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The 20 Worst Cities To Live in America in 2019

Baltimore

Everyone wants to live in an ideal environment, yet that does not always happen. Circumstances lead us to certain places, and we wake up in the morning thinking about how did we get there. To be fair, there are some cities in America that are ideal. They really bring out the best in people and put a smile on the face of residents each and every day. Other cities are not very good at doing that. It is for this reason that we have put together the following list of 20 worst cities to live in America in 2019, with the least desirable being ranked at number one.  P.S. this is based on data we've accumulated from a number of sources and we are not biased in any way against these cities.  

20. Beverly Hills, Florida

This is yet another city that has so much potential, yet it has failed to live up to it. As a suburb of a major metro area, the area has one of the lowest income rates in the state. It also has a violent crime rate that is roughly six times more than the national average. With a low population, this information alone is a recipe for disaster. It is one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

19. Orange Cove, California

This is a city that has long been listed in conversations about the worst places in America to live. It used to have a thriving economy based on industry, but many of these have long since closed down. The unemployment rate here is now one of the highest in the country, and violent crime continues to increase as well. While there is a lot that this big city has going for it, that is not enough to make up for the shattered economy it now experienced, making it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

18. Arvin, California

This is a city with an extremely high poverty rate. The city itself only has about 50,000 residents, with more than 30 percent living in poverty. This makes it one of the lowest income cities in the nation. These low income areas has turned into hotbeds for crime as well. There is little for families to do here, meaning children often get in trouble from an early age, making it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

17. Asbury Park, New Jersey

The main problems with this city revolve around its high rate of unemployment, which has contributed to its high poverty rate as well. This was once a flourishing part of the state, but it has really suffered as industry has been located elsewhere and many businesses have closed. The city has a high cost of living when compared to the rest of the state, and there is not much in the way of entertainment for the residents to enjoy. This makes it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

16. Bellmead, Texas

This might seem like an odd inclusion on this list since so many people seem to look at the city so favorably. That being said, the violent crime rate here appears to be out of control. From 2016 to 2017 alone there was a nearly two fold increase in the number of murders. The rate of violent crime in this one city is more than 200 percent higher than it is in the rest of the state. When you look at property related crimes alone, they are 60 percent higher than the rest of the state. There is also not much to do here in the way of entertainment, making it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

15. Ecorse, Michigan

This is one of the biggest cities to make this list. Most of the reasoning behind this is the crime that is endemic to this part of the state. In fact, 2016 saw the violent crime rate in the city beat the national average by over 350 percent. Quite frankly, many residents live each day in fear, and that is not something you want to say of your home town. In 2017, there were more than 340 homicides. Add to this that the cost of living, particularly when accounting for transportation, is higher than much of the country and you can see why this is one of the worst American cities to live in 2019

14. Douglas, Arizona

The last few years have not been kind to this city. In addition to the now infamous problem with its drinking water, there are countless other issues that residents here have to be concerned with as well. The poverty rate is over 40 percent. This means that it is one of the poorest cities in the entire United States. Unfortunately, this has lead to a high crime rate, which has driven away businesses and residents. Those who remain find themselves in one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

13. Yazoo City, Mississippi

You might not think of a city in Mississippi as ever having the potential to make this list, but then you must not have considered Yazoo City. This is one city that has had its fair share of difficulty the past few years. The earning potential here is far lower than in the rest of the state. Keep in mind that this is a region of the country with an extremely high cost of living to begin with. As an example, the average product and service here is 30 percent more expensive than in the rest of the country. Everything is expensive in comparison to major cities, which makes this one of the worst cities in America to live in based on economic strength alone.

12. Newburgh, New York

Here is a city that makes the list not because of its crime rate, but because of its extremely high cost of living. While it might be a beautiful place to live, people simply struggle to make ends meet here. The cost of living the sixty one percent higher than the average in America, making just average every day living quite expensive. This makes it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

11. Arab, Alabama

Many people think that they would love to live in Alabama, but this is one city that is best left off of that list. This city has less than two percent of its residents as having a college degree. This means that the average household income is among the lowest in the country, coupled with living in an area that has an extremely high cost of living. That translates into a poverty rate that is above 50 percent. Transportation costs are high. Entertainment, if you can afford it, is expensive as well. You simply get very little for giving back so much.

