These Are The 50 “Most Miserable” Cities In America

Authored by Daisy Luther via The Organic Prepper blog,

According to a report by Business Insider, the title of the most miserable city in the United States goes to…

…Gary, Indiana.

The 50 “most miserable cities” are made so mostly by poverty and a lack of opportunities to pull oneself out of poverty.

We’ve identified the 50 most miserable cities in the US, using census data from 1,000 cities, taking into consideration population change (because if people are leaving it’s usually for a good reason), the percentage of people working, median household incomes, the percentage of people without healthcare, median commute times, and the number of people living in poverty. (source)

Business Insider also took into account the havoc wrought by natural disasters, blight (abandoned houses), crime, and addiction rates. This spreadsheet shows how they arrived at their conclusions using data from the US Census Bureau.

Why is Gary, Indiana so miserable?

Gary used to be a hub of manufacturing, but those jobs have long-since gone elsewhere. When the jobs went away, so did many of the residents. Of the ones who remain, barely 50% are employed and 36% live under the poverty line.

The only positive effect of the struggling population is that when people left, certain crimes left, also.

A drug-enforcement agent who grew up in the area told The Guardian in 2017: “We used to be the murder capital of the US, but there is hardly anybody left to kill. We used to be the drug capital of the US, but for that you need money, and there aren’t jobs or things to steal here.” (source)

But Gary isn’t the only place that people can’t get ahead.

Three states have several miserable cities.

If you’ve been paying attention to the homelessness crisis and the fecal matter in the streets, you will probably be unsurprised to hear that California has more miserable cities than any other state, with 10 falling into the 50 most miserable list.

California is followed by New Jersey, with nine miserable cities, and Florida, with six.

The other miserable cities on the list are scattered across the country. Things are so bad in many of these cities that it’s safe to say, the SHTF has quietly arrived and set up camp, while the rest of the country remains relatively oblivious to their plights.

Why makes these cities so “miserable?”

The most miserable cities have stories of violence, natural disasters, drug addiction, and crumbling infrastructures. Quite a few have factories that have moved elsewhere, leaving a large swath of the population unemployed and living in poverty. It’s easy to tell people they need to get jobs. But people in these places know that for many, there are no jobs to get. Housing is unaffordable on the local average wages for those who do have jobs.

Foreclosures and repossessions are common themes. A few of the cities are dealing with thousands of immigrants they must try to house and feed. Others have corrupt local governments or governments that have managed finances poorly. Several are far too densely populated.

And here are some things you might not expect in the United States of America. In quite a few cities on the list, clean running water is not a given. Pollution and sanitation are serious issues for thousands of people.

I’ve written before about how a high percentage of Americans have no emergency funds and are struggling to pay for basic necessities like rent, food, and healthcare. The folks in these cities know all too well about that which I’ve written.

Here are the 50 most miserable cities in the United States of America.

These cities are the 50 “most miserable” according to data collected during the last census.

50 – Lancaster, California

49 – St. Louis, Missouri

48 – Pasadena, Texas

47 – Macon-Bibb County, Georgia

46 – Danville, Virginia

45 – Shreveport, Louisiana

44 – Hemet, California

43 – Mansfield, Ohio

42 – San Bernadina, California

41 – Compton, California

40 – Montebello, California

39 – Harlingen, Texas

38 – Reading, Pennsylvania

37 – Hallandale Beach, Florida

36 – Palmdale, California

35 – Anderson, Indiana

34 – Fort Pierce, Florida

33 – North Miami Beach, Florida

32 – Jackson, Mississippi

31 – Saginaw, Michigan

30 – Plainfield, New Jersey

29 – West New York, New Jersey

28 – Miami Gardens, Florida

27 – Cleveland, Ohio

26 – Youngstown, Ohio

25 – North Miami, Florida

24 – Huntington, West Virginia

23 – Hammond, Indiana

22 – El Monte, California

21 – Lynnwood, California

20 – Huntsville, Texas

19 – Paterson, New Jersey

18 – Albany, Georgia

17 – Trenton, New Jersey

16 – Cicero, Illinois

15 – Union City, New Jersey

14 – Bell Gardens, California

13 – Hialeah, Florida

12 – Brownsville, Texas

11 – New Brunswick, New Jersey

10 – Huntington Park, California

9 – Warren, Ohio

8 – Camden, New Jersey

7 – Flint, Michigan

6 – Pine Bluff, Arkansas

5 – Newark, New Jersey

4 – Passaic, New Jersey

3 – Detroit, Michigan

2 – Port Arthur, Texas

1 – Gary, Indiana

For details on why each city made the list, go here.

