There was a time when Memphis used to be one of the nicest cities in the country. Over the years, things took a turn for the worse and city-wide drug addiction took hold of the once beautiful southern city. With a current poverty rate of about 27 percent, things aren’t looking too good.
The soaring crime rate has also made general day-to-day life more stressful and impacted the general aesthetic. It still is the home of the blues.
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.
Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is considered one of the least diverse cities in the country. It’s comprised primarily of a Hispanic population, and the residents are struggling. Of 239,000 people living in Hialeah, 26% live in poverty, and 31% don’t have health insurance. This is probably because only 56% of the population is working.
While the residents struggle, Hialeah is also considered one of the worst cities to live in if you have an active lifestyle. It’s hard to think about taking hikes or going on runs if you can barely put food on the table.
Irving, Texas
Out of the entire 37,060 acres of land that make up the city land of Irving, Texas, only a measly 1,920 acres are parks. That is a depressing number. The city doesn't even have a single recreational center. This can make a city pretty grim.
It sounds like this city is in desperate need of a Leslie Knope-type hero. Looking to shoot hoops? Move to another city.
Lansing, Michigan
What makes this city so miserable is the shocking crime rate. According to Business Insider, the city was rocked with 52 violent crimes per 10, 000 residents. It's also one of the few cities in which the crime rate is rising and not dropping, particularly in the last five years.
The poverty rate in 2017 was 29.5 percent and the unemployment rate hit about 6.3 percent. A big reason behind this depressing number is mental illness and domestic violence, according to Police Chief Mike Yankowski.