16 US Cities with the Worst Quality of Life

Unfortunately, there are many cities in the U.S. that don’t offer the best quality of life. Whether that’s due to economic issues, high crime rates, or a lack of job opportunities, if you’re thinking of relocating, you might want to avoid the following cities. Here are 16 U.S. cities with the worst quality of life.

Florida City, Florida

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Florida City isn’t considered one of the best places to live. It has high crime rates, especially when it comes to violent crimes. The income for each household is also much lower than the national average, and the city also has limited access to healthcare facilities and poor infrastructure.

Mākaha, Hawaii

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Even though Hawaii is one of the most beautiful states in the U.S., Mākaha is sadly considered a city with a poor quality of life. This is largely due to its high cost of living and low-income salaries, meaning its residents struggle to live day to day.

Highland Park, Michigan

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Many people from Highland Park live in poverty, with the median household income being the lowest in the country. These levels of poverty have also led to high crime rates in the city, with residents facing a high chance of being victims of either an act of property or violent crime.

Bessemer, Alabama

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Bessemer has high rates of violent crime throughout the city, and along with its constant economic issues, the city is considered to have a bad quality of life. Also, its residents aren’t as educated compared to other cities, and very few have a degree.

Bastrop, Louisiana

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Travel Alot writes, “With a population of 10,521, the poverty rate is 47.9%, which means almost half of the population is living in poverty.” A high rate of poverty will also mean that crime rates are high in the city. This can largely be attributed to the city’s issues with unemployment, making it one of the worst places to reside in Louisiana.

Waianae, Hawaii

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The residents of Waianae face issues with affordable housing, mainly because their salaries are so low. Many people have struggled to find somewhere to live, contributing to poor health across the city and a lower life expectancy. Because of these economic issues, residents are also poorly educated.

Anniston, Alabama

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Anniston is considered one of the most dangerous cities in the country. There are high rates of poverty throughout, and this has reduced the quality of life for its residents. Healthcare facilities are also limited in Anniston, and with such high levels of poverty, people can’t always afford to look after themselves.

Gainesville, Florida

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Even though Gainesville has a top university and high education rates, overall, residents are still considered to have a poor quality of life. This is because over a third of residents live in poverty,  which also has an effect on crime rates by making them high.

Atlanta, Georgia

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Even though Atlanta is a large city, many residents still have a poor quality of life. Crime rates are high in Atlanta, especially when it comes to violent crime. There’s also an environmental issue with the city, as its pollution creates poor air quality.

Tacoma, Washington

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The City of Tacoma states, “Many community members struggle with homelessness, hunger, under- and unemployment, limited educational opportunity, and poor life outcomes.” Thanks to the high rates of unemployment in the city, Tacoma also has many issues when it comes to crime.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Albuquerque has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the country. Not only this, but employment opportunities are limited, as is the growth of the population. There’s also limited access to healthcare facilities, with many residents not being able to get the healthcare they need.

Jackson, Mississippi

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One in four residents in Jackson lives in poverty, with many struggling to pay their bills and provide adequate amounts of food. This poverty has led to high crime rates in the city, giving Jackson a poor quality of life. Many residents also struggle to access healthcare, as the city has limited facilities.

Beckley, West Virginia

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Beckley faces many issues when it comes to its quality of life. Numerous residents are living in poverty due to high unemployment rates, which can then also contribute to crimes in the area. There’s also limited access to healthcare facilities, which means residents can’t always get the help that they need.

Gadsden, Alabama

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Gadsden faces many economic issues with its job market. This is supported by U.S. News, which informs us that the job market in Gadsden is lower than the national average and the unemployment rate is higher than the national average. This means that households aren’t earning the money they need, which can result in poverty.

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

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With high violent crime rates and large amounts of poverty and unemployment, Pine Bluff is considered a city that will give you a poor quality of life. Along with this, the city’s residents also face health issues thanks to the limited number of facilities available.

St. Louis, Missouri

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St. Louis faces many struggles with poverty, with 40% of children born into it. Because of this poverty, the city also faces high crime rates and has limited opportunities for economic growth. There are also healthcare concerns in St. Louis due to its poor air quality and issues with the environment.

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