Some people believe happiness is a virtue. Happiness is also a fleeting emotion that doesn’t always stick around for long. However, for some people, where you live can have a distinct impact on your level of happiness. In fact, you may be miserable because of where you reside. Wallethub recently revealed locations where people were happiest and the most miserable. Here are 11 of the most miserable cities. You may want to consider them if you’re looking to move to a new location.
Table of Contents
Cleveland, Ohio
Being referred to as the “mistake by the lake” doesn’t sound like a fun place to live. Nearly 40 percent of Cleveland residents live in poverty.
Crime rates are also increasing. Given low wages and growing crime, it makes sense why people are miserable.
Compton, California
Compton has long been known as a place to avoid for most people. And, for good reason. Crime rates are high and 40 percent of residents is unemployed.
As a result, poverty is rampant. One would think with its proximity to Los Angeles there would be more opportunity, apparently not.
Detroit, Michigan
Another city that has been neglected, Detroit is portrayed by the media as the epitome of misery.
Like others, crime is high and nearly 40 percent of residents live in poverty.
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is, unfortunately, the face of the opioid crisis in America. Known as the overdose capital of the world, Huntington is dealing with a lot.
It also has one of the worst crime rates in America, which isn’t surprising.
Pueblo, Colorado
Nestled in Colorado, Pueblo sadly deals with lots of crime. It has one of the highest crime rates in America.
Worse yet, nearly 25 percent of residents live in poverty.
Huntsville, Texas
People in Texas love their freedoms. They also still actively support the death penalty.
Those all take place in the Huntsville prison. That doesn’t exactly make it a cheery place to be. Add to that a poverty rate of over 30 percent and you can understand why people aren’t happy.
Trenton, New Jersey
New Jersey has several cities where misery loves company. Trenton is at the top of the list.
Many companies have left the city. Throw in increased crime rates, and it’s not difficult to see why residents are miserable.
Hammond, Indiana
Located roughly an hour from Chicago, you’d think that Hammond has a lot of opportunity. That’s not the case.
They’re dealing with rampant pollution and almost one-quarter of the residents live in poverty. They also had sky-high crime rates.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Many reports indicate that Pine Bluff is a city on decline. Residents are leaving and jobs are going with them.
Violent crime is also up among those staying behind.
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is a city full of universities, but the hope stops there. They’e had their share of natural disasters in recent years.
Shreveport is also seeing a dramatic increase in violent crime, ranking higher than national and state averages.
Miami Gardens, Florida
You hear Miami and you think of a fun city to visit. That’s not the case for Miami Gardens.
It’s incredibly expensive to live in the town and crime rates are high. You might want to look at a different location in Florida if you want the sun and fun.
13 Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Traveling is a fun hobby, but not every location is worth visiting or living in. Here are 13 of the most dangerous cities in the US. Some may surprise you.
13 Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Escape From California: 10 States Californians Are Moving To
People are leaving California in record numbers, but some States are getting more new residents. Here are the top ten States receiving former Californians.
10 States Californians Are Moving To
10 Tourist Destinations You Should Avoid
Popular tourist destinations are fun to visit, but not all are equal. Here are ten locales you should remove from your travel bucket list.
10 Tourist Destinations You Need to Avoid
Breathtaking Destinations to Add to Your Bucket List
The world is full of plenty of amazing places to see. However, some truly stand out. Here are 22 breathtaking destinations to visit someday.
22 Breathtaking Destinations to Visit
11 Best Cities to Retire To
Are you looking for an affordable retirement destination that doesn’t limit fun? Here are 11 economical places to retire in to stretch your budget and maximize enjoyment.
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
Related