10. Florida City, Florida

This is yet another city that has so much potential, yet it has failed to live up to it. As a suburb of a major metro area, the area has one of the lowest income rates in the state. It also has a violent crime rate that is roughly six times more than the national average. With a low population, this information alone is a recipe for disaster. It is one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

9. Detroit, Michigan

This is a city that has long been listed in conversations about the worst places in America to live. It used to have a thriving economy based on industry, but many of these have long since closed down. The unemployment rate here is now one of the highest in the country, and violent crime continues to increase as well. While there is a lot that this big city has going for it, that is not enough to make up for the shattered economy it now experienced, making it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

8. Monroe, Louisiana

This is a city with an extremely high poverty rate. The city itself only has about 50,000 residents, with more than 30 percent living in poverty. This makes it one of the lowest income cities in the nation. These low income areas have turned into hotbeds for crime as well. There is little for families to do here, meaning children often get in trouble from an early age, making it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

7. Albany, Georgia

The main problems with this city revolve around its high rate of unemployment, which has contributed to its high poverty rate as well. This was once a flourishing part of the state, but it has really suffered as industry has been located elsewhere and many businesses have closed. The city has a high cost of living when compared to the rest of the state, and there is not much in the way of entertainment for the residents to enjoy. This makes it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

6. Nanakuli, Oahu, Hawaii

Here is a city that makes the list not because of its crime rate, but because of its extremely high cost of living. While it might be a beautiful place to live, people simply struggle to make ends meet here. The cost of living the sixty one percent higher than the average in America, making just average every day living quite expensive. This makes it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

5. Kansas City, Missouri

This might seem like an odd inclusion on this list since so many people seem to look at the city so favorably. That being said, the violent crime rate here appears to be out of control. From 2016 to 2017 alone there was a nearly two fold increase in the number of murders. The rate of violent crime in this one city is more than 200 percent higher than it is in the rest of the state. When you look at property related crimes alone, they are 60 percent higher than the rest of the state. There is also not much to do here in the way of entertainment, making it one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

4. Baltimore, Maryland

This is one of the biggest cities to make this list. Most of the reasoning behind this is the crime that is endemic to this part of the state. In fact, 2016 saw the violent crime rate in the city beat the national average by over 350 percent. Quite frankly, many residents live each day in fear, and that is not something you want to say of your home town. In 2017, there were more than 340 homicides. Add to this that the cost of living, particularly when accounting for transportation, is higher than much of the country and you can see why this is one of the worst American cities to live in 2019

3. Flint, Michigan

The last few years have not been kind to this city. In addition to the now infamous problem with its drinking water, there are countless other issues that residents here have to be concerned with as well. The poverty rate is over 40 percent. This means that it is one of the poorest cities in the entire United States. Unfortunately, this has lead to a high crime rate, which has driven away businesses and residents. Those who remain find themselves in one of the worst American cities to live in 2019.

2. Bridgeport, Connecticut

You might not think of a city in Connecticut as ever having the potential to make this list, but then you must not have considered Bridgeport. This is one city that has had its fair share of difficulty in the past few years. The earning potential here is far lower than in the rest of the state. Keep in mind that this is a region of the country with an extremely high cost of living to begin with. As an example, the average product and service here are 30 percent more expensive than in the rest of the country. Everything is expensive in comparison to major cities, which makes this one of the worst cities in America to live in based on economic strength alone.

1. Mendota, California

Many people think that they would love to live in California, but this is one city that is best left off of that list. This city has less than two percent of its residents as having a college degree. This means that the average household income is among the lowest in the country, coupled with living in an area that has an extremely high cost of living. That translates into a poverty rate that is above 50 percent. Transportation costs are high. Entertainment, if you can afford it, is expensive as well. You simply get very little for giving back so much.

So, which of these cities surprise you? Are there any cities that are not on this list that you think should be? You never know how things will shift by the time 2020 comes around.

Garrett Parker

Written by Garrett Parker

Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world.

Read more posts by Garrett Parker

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