In New Brunswick, only 54% of the city’s 56,000 residents are employed. Although the town is small, 34% of the population also lives in poverty.
Beyond those dismal statistics, New Brunswick also struggles with crime. In 2017, reported assaults with guns rose by 64%. The violent nature of this town makes it a difficult place to live.
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is another city that is an innocent victim of natural disasters. When Hurricane Irene hit the town in 2011, the nearby Great Falls flooded the town. The falls were used to power nearby factories, but the flooded water interrupted both production and resident’s daily life.
After the flooding, people didn’t want to stick around to see what happened next in Paterson. After the flood, officials counted about 1,250 abandoned homes. The hurricane also affected the city’s income. Between 2009 and 2016, the tax revenue in Paterson fell by 38%.
Huntington Park, California
Huntington Park boasts a 97% Latino population, in large part because the town is another popular entry point for immigrants. The high number of illegal immigrants affects the town’s poverty rate and political engagement. Most residents can’t vote in the election due to their immigration status, so voter turnout is meager.
Besides, the high poverty rate makes it difficult to purchase or sell property in Huntington, which makes the entire city rather miserable.
Flint, Michigan
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Flint is on this list. After all, most people are aware of the Flint water crisis. Beyond the contaminated water, however, Flint also has a 41% poverty rate. It’s one of the poorest cities on this list.
As if dirty water wasn’t bad enough, Flint also struggles with a severe opioid crisis, 20,000 abandoned buildings, and a high rate of violence. Suffice it to say that living in Flint is somewhat of a nightmare for many reasons.
Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana, is a town that’s falling apart. At one time, it was the murder and drug capital of the US. Unfortunately, the population has declined so drastically that there are hardly enough people to do anything terrible, much less anything good.
There are few jobs available in Gary and even fewer residents. There isn’t much to this town, which is why it’s just a miserable place to live.