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55 Comments
Steve
Steve
October 10, 2019 8:46 am

….and the common denominator is?
Negroes, of course…

Iska Waran
Iska Waran
  Steve
October 10, 2019 9:04 am

I see that Huntington Park, CA is less than 1% black, according to Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntington_Park,_California#Demographics
53% of the child population was overweight, though, so there’s probably not a lot of hot women around.

EC the vulgar
EC the vulgar
  Iska Waran
October 10, 2019 10:15 pm

Isk, Ignore the names, they’re all Hispanic areas all the way to Indio and Coachella. Huntington Park and Cudahy are Central American enclaves, they are right next to East LA.

Most of them are cities that popped up around LA and got absorbed as LA metro area grew. The really spooky area is City of Industry, a tax haven for businesses, it has no residents.

South of the 10 (I-10) is po’ folks and East of the 405 is the same; Pasadena, San Marino and Palm Springs are exceptions.

It’s kinda interesting that the only wildfires caused by PGE happened in the rich sections along the coast. But I’m not a suspicious type.

BL
BL
October 10, 2019 9:05 am

96% of KY is NOT Afro-American, the vast majority of the state is European -American. Could that be why KY was not on the list?? Is it the rednecks with firearms? Search me, I just don’t know but considering the whites pushed out the blacks for welfare $$$ is part of it. Too much competition for them in KY.

Ivan
Ivan
October 10, 2019 9:21 am

Trifecta: negroes, mexicans and bolsheviks.

EC
EC
  Ivan
October 10, 2019 6:13 pm

We’re Not a Dump
10cc
We’re Not a Dump
So don’t forget it
We’re not the shitty place that you live in
And just because
It’s on the list
Don’t get it wrong, don’t listen to Ivan
We’re Not a Dump, no, no, it’s his mom
I’d like to beat you
But then again
That doesn’t mean Ivan means that much to me
So if I call you
A fuckin’ puss
Don’t tell your friends I want to kick your ass
We’re Not a Dump, no no, it’s your mom
I keep her picture
Upon the wall
It hides a nasty stain that’s lying there
So don’t you ask me
To give it back
I know you know she doesn’t mean that much to me
We’re Not a Dump, no no, it’s your mom
Ooh she’ll wait a long time for me
Ooh she’ll wait a long time
Ooh she’ll wait a long time for me
Ooh she’ll wait a long time
We’re Not a Dump
So don’t forget it
We’re not the shitty place that you live in
And just because I call her tramp
Don’t get me wrong, don’t think your mom got played
We’re Not a Dump
We’re Not a Dump

TN Patriot
TN Patriot
October 10, 2019 9:43 am

It would be interesting to see the % minority population & which party has run the city the past 50 years. I would guess the latter has more to do with it, than the former.

I am not sure I agree totally with the methodology:
1. % without medical insurance is decreased by those who are very poor and on medicaid. It is weighted by 15% and % in poverty is only weighted at 10%. I would make it 5 and 20% respectively.
2. Do not understand why median commute time is included and at 15%

Like all statistics, results can be manipulated by how much weight you decide to put on each category. I have been to many of the top 100 and can attest that there are large areas that would make Honduras proud.

Iska Waran
Iska Waran
  TN Patriot
October 10, 2019 10:03 am

From my limited time there, Vermont is a nice place, it’s a democrat stronghold and it has almost no minorities. So even democrats have a hard time fucking up a place if it’s full of white people. Pittsburgh, PA hasn’t had a republican mayor since 1934 and I understand it to be a nice enough place – now that steel refineries have mostly been supplanted by universities, tech and medical device companies. It’s still 2/3 white (although that’s dropping as a percentage). There is probably a correlation between Republican towns and decent well-run towns, but republican towns are going to be predominantly white. Socialist Scandinavia was fine until they started letting in uncivilized people. So no, it’s not intrinsically the political ideology – it’s the people. The problem is when the Left replaces good people with bad people.

Ivan
Ivan
  Iska Waran
October 10, 2019 10:21 am

Vermont is full of bolsheviks from southern new england, new york and new jersey that went to college there and never left. Witness comrades in ice cream cohen and greenfield.

It is who elevated bernie sanderclaus from mayor of burlington to congress and now senate while never having been a productive member of society his entire life.

Through graft and corruption sanders went from living in a dirt floored hovel to owning multiple homes. Forget about the steak and lobster dinners his moronic donors subsidize while he flies from coast to coast “campaigning” usually on private jets.

Bernie Sanders is the consummate flim flam man.

Vermont is largely white yet under its cutesy veneer of red and white barns and holsteins the negroes infiltrate with cocaine, heroin, etc. for the welfare bums and trust fund junkies.

Sadly Vermont is a shit hole and literally smells like one every spring.

