In this article, we will discuss the 20 Most Run Down Cities in the US. You can skip our detailed discussion and see the 5 Most Run Down Cities in the US.
Why Are Some Cities in the US Declining?
Various reasons influence the decline of cities, ranging from urban management to the law and order situation. According to the data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2022, a total of 809,381 crime incidents were recorded in the US. The number of property crimes is relatively higher compared to violent crimes. The rate of property crimes per 100,000 people was 1,954.4, whereas, the rate of violent crime in 2022 was 380.7. Theft and burglary were among the most commonly reported crime incidents. The crime rates are not uniformly divided across the country. Economic and social factors result in heightened criminal activities in particular locations.
Gun violence has also been a pertinent issue in the US. On June 26, BBC reported that guns have been a leading cause of death among young people since 2020. The rate is 11.4 times more than 28 other high-income countries. The incidents could have a lasting physical and mental impact on the survivors. The situation has led experts to suggest a public health approach. Curbing the issue could lead to safer communities and quality of life in the country.
The growing cost of living and increased prices of housing and rentals are pushing people into homelessness. According to Charles Schwab’s annual Modern Wealth Survey, a net worth of $778,000 is required to live comfortably in the US. The median housing price in all major US cities including San Francisco and California exceeds the national median of $412,300. The average house value in San Francisco is well above $1.5 million. The high costs have led to the amplification of financial anxieties among the residents. The survey found that only 16% of people in San Francisco were satisfied with their financial situation.
Climate change also poses a major threat to the quality of life in several US cities. There has been a surge in the frequency and intensity of wildfires in many states including California and Mexico. In 2023, California’s 1.5 million acres of land were subject to extreme wildfire. According to a report by NASA, the amount of land impacted by wildfires in the Western states of the US could increase two to six times by 2050. Continuing the current high-emission scenario would lead to wildfires becoming a common occurrence in the previously unimpacted states. In the Southeastern states, which are generally rainy, the number of wildfires is projected to increase by 30% during the same period.
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Revamping Cities: For a Better Future
Jacobs Solutions Inc (NYSE:J) is a noteworthy company offering professional services across a range of sectors including infrastructure. The company has a talent force of 60,000 employees which facilitates service delivery to both the government and private sector. It is actively working to improve cities by integrating the latest technologies including IoT into its projects. The company partnered with Peachtree Corners to implement and manage various smart city initiatives and public services. It deployed IoT solutions in the city including 251 smart parking sensors, Wi-Fi gateways, and a command center analytics platform to improve traffic management, parking, and public services. The company also used LIDAR to map and catalog the city infrastructure. The catalog includes streetlights, signs, and utilities. The data collected from the system identifies areas of improvement to improve the quality of life in the city.
On August 20, Jacobs Solutions Inc (NYSE:J) was awarded a two-year extension as the program management consultant for the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) DC Streetcar project. The project includes the expansion of transit services using electric streetcars in Washington, D.C. The transit system provides an environmentally friendly transit option while also connecting communities. The project started five years ago and the extension entails the company overseeing operations and maintenance, engineering services, safety planning, and communications. The streetcars have a daily ridership of 3,500 which showcases the impact of the company in enhancing mobility and connectivity in the city.
On July 30, Jacobs Solutions Inc (NYSE:J) announced a five-year contract with Onondaga County, New York. The partnership aims to provide program management services for its combined sewer overflow (CSO) abatement. The company will manage the operations and maintenance programs. The company initially partnered with the county in 2008 to improve the system using their Digital OneWater solutions. The company will finalize the county’s Long-Term Control Plan, provide capital planning support, and enhance the operational performance of the sanitary wastewater system. The company has already been successful in eliminating millions of gallons of CSOs annually in Syracuse, making Onondaga County a model for CSO abatement.
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20 Most Run Down Cities in the US
Pixabay/Public Domain
Our Methodology
To make our list of the most run-down cities in the US, we have done a sentiment analysis on Reddit. We sifted through fifteen high-engagement Reddit threads asking users about the cities that have worsened or run down over time. We then tabulated the names that appeared the most frequently. The upvotes for each mention were aggregated across threads. For our list, we have mentioned the cities with more than 1,200 upvotes. The list has been arranged in ascending order of number of upvotes.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect our opinion. The ranking is solely based on the opinions of Reddit users.
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20 Most Run Down Cities in the US
20. Tampa
Number of Upvotes: 1,295
Tampa is located in Florida. Based on popular sentiment, the quality of the city is declining over time. According to BLS, in May, fifty-one thousand people were unemployed in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater combined. The number of jobs in significant economic sectors including financial and business services.
