Quality of life is not the same in every region. Certain factors contribute to what cities may be the best place to live and what may be the worst. Multiple factors are used to determine the overall quality of life, from family life, health, and safety to financial security and education. In several communities throughout the United States, this quality of life is typically undermined by several key social and economic conditions. In addition to poverty, these conditions are compromised by crime, widespread unemployment, poor health outcomes, and limited access to essential services, like clean water, as well as a host of other factors.
The United States is the wealthiest country in the world by gross domestic product, and yet, more than 41 million Americans, or 12.8% of the population, live below the poverty line. Data from the World Bank shows that income inequality is more pronounced in the U.S. than it is in much of the rest of the world – particularly among nations with similar levels of economic development and democratic, free-market values. The U.S. accounts for over 25.4% of global economic activity, but not all parts of the country benefit equally from this prosperity and wealth.
A weighted index of 22 measures was created by 24/7 Wall St. to identify America’s worst city to live in each state by using data from the Census Bureau, the FBI, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The measures used in the index fall into one of three broad categories: economy, community, and overall quality of life. We considered all places in the U.S. with sufficient data and populations of at least 8,000. Our list includes cities, towns, villages, boroughs, and unincorporated communities.
In all but a few cities and towns on this list, incomes are lower than they are across the state as a whole and residents are more likely to live below the poverty line. Many of the places listed here have also been hit hard by the ongoing opioid epidemic, with fatal overdose rates as much as 150% higher than the comparable overdose rate statewide. (Here is a look at America’s 40 worst counties to live in.)
The low overall quality of life in these areas is typically reflected in the housing market. Home prices tend to fall when demand declines, and in nearly every city and town on this list, the typical home is worth anywhere between $11,000 and $455,000 less than what the typical home is worth in the state, based on the latest census estimates. It should be noted that while each community on this list ranks as the worst place to live within a given state, standards of living can still vary considerably between them. (Here is a look at the cheapest city to buy a home in your state.)
Editor’s note: In a previous version of this story, Webster, MA, a census-designated place, ranked as the worst place to live in Massachusetts. However, the Webster CDP is located within the broader town of Webster, which ranks more favorably within the state. To avoid conflation between the greater town and the CDP subsection, Webster CDP was excluded from this analysis.
Here is America’s worst city to live in each state.
Alabama: Atmore
- Poverty rate: 36.9% (state: 15.8%)
- Median home value: $98,600 (state: $157,100)
- Median household income: $29,104 (state: $54,943)
- Drug-induced mortality: 52.0 deaths per 100,000 (state: 24.9 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,734
Alaska: Tanaina
- Poverty rate: 10.9% (state: 10.4%)
- Median home value: $258,100 (state: $282,800)
- Median household income: $81,659 (state: $80,287)
- Drug-induced mortality: 26.4 deaths per 100,000 (state: 27.3 per 100,000)
- Total population: 10,314
Arizona: New Kingman-Butler
- Poverty rate: 23.3% (state: 13.5%)
- Median home value: $79,300 (state: $265,600)
- Median household income: $39,139 (state: $65,913)
- Drug-induced mortality: 27.8 deaths per 100,000 (state: 34.4 per 100,000)
- Total population: 12,858
Arkansas: Helena-West Helena
- Poverty rate: 43.0% (state: 16.0%)
- Median home value: $70,700 (state: $142,100)
- Median household income: $25,735 (state: $52,123)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 9,707
California: East Bakersfield
- Poverty rate: 44.8% (state: 12.3%)
- Median home value: $118,200 (state: $573,200)
- Median household income: $30,091 (state: $84,097)
- Drug-induced mortality: 42.4 deaths per 100,000 (state: 23.3 per 100,000)
