poster city for deteriorating urban areas, Flint has greatly suffered from the loss of manufacturing jobs. It’s also been hit with health problems from lead in its drinking water in recent years.
8. Camden, New Jersey
More than a third of residents here live in poverty, and the average income per household is just over $26,000. It’s had a very high crime rate since the manufacturing sector left decades ago.
9. Warren, Ohio
An astounding two-thirds of the population of Warren live in poverty. The city experienced the closing of a GM plant that led to high unemployment and the loss of many residents who left to find opportunities elsewhere.
10. Huntingdon Park, California
From long commutes to high poverty to high unemployment, this city isn’t a pleasure to live in for most people. It’s a place that is often the first place unauthorized immigrants go after crossing the border.
11. New Brunswick, New Jersey
Just over half the residents here are working, and just over a third live in poverty. The city has a serious problem with crime, and assaults with guns have been skyrocketing in the last few years.
12. Brownsville, Texas
More than a third of residents here don’t have any health insurance, and almost a third live in poverty. In this border town, property values have gone down as the immigration crisis has heated up in the area.
13. Hialeah, Florida
This is one of the country’s least-diverse cities with virtually everyone being Hispanic. There is high poverty and high unemployment in an area where a high rate of people also don’t have health insurance.
14. Bell Gardens, California
In Bell Gardens, there is too little revenue for a large population of people. The city is forced to rely on a casino for much of its income. The city has a 30% poverty rate and high unemployment.
15. Union City, New Jersey
Another in a long list of miserable New Jersey cities, this city is one of the most densely populated areas in the country. It also has a 33-minute average commute and high unemployment.
16. Cicero, Illinois
Crime has been a serious problem in Cicero since the Al Capone days. Today, crime as well as high unemployment and high poverty combine to make this city a miserable place to live.
Trenton, New Jersey
Gun violence as well as other violent crime are a consistent problem in Trenton. The city hasn’t done well in the aftermath of its manufacturing sector being shut down. The city has a 27% rate of poverty.
Albany, Georgia
Weather problems like a hurricane and a serious tornado have taken their toll on this Southern city. It was already in bad condition from high poverty and high unemployment, making for a perfect storm of misery.
17. Paterson, New Jersey
People are leaving this city, and the ones left behind are largely mired in poverty. The city is still reeling from a massive flood in 2011. It also has a high number of abandoned homes in disrepair.
18. Huntsville, Texas
This is a city that has many prisons, and those inside have added to the city’s high rate of unemployment. About 35% of this city is living in poverty, and the state’s executions are performed here.
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