19. Davenport
Number of Upvotes: 2,500
Davenport is a city in Iowa. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. The number of non-farm jobs has been steadily declining in the area. In June, the percentage change in non-farm jobs over 12 months was -0.7. A negative change was also noted in jobs in the financial services sector.
18. Pawnee City
Number of Upvotes: 2,600
Pawnee City is located in Nebraska. According to Zillow, the average house value in Pawnee City is $104,747. The value is significantly lower than the national average of $362,481. The city has also suffered from various issues including the wages in the Sheriff’s department.
17. Houston
Number of Upvotes: 2,700
Houston is located in Texas. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. There is a large online consensus regarding the deteriorating state of the city. In May, the number of unemployed people in the city was 147,500. The average house value in the city is $271,420.
16. Meridian
Number of Upvotes: 3,500
Meridian is located in Ada County, Idaho. According to the US Census Bureau, the city’s total population was 117,635 in 2020. Only 11,228 out of the total population are ethnically diverse. The numbers have steadily increased over time. In 2022, 5.7% of the total population did not have any health coverage.
15. Charleston
Number of Upvotes: 5,700
Charleston is located in West Virginia. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. In 2023, the total population of the city was 46,838. Almost 56.6% of the population is employed in the civilian labor force. A large number of people in the city are living in poor economic conditions. 17% of the population was living in poverty in 2022.
14. Stockton
Number of Upvotes: 6,500
Stockton is located in California. In 2012, the city filed for bankruptcy and had a $417 million liability. The conditions in the city have been noted to worsen over time. In May, 19,600 people were unemployed in the city and the unemployment rate stood at 5.6%. Pollution and a notable homeless population add to the run-down condition of the city.
13. New Orleans
Number of Upvotes: 6,700
New Orleans is located in Louisiana. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2023, the city had a population of 364,136. The population of the city is ethnically diverse. In 2022, 9.9% of the population under the age of 65 did not have health insurance. The city also has a significant homeless population. In 2022, 22.9% of the population was living in poverty.
12. Seattle
Number of Upvotes: 7,000
Seattle is a city in the state of Washington. Rising crime rates are impacting the quality of life in the city. According to the official website of the Seattle government, the city has had 24,192 reported offenses this year so far. 3,085 of these were violent crimes, whereas 21,107 were property crimes. Furthermore, in 2023, 10.1% of the city’s population lived in poverty.
11. Fresno
Number of Upvotes: 7,300
Fresno City is located in California and is one of the most run-down cities in the US. Despite being a rich agricultural region, the city has a high number of people living in poor conditions. In 2022, according to the US Census Bureau, 22.1% of the population lived in poverty. As of May, the number of unemployed people added up to 33,000.
10. Los Angeles
Number of Upvotes: 7,590
Los Angeles is located in California. The city is faced with a multitude of challenges. The soaring house prices in the area are pushing people to consider relocation or be on the brink of homelessness. According to Zillow, the average house value in Los Angeles is a staggering $956,844, whereas, the national average is $362,481.
9. Camden
Number of Upvotes: 7,600
Camden is located in New Jersey. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. Despite being a hub of industrial activities, in May, 30,200 people were unemployed. The average house value in the city rose 18.3% compared to last year. The substantial surge has led to a high number of renters and homelessness in the city.
8. Memphis
Number of Upvotes: 8,100
Memphis is located in Tennessee. In 2023, the city had a population of 618,639. The median gross rent in the city amounted to $1,050. The overall education rate in the city is relatively low. In 2022, only 27.9% of the population above twenty-five years had bachelor’s degrees. 23.6% of the population is living in poverty in the city.
7. Baltimore
Number of Upvotes: 8,200
Baltimore is a city in Maryland. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. The city has a large unemployed population with the numbers amounting to 35,200 in May. According to BLS, the percentage change in non-farm jobs has exhibited a negative trend. The city has also faced public safety concerns and has a significant crime rate.
6. Portland
Number of Upvotes: 10,039
Portland is located in the state of Maine. In 2023, the population of the city was 69,104. A large number of the population, 7.3%, did not have health insurance. 11.8% of the population in the city was living in poverty in 2022. A large population in poverty fuels a range of issues including homelessness and criminal activities.
5. San Francisco
Number of Upvotes: 11,000
San Francisco is a large city in California. The population of the city in 2023 was 808,988. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. The average house values in the city are very high compared to the national average. Experiencing a 0.6% increase compared to last year, the average