- Total population: 11,025
Colorado: Clifton
- Poverty rate: 17.6% (state: 9.6%)
- Median home value: $166,900 (state: $397,500)
- Median household income: $49,350 (state: $80,184)
- Drug-induced mortality: 25.5 deaths per 100,000 (state: 26.5 per 100,000)
- Total population: 20,122
Connecticut: Thompsonville
- Poverty rate: 23.7% (state: 10.0%)
- Median home value: $181,000 (state: $286,700)
- Median household income: $49,626 (state: $83,572)
- Drug-induced mortality: 44.2 deaths per 100,000 (state: 40.0 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,134
Delaware: Smyrna
- Poverty rate: 13.8% (state: 11.4%)
- Median home value: $225,900 (state: $269,700)
- Median household income: $63,794 (state: $72,724)
- Drug-induced mortality: 42.8 deaths per 100,000 (state: 47.8 per 100,000)
- Total population: 12,619
Florida: Beverly Hills
- Poverty rate: 27.6% (state: 13.1%)
- Median home value: $107,800 (state: $248,700)
- Median household income: $37,728 (state: $61,777)
- Drug-induced mortality: 47.5 deaths per 100,000 (state: 32.5 per 100,000)
- Total population: 10,236
Georgia: Fort Valley
- Poverty rate: 33.5% (state: 13.9%)
- Median home value: $89,500 (state: $206,700)
- Median household income: $30,574 (state: $65,030)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 8,829
Hawaii: Makaha
- Poverty rate: 31.2% (state: 9.5%)
- Median home value: $386,900 (state: $662,100)
- Median household income: $47,470 (state: $88,005)
- Drug-induced mortality: 21.0 deaths per 100,000 (state: 20.3 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,710
Idaho: Blackfoot
- Poverty rate: 13.9% (state: 11.4%)
- Median home value: $171,700 (state: $266,500)
- Median household income: $51,971 (state: $63,377)
- Drug-induced mortality: 18.2 deaths per 100,000 (state: 17.2 per 100,000)
- Total population: 12,106
Illinois: Cahokia
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cahokia-Illinois.png "User:Anon_a_mouse_Lee&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"Anon")
- Poverty rate: 35.4% (state: 11.8%)
- Median home value: $40,900 (state: $212,600)
- Median household income: $30,556 (state: $72,563)
- Drug-induced mortality: 36.5 deaths per 100,000 (state: 27.2 per 100,000)
- Total population: 12,440
Indiana: Lake Station
- Poverty rate: 18.1% (state: 12.5%)
- Median home value: $88,700 (state: $158,500)
- Median household income: $50,852 (state: $61,944)
- Drug-induced mortality: 37.8 deaths per 100,000 (state: 34.5 per 100,000)
- Total population: 13,292
Iowa: Denison
- Poverty rate: 25.2% (state: 11.0%)
- Median home value: $91,000 (state: $160,700)
- Median household income: $45,204 (state: $65,429)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 8,323
Kansas: Augusta
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Augusta-kansas-1.jpg "User:MadameGraffigny&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"MadameGraffigny","imgSrc":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C.N._James_Trading_Post,_Augusta,_Kansas.jpg"}"")
- Poverty rate: 11.4% (state: 11.5%)
- Median home value: $139,300 (state: $164,800)
- Median household income: $52,500 (state: $64,521)
- Drug-induced mortality: 18.8 deaths per 100,000 (state: 18.9 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,299
Kentucky: Somerset
- Poverty rate: 30.6% (state: 16.3%)
- Median home value: $117,000 (state: $155,100)
- Median household income: $30,107 (state: $55,454)
- Drug-induced mortality: 42.4 deaths per 100,000 (state: 46.1 per 100,000)
- Total population: 11,696
Louisiana: Bastrop
- Poverty rate: 44.0% (state: 18.8%)
- Median home value: $82,000 (state: $174,000)
- Median household income: $23,955 (state: $53,571)
- Drug-induced mortality: 43.2 deaths per 100,000 (state: 41.7 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,879
Maine: Brewer
- Poverty rate: 15.5% (state: 11.0%)
- Median home value: $172,800 (state: $212,100)
- Median household income: $50,614 (state: $63,182)
- Drug-induced mortality: 53.2 deaths per 100,000 (state: 37.7 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,606
Maryland: Hagerstown
- Poverty rate: 25.5% (state: 9.2%)
- Median home value: $164,400 (state: $338,500)
- Median household income: $42,965 (state: $91,431)
- Drug-induced mortality: 64.3 deaths per 100,000 (state: 44.0 per 100,000)
- Total population: 43,015
Massachusetts: Holyoke
