10 is the worst for the life of US cities

Choosing a city for life always requires a compromise. For example, New York boasts a fast-growing labor market and a lot of prospects that open up to its residents, but it is also one of the most expensive places to live in the country. An alternative could be Houston, where the cost of living is not very high, but residents of this city in south Texas are almost three times more likely to become victims of violent crime than the average in the United States.

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While there is no perfect city, there are many places in the United States where strengths are difficult to find. Poor socio-economic conditions, high crime rates, decline in the labor market - there are dozens of such cities in the USA, writes USA Today.

Based on the index derived using more than two dozen criteria, the experts determined the worst American cities for life. In these cities, there is usually a high crime rate, widespread poverty, weak labor markets, few opportunities for entertainment, and almost no cultural attractions.

Such conditions tend to be found in areas with low levels of education. In every city on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor's degree falls below the 30,9% national average. These cities are found in almost every state, but most of them are concentrated in the south and west of the country.

10 is the worst for the life of US cities

10. Avenal, CA

• Population: 13 119 people
• Poverty level: 36,3%
• Violent crime rate as of 2017: 548 per 100 people
• Average house price: $ 129 900

From 2012 to 2017, year employment in this city has decreased by more than 23%. This is, at least in part, due to the fact that over the same period, the city’s population has decreased by 14,5%.

Real estate in California is usually much more expensive than the national average, since most homes in the state cost more than 440 000 dollars compared to the average cost of 193 500 dollars in the United States. However, in Avenal a typical house costs less than 130 000 dollars, reflecting low incomes in the area.

9. Anniston, Alabama

• Population: 22 097 people
• Poverty level: 29,5%
• Violent crime rate according to 2017 data - 3 per 434 people
• Average house price: $ 95 700

Over the past five years, the Anniston population has decreased by 4,2%. Over the same period, the number of employees in the city decreased by 10,9%.

A reduction in the population of a city may be due to low incomes and a high level of violent crime. A typical family in Anniston earns just 32 070 dollars per year. In addition, 2017 3 violent crimes were committed for every 434 100 people in Anniston in 000, which is the highest figure among all cities in the country.

8. Wiani, Hawaii

• Population: 13 636 people
• Poverty level: 27%
• Violent crime rate as of 2017 - unknown
• Average house price: $ 339 500

Wiani is one of the few cities on this list with a higher average income for residents than in the United States as a whole. A typical family in the city earns 60 282 dollars a year, which is 2 630 dollars more than the average American family. However, large salaries are not enough to cover the high cost of living. Products and services in the area are 61,4% more expensive than the national average. The high cost of living imposes a particularly heavy burden on the residents of Wiani living below the poverty line. 13 636 residents 27% of the population live below the poverty line, which is higher than the poverty level in more than 90% of US cities.

7. Bastrop, louisiana

• Population: 10 643 people
• Poverty level: 43,5%
• Violent crime rate according to 2017 data - 1 per 511 people
• Average house price: $ 73 000

In Bastrop in 2017, for every 100 000 residents 1 511 violent crimes occurred. This means that violent crimes were committed there almost four times more often than in America as a whole.

Crime is often more common in poorer areas, and Bestrop has one of the highest poverty rates in the country. About 43,5% of residents live below the poverty line—nearly three times the U.S. average. Over the past five years, the city's population has decreased by 6,2%.

6. Bessemer, Alabama

• Population: 26 697 people
• Poverty level: 29,7%
• Violent crime rate according to 2017 data - 2 per 986 people
• Average house price: $ 84 000

Bessemer ranks second in the US in terms of violent crime, second only to Anniston, Alabama. Bessemer also ranks sixth in crime against property: almost 9 800 such crimes per 100 000 residents.

In addition to high crime, residents face a number of economic problems. Almost 30% of city dwellers live in poverty, and more than every third resident has limited access to grocery stores or supermarkets. A typical Bessemer family earns less than 32 000 dollars per year, which is well below the average annual income for a country that makes 57 652 dollars per year.

5. Highland Park, MI

• Population: 10 955 people
• Poverty level: 49%
• Violent crime rate according to 2017 data - 1 per 701 people
• Average house price: $ 33 500

Highland Park is the poorest American city. The median annual household income in Highland Park is $15, which is nearly $699 lower than the U.S. average. It is the only city in the country where the majority of families earn less than $42 a year.

In Highland Park, 49% of residents live below the poverty line, one of the highest poverty rates in the country. The city's average unemployment rate over the past five years is 13,2%, which is significantly higher than the US average of 4,1%.

4. Makaha, Hawaii

• Population: 8 832 people
• Poverty level: 30,1%
• Violent crime rate as of 2017 - unknown
• Average house price: $ 407 200

Makaha is the worst city to live in Hawaii and one of the five worst in the United States. Like other cities in the island state, Makaha made the list largely due to its high cost of living. Goods and services in the city are 61,4% more expensive than the national average. Housing is particularly unaffordable here. The average home in Makaha costs nearly $564, which is about eight times the city's median annual household income of $000. Meanwhile, the typical U.S. home costs $51—just 833 times the median income of $193.

Makaha also faced high unemployment. Over the past five years, on average, 9,7% of the city’s labor force did not have a job, more than double the average for five national unemployment rates in 4,1%.

3. California City, CA

• Population: 13 495 people
• Poverty level: 29,9%
• Violent crime rate as of 2017: 640 per 100 people
• Average house price: $ 102 000

Over the past five years, the average unemployment rate in the city has reached 10,7%. Over the same period, employment in the city fell by 11,3%. This shortage of jobs is likely to contribute to a high level of poverty in the city (29,9%), which is more than twice as high as the United States average.

2. Florida City, FL

• Population: 12 149 people
• Poverty level: 41,2%
• Violent crime rate according to 2017 data - 2 per 276 people
• Average house price: $ 110 800

Florida City is the most dangerous city in the state. In 2017, there were 100 violent crimes for every 000 residents, nearly six times the national violent crime rate. The city, located approximately 2 miles south of Miami, also has a high rate of property crime (burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft), and the city had 276 incidents of such crimes for every 35 residents in 2017. which is more than three times the national rate of such crimes.

1. Mendota, California

• Population: 11 396 people
• Poverty level: 49,5%
• Violent crime rate as of 2017: 646 per 100 people
• Average house price: $ 139 000

In Mendot, only 1,8% of adults have a bachelor's degree, the smallest share among all US cities. Half of all city households earn less than 27 500 dollars a year, and 49,5% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Over the past five years, on average, 15,4% of the city's workforce has been unemployed, which is the highest unemployment rate among all US cities and more than three times the comparable national figure of 4,1%.

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