Compton is struggling with a special set of problems. About 40% of the population in this city is unemployed and lives off benefits. With such a high rate of people out of work, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that 23% of the population lives in poverty and struggles on a day-to-day basis.
Although some data surrounding Compton is still dismal, it has improved over the years. In 1991, the town has seen 87 murders, but that number, fortunately, dropped to just seven in 2014. Even though it’s still a dangerous place to live, the city is slowly improving with time.
Cleveland, Ohio
In 2010, Cleveland was dubbed the most miserable city in the U.S. by Forbes. More than ten years later, its reputation hasn’t changed at all. Commonly known as “the mistake by the lake” about its proximity to Lake Erie, Cleveland isn’t a place anyone wants to live.
Data revealed that roughly 35% of Cleveland’s population lives in poverty, even though half of those people are employed. People simply don’t make enough to survive in this town, which explains why it’s such a miserable city. Consequently, violence rates are skyrocketing as people struggle to make ends meet and surplus for their families.
Huntsville, Texas
Texas still supports the death penalty, and that decision has a profound impact on Huntsville. All executions in Texas are carried out at the Huntsville prison. On the positive side, the Department of Criminal Justice does provide around 7,000 jobs to the Huntsville area, making it the city’s largest employer. But let's put that aside: who wants to live in a place where so many people die under unnatural circumstances?
Unfortunately, with such a morbid reputation, not many companies want to move to Huntsville, so the unemployment rates in this city are sky-high. On top of that, 35% of the population lives in poverty.
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton used to be the center of the industrial world; however, many things have changed in the past few years. The city that once thrived has since become somewhat of a wasteland. With the changing times, production in Trenton faced a massive decline, and instead of producing new things, it collected all the things other states doesn't want.
The shifting landscape greatly affected the city, and it’s now plagued with a high crime rate. Gang activity is an everyday occurrence in the area, as are issues with gun violence. Suffice it to say Trenton isn’t exactly a safe place to live.
Newark, New Jersey
You may have heard about Flint, Michigan, but you probably haven’t heard about Newark, New Jersey. Unfortunately, Newark is in a similar position. The city struggles with significant problems due to lead in their water, leading to many sick residents. It used to be one of New York's highlights, but not anymore.
In addition to the tainted water, Newark also suffers from violence and riots as a result of the extreme racial tension in the city. It has one of the highest levels of prejudice and narrow-minded people. On top of lead poisoning and hostility, 28% of the city’s 282,000 residents live below the poverty line.