- Poverty rate: 26.5% (state: 9.9%)
- Median home value: $209,900 (state: $424,700)
- Median household income: $45,045 (state: $89,026)
- Drug-induced mortality: 52.8 deaths per 100,000 (state: 35.9 per 100,000)
- Total population: 30,460
Michigan: Beecher
- Poverty rate: 32.4% (state: 13.3%)
- Median home value: $33,700 (state: $172,100)
- Median household income: $33,105 (state: $63,202)
- Drug-induced mortality: 47.7 deaths per 100,000 (state: 28.9 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,171
Minnesota: Cambridge
- Poverty rate: 8.4% (state: 9.2%)
- Median home value: $187,500 (state: $250,200)
- Median household income: $57,969 (state: $77,706)
- Drug-induced mortality: 17.8 deaths per 100,000 (state: 20.9 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,454
Mississippi: Yazoo City
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Yazoo-City-Mississippi.jpg "User:Chillin662&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"Chillin662","imgSrc":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/YazooCityMSWelcomeSign.jpg"}"")
- Poverty rate: 39.1% (state: 19.4%)
- Median home value: $66,400 (state: $133,000)
- Median household income: $30,092 (state: $49,111)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 10,887
Missouri: Troy
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Troy-missouri-1.jpg "User:Ruthkeenoy&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"Ruthkeenoy","imgSrc":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Downtown_Troy_Historic_District.JPG"}"")
- Poverty rate: 10.8% (state: 12.8%)
- Median home value: $160,600 (state: $171,800)
- Median household income: $73,406 (state: $61,043)
- Drug-induced mortality: 34.9 deaths per 100,000 (state: 31.6 per 100,000)
- Total population: 12,463
Montana: Helena Valley Southeast
- Poverty rate: 15.4% (state: 12.5%)
- Median home value: $226,900 (state: $263,700)
- Median household income: $63,675 (state: $60,560)
- Drug-induced mortality: 13.7 deaths per 100,000 (state: 16.7 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,316
Nebraska: Lexington
- Poverty rate: 15.4% (state: 10.3%)
- Median home value: $123,500 (state: $174,100)
- Median household income: $56,729 (state: $66,644)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 10,325
Nevada: Pahrump
- Poverty rate: 14.4% (state: 12.9%)
- Median home value: $215,100 (state: $315,900)
- Median household income: $53,743 (state: $65,686)
- Drug-induced mortality: 32.4 deaths per 100,000 (state: 27.4 per 100,000)
- Total population: 42,471
New Hampshire: Claremont
- Poverty rate: 16.7% (state: 7.4%)
- Median home value: $136,600 (state: $288,700)
- Median household income: $46,414 (state: $83,449)
- Drug-induced mortality: 33.9 deaths per 100,000 (state: 31.0 per 100,000)
- Total population: 12,955
New Jersey: Bridgeton
- Poverty rate: 35.1% (state: 9.8%)
- Median home value: $109,800 (state: $355,700)
- Median household income: $39,995 (state: $89,703)
- Drug-induced mortality: 53.3 deaths per 100,000 (state: 33.0 per 100,000)
- Total population: 26,643
New Mexico: Española
- Poverty rate: 19.9% (state: 18.3%)
- Median home value: $165,600 (state: $184,800)
- Median household income: $42,611 (state: $54,020)
- Drug-induced mortality: 100.3 deaths per 100,000 (state: 40.5 per 100,000)
- Total population: 10,492
New York: Amsterdam
- Poverty rate: 23.8% (state: 13.5%)
- Median home value: $92,900 (state: $340,600)
- Median household income: $43,164 (state: $75,157)
- Drug-induced mortality: 17.6 deaths per 100,000 (state: 25.6 per 100,000)
- Total population: 18,218
North Carolina: Oxford
- Poverty rate: 24.0% (state: 13.7%)
- Median home value: $143,800 (state: $197,500)
- Median household income: $39,399 (state: $60,516)
- Drug-induced mortality: 27.9 deaths per 100,000 (state: 31.0 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,658
North Dakota: Dickinson
- Poverty rate: 12.3% (state: 10.7%)
- Median home value: $236,000 (state: $209,900)
- Median household income: $64,806 (state: $68,131)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 24,851
Ohio: East Liverpool
- Poverty rate: 29.0% (state: 13.4%)
- Median home value: $59,600 (state: $159,900)
- Median household income: $32,722 (state: $61,938)
- Drug-induced mortality: 49.0 deaths per 100,000 (state: 43.8 per 100,000)
- Total population: 10,051
Oklahoma: Poteau
