Top 10 Least Desired Cities to Live in the U.S.

Bastrop, Louisiana, reported 1,511 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents in 2017. This means violent crime occurs there almost four times as frequently as the national average. This high crime rate is one of the main reasons why fewer people want to live in this city, as the lack of safety creates a constant fear among its residents.

Crime tends to be more prevalent in poorer areas, and Bastrop has the highest poverty rate of any city in the United States. Around 4% of the population lives below the poverty line – nearly three times the national average. Like many other cities ranked among the least desirable places to live, Bastrop has seen a significant population decline. Over the past five years, the city's population has decreased by 6.2%.

Population: 10,643

Poverty Rate: 4%

Violent Crime in 2017 (per 100,000 people): 1,511

Median Home Value: $73,000

With 2,986 violent crimes reported per 100,000 residents annually, Bessemer, Alabama has the second-highest violent crime rate in the U.S., trailing only Anniston, Alabama. Bessemer also ranks sixth in property crimes, with nearly 9,800 property offenses reported per 100,000 residents.

Along with the high crime rates, residents of Bessemer face significant economic hardships. Nearly 30% of the population lives below the poverty line, and over one-third have limited access to grocery stores or supermarkets. The typical household in Bessemer earns less than $32,000 annually, well below the national median household income of $57,652.

Population: 26,697

Poverty Rate: 29.7%

Violent Crime Rate in 2017 (per 100,000 people): 2,986

Median Home Value: $84,000

Highland Park, Michigan is ranked as the fifth-worst city to live in the U.S., largely due to it being the poorest city in the country by a wide margin. The average annual household income in Highland Park is $15,699, nearly $42,000 lower than the U.S. median. It is the only city in the country where most households earn under $20,000 per year.

Located within the Detroit metro area, Highland Park has a poverty rate of 49%, one of the highest in the nation. The city's average unemployment rate over the past five years has been 13.2%, far above the national rate of 4.1%. The economic situation in Highland Park has worsened in recent years, with jobs declining by more than 15% between 2012 and 2017.

Population: 10,955

Poverty Rate: 49.0%

Violent Crime Rate in 2017 (per 100,000 people): 1,701

Median Home Value: $33,500

Makaha is the worst city to live in Hawaii and ranks among the five worst cities in the U.S. It, like other cities in the state, suffers primarily due to high living costs and low affordability. Goods and services in the city are 61.4% more expensive than the national average, with housing being especially unaffordable.

The typical home in Makaha costs nearly $564,000—about eight times the median annual household income of $51,833 in the city. In contrast, the typical U.S. home costs $193,500—just 3.4 times the national median income of $57,652. Makaha is also struggling with high unemployment. Census data suggests that, on average, 9.7% of the city's workforce has been unemployed over the past five years, more than twice the national rate of 4.1%.

Population: 8,832

Poverty Rate: 30.1%

Violent Crime Rate in 2017 (per 100,000 people): Not Applicable

Median Home Value: $407,200

California City, California is home to some of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Over the past five years, the city's average unemployment rate has been 10.7%, according to census estimates. During the same period, employment in the city has decreased by 11.3%. This lack of job opportunities contributes to the city's 29.9% poverty rate, which is more than double the national average.

Although the state of California generally has some of the highest home values in the country, with an average home value of $443,400 statewide, in California City, the median home value is just $102,000. This lower median home value reflects the lower income levels in the area. At least half of the households in the city earn less than $46,000 annually.

Population: 13,495

Poverty Rate: 29.9%

Violent Crime Rate in 2017 (per 100,000 people): 640

Median Home Value: $102,000

Mendota, California, has one of the lowest college graduation rates in the U.S., with only 1.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree. This city is also among the poorest in the nation, with half of its households earning less than $27,500 a year and 49.5% of the population living below the poverty line.

The widespread financial instability can be partly attributed to the lack of job opportunities. According to Census data, the average unemployment rate in Mendota over the past five years has been 15.4%, the highest of any U.S. city, which is more than three times the national unemployment rate of 4.1%.

Population: 11,396

Poverty Rate: 49.5%

Violent Crime Rate in 2017 (per 100,000 people): 646

Median Home Value: $139,000

Anniston, Alabama, was first settled in the 1860s. This city in Calhoun County, located in eastern Alabama at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, lies about 60 miles east of Birmingham. Like many cities on this list, Anniston is seeing a decline in its population. Over the past five years, the city's population has shrunk by 4.2%. During the same period, the number of employed individuals in Anniston dropped by a staggering 10.9%. These trends highlight that Anniston is one of the least desirable cities to live in.

The city's population decline may be attributed to low income levels and a high violent crime rate. The typical household in Anniston earns just $32,070 annually. Moreover, in 2017, the violent crime rate in Anniston was 3,434 per 100,000 people—the highest in the nation. On top of that, housing costs in Anniston are relatively high, making it difficult for people to settle here.

Population: 22,097

Poverty Rate: 29.5%

Violent Crime Rate in 2017 (per 100,000 people): 3,434

Median Home Value: $95,700

Waianae, Hawaii is one of the few cities on this list with an average household income higher than the national average. The typical household here earns $60,282 annually, which is more than $2,630 above the national average. However, these higher wages are nearly insufficient to cover the area's high cost of living, with goods and services being 61.4% more expensive than the national average.

The high cost of living places a particularly heavy burden on the relatively large portion of Waianae’s population living in poverty. Out of the city’s 13,636 residents, 27% live below the poverty line, which is a poverty rate higher than over 90% of cities across the United States. This makes Waianae one of the least desirable cities for people to settle in.

Population: 13,636

Poverty Rate: 27.0%

Violent Crime Rate in 2017 (per 100,000 people): Not Available

Median Home Value: $339,500