MTD
MTD
  Ivan
October 10, 2019 5:38 pm

I live in VT and I can’t disagree with anything you said. About 70% of the population here are hopelessly liberal morons. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before the white guilt kicks in enough that they start importing “diversity” in large numbers and officially ruin everything.

Ivan
Ivan
  MTD
October 11, 2019 1:10 am

There were no Mexicans when I lived in VT.

The negroes don’t like the cold and snow too much BUT that doesn’t explain all the somalis in North Dakota

Pequiste
Pequiste
October 10, 2019 9:55 am

WHAT??

Camden is not on the list?

https://www.nj.com/data/2018/01/35_poorest_towns_in_nj.html (note: all the way down)

Metamorphosing right before your eyes into the Garden State’s paradise.

Ivan
Ivan
  Pequiste
October 10, 2019 10:06 am

While number 8 Camden should have been number 1.

Pequiste
Pequiste
  Pequiste
October 10, 2019 11:20 am

My mistake — I skipped right to number one and did not see its placement at number 8. Still, Camden will always be numero uno in my book.

Mac
Mac
October 10, 2019 10:12 am

How does Belle Glades, Florida not make the top five, never mind the list all together?

pyrrhus
pyrrhus
October 10, 2019 10:21 am

There must have been a lot of competition amongst the majority black cities to get on this list….

Anymouse
Anymouse
October 10, 2019 10:56 am

Thankfully my near by cities are not on the list, though I still would not be interesting in living in one of them. They exist solely as destination for purchasing food and other merch, and then quickly retreated from.
Country living is a bit onerous, no high speed connections, (no cable lines, no dsl) but thankfully wireless has developed as a reliable connection to TBP. If forces one to be self sufficient, grow your own food, fix things instead of replace, etc. We’re pressing cider this weekend.
I’m trying an oak barrel to ferment it the old school way this season, with naturally occurring yeasties.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cities, it’s were the left gains it strength from.

TN Patriot
TN Patriot
  Anymouse
October 10, 2019 11:57 am

How many billions have been raked in through the “universal service charge” the past 22 years so those of us in the hinterlands could have “rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges”? Where have those $ gone?

EC
EC
October 10, 2019 11:00 am

The once sleepy bedroom community of the Antelope Valley has fallen on hard times, it seems. Nah. We are right next to Awesome Town in the Golden Valley. We are fine as wine. The huge influx of folks from ‘down below’ may have skewed the numbers but the valley is doing fine. Here is my observation: when times are tough, you find abandoned dogs in the outer streets surrounded by desert. Today, you find old furniture and remodeling debris on the side of lonely roads. This means that even the po’ folks are doing well, feeding Fido and buying new furniture. 70th east between Avenue J and Palmdale Blvd are popular dumping grounds for large sofas. One time I spotted something unusual there: a live peacock. There was no hope of catching it so I kept going but I am sure I was not the only one to see him at 4:30 in the afternoon.

M G
M G
  EC
October 10, 2019 11:24 am

A guy a mile or so away has peacocks who are sometimes in the road. In very early hours I sometimes hear them calling “Help… Help.”

Ivan
Ivan
  M G
October 10, 2019 11:32 am

Are you sure it’s not the Mexicans left for dead in the desert crying help, help?

California is a shithole.

M G
M G
  Ivan
October 10, 2019 11:33 am

If it is they are loud as hell.

EC
EC
  Ivan
October 10, 2019 11:50 am

Your momma is a shithole, Ivan.

TN Patriot
TN Patriot
  EC
October 10, 2019 11:59 am

When times are REALLY hard, you do not find any dogs or cats.

Fleabaggs
Fleabaggs
  TN Patriot
October 10, 2019 12:29 pm

TN..
Right you are. Never saw a cat or dog in Nam. Maybe they existed but I never saw one. Rats are a different story.

TN Patriot
TN Patriot
  Fleabaggs
October 10, 2019 8:36 pm

My dad told me to never buy the tamales if there weren’t any dogs running around the yard.

Neuday
Neuday
  EC
October 10, 2019 12:34 pm

Furniture and building debris on the roadside? You must live amomg messicans.

Donkey
Donkey
October 10, 2019 11:06 am

So, that means Stucky needs to get the hell out of NJ then. A small state with as many shitholes as the largest state? NJ is the worst state to live in in the entire US.

M G
M G
  Donkey
October 10, 2019 11:24 am

I gotta say Ohio ain’t looking so great either…

BL
BL
  M G
October 10, 2019 11:32 am

MG- Ohio should be thrown out of the (United?) States, I still blame those commie SOB’s for voting Obummer in TWICE……..basturds.