- Poverty rate: 22.5% (state: 15.2%)
- Median home value: $120,100 (state: $150,800)
- Median household income: $40,711 (state: $56,956)
- Drug-induced mortality: 18.9 deaths per 100,000 (state: 21.1 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,741
Oregon: Sutherlin
- Poverty rate: 14.7% (state: 12.1%)
- Median home value: $188,100 (state: $362,200)
- Median household income: $43,750 (state: $70,084)
- Drug-induced mortality: 29.9 deaths per 100,000 (state: 24.7 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,429
Pennsylvania: Uniontown
- Poverty rate: 24.8% (state: 11.8%)
- Median home value: $81,700 (state: $197,300)
- Median household income: $32,016 (state: $67,587)
- Drug-induced mortality: 55.4 deaths per 100,000 (state: 39.8 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,988
Rhode Island: Central Falls
- Poverty rate: 24.9% (state: 11.3%)
- Median home value: $187,300 (state: $292,600)
- Median household income: $40,235 (state: $74,489)
- Drug-induced mortality: 41.5 deaths per 100,000 (state: 36.7 per 100,000)
- Total population: 22,192
South Carolina: Lancaster
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/lancaster-south-carolina.jpg "User:Calatayudboy&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"Calatayudboy","imgSrc":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Lancaster_October_2018.jpg"}"")
- Poverty rate: 35.5% (state: 14.5%)
- Median home value: $163,400 (state: $181,800)
- Median household income: $29,738 (state: $58,234)
- Drug-induced mortality: 51.1 deaths per 100,000 (state: 33.4 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,489
South Dakota: Huron
- Poverty rate: 14.5% (state: 12.5%)
- Median home value: $108,100 (state: $187,800)
- Median household income: $51,206 (state: $63,920)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 14,060
Tennessee: Bloomingdale
- Poverty rate: 20.9% (state: 14.3%)
- Median home value: $115,400 (state: $193,700)
- Median household income: $45,726 (state: $58,516)
- Drug-induced mortality: 37.2 deaths per 100,000 (state: 45.2 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,759
Texas: Eidson Road
![](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Eidison-Texas-1.jpg "User:KLOTZPLATE&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"JERRYE")
- Poverty rate: 34.8% (state: 14.0%)
- Median home value: $68,900 (state: $202,600)
- Median household income: $30,464 (state: $67,321)
- Drug-induced mortality: N/A
- Total population: 9,743
Utah: Price
- Poverty rate: 17.1% (state: 8.8%)
- Median home value: $153,700 (state: $339,700)
- Median household income: $45,429 (state: $79,133)
- Drug-induced mortality: 32.5 deaths per 100,000 (state: 20.1 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,192
Vermont: Barre
- Poverty rate: 23.7% (state: 10.5%)
- Median home value: $157,700 (state: $240,600)
- Median household income: $44,298 (state: $67,674)
- Drug-induced mortality: 35.1 deaths per 100,000 (state: 31.9 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,514
Virginia: Bellwood
- Poverty rate: 20.4% (state: 9.9%)
- Median home value: $153,100 (state: $295,500)
- Median household income: $44,872 (state: $80,615)
- Drug-induced mortality: 31.2 deaths per 100,000 (state: 25.8 per 100,000)
- Total population: 8,138
Washington: Kelso
- Poverty rate: 21.1% (state: 10.0%)
- Median home value: $201,800 (state: $397,600)
- Median household income: $51,203 (state: $82,400)
- Drug-induced mortality: 29.1 deaths per 100,000 (state: 25.1 per 100,000)
- Total population: 12,566
West Virginia: Bluefield
- Poverty rate: 20.6% (state: 16.9%)
- Median home value: $78,100 (state: $128,800)
- Median household income: $39,677 (state: $50,884)
- Drug-induced mortality: 109.0 deaths per 100,000 (state: 72.9 per 100,000)
- Total population: 9,699
Wisconsin: Two Rivers
- Poverty rate: 9.0% (state: 10.7%)
- Median home value: $96,800 (state: $200,400)
- Median household income: $54,544 (state: $67,080)
- Drug-induced mortality: 20.9 deaths per 100,000 (state: 26.2 per 100,000)
- Total population: 11,276
Wyoming: Riverton
- Poverty rate: 13.5% (state: 10.7%)
- Median home value: $167,900 (state: $237,900)
- Median household income: $51,565 (state: $68,002)
- Drug-induced mortality: 39.0 deaths per 100,000 (state: 17.6 per 100,000)
- Total population: 10,619
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