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.
Memphis, Tennessee
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.
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.
San Jose, California
With an overbearing amount of air pollution, San Jose's appeal is not very high and turns away a lot of people.
Living in a smoggy city can make a place pretty miserable. It is still a highly populated city responsible for innovation.
Stockton, California
Stockton did not completely recover from the nation's economic decline a few years ago. Add a rising crime rate to the mix, the city is becoming an increasingly difficult place to live in.
There is also a huge narcotic problem that is gripping the city, which is inevitable considering the unemployment rate. In 2012 the city claimed bankruptcy.