M G
M G
  BL
October 10, 2019 11:41 am

My husband was born, raised and socialized in Cleveland. He has really fond memories of Cleveland and after our upcoming travel adventure, he promises to take me and show me what is so great about a Great Lake.

I hope Cleveland doesn’t disappoint him like the Browns have already done. So much for Baker Mayfield’s charm. As Poppa Grooch would have said “Fugget da bum.”

Fleabaggs
Fleabaggs
  Donkey
October 10, 2019 12:31 pm

Donkey..
He lives in #30. Might explain something.

Stucky
Stucky
  Donkey
October 11, 2019 12:02 pm

“So, that means Stucky needs to get the hell out of NJ then.”

You have no idea. Not only do I live in a shitfuk state, but …. I actually live in the 30th worse city in America!! (Plainfield) Woohoo!!!! Howeverrrr, I do live in a fucken gorgeous 130 year old mansion. So, there’s that.

—–

I was actually in traffic court yesterday in the city of Plainfield. [I was one of just two white people among the roughly 50-60 in court, and the only one wearing a tie.] Got stopped a couple of months ago; expired insurance and expired registration. Now, NJ has what is considered the toughest fines in the country regarding not having insurance; 6 points, up to $1,000 fine, an annual $250 surcharge for the next three years, AND up to one year in jail ….. for the FIRST offense!!! That’s why I hired a lawyer (flat fee of $350) … although I gave him an extra $100 yesterday for a job well done. He was able to get the registration thingy dismissed, and regarding the insurance I got 0 points, and agreed to a plea of guilty of “not presenting proof of insurance” when I was stopped by the cop; $225 fine including court costs. He was brilliant. You other Joisey folks here, if you ever need a good (and affordable) traffic lawyer, his name is Herman Alaron, 908-289-1771 (real name and actual phone number).

P.S. The expired registration was my fuck up. The insurance lapsed because I had the monthly payment on auto-pay, and then one month Ms Freud cancelled the card without me knowing about it. She thought that card was being hacked. Yes, ya never know what to expect when living with someone who has dementia. It’s a blast.

EC
EC
  Stucky
October 11, 2019 12:15 pm

If you’ll pardon the diversion, I remember a story about a man whose wife cancelled an automatic payment on a storage unit he had for a long time. The cops found his former wife’s body stashed in there.

Not Paula
Not Paula
October 10, 2019 11:15 am

Wow! I’m almost PROUD to have lived in Pasadena, Texas with the “regular” people to avoid high rent in the ‘burbs around Kirkwood. Of course, it was no picnic then and I ended up running down a couple alleys running for my life in 1982!

I probably would be afraid to drive into my old neighborhood.

starfcker
starfcker
October 10, 2019 11:50 am

All the Florida towns on the list have been stuffed full of black immigrants. Fort Pierce is up north a little bit, Hialeah is all non-english speaking Latin, but the rest of the towns on the list are all side by side in northern Dade County, and collectively along with some others, are just one big slum. Hallandale is right over the line in Broward, but the same demographic has just overwhelmed it from North Miami Beach which it shares a border. Those cities (North Miami, North Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Hallandale Beach) shouldn’t be on the list separately, they’re just one big safari park.

TN Patriot
TN Patriot
  starfcker
October 10, 2019 12:08 pm

My company bought out one in Hialeah in ’01 and I spent a lot of time in S FL for 2 years. I was shocked when I went into a grocery store and had a hard time finding someone who was proficient in English. Needless to say, we did not renew the lease and moved north into Broward asap.

Pequiste
Pequiste
  starfcker
October 10, 2019 6:00 pm

I used to love, love, love Monkey Jungle in what once was Goulds, Fla.

“Where the humans are caged and the monkeys run wild”. Their tag line!

Now Monkey Jungle is everywhere down there.

See FL Congoressional district #20 fo’ details.

Two if by sea, Three if from within thee
Two if by sea, Three if from within thee
October 10, 2019 11:54 am

Hadda read the list to make sure my happiness wasn`t misplaced.

TN Patriot
TN Patriot
  Two if by sea, Three if from within thee
October 10, 2019 8:40 pm

You can go to the link and get 1,000 cities. Memphica is 91 and I would have put it in the top 10.

bob
bob
October 11, 2019 9:12 am

How the fuck did CDA not make the list!? The town drips with old (I mean old-I’m 55 and these fucks are OLD!), cranky fuckers with munny, and fucking yuppies with their affectatious (mighta made that word up, not entirely sure) beards, and AWD euro-peein’ sedans. From somewhere-else, all. I totally understand not being able to get a smile or polite word out of a retail clerk there after having to deal with a bunch of shitheads all day. I like going to CDA about as much as I like being kicked in the nuts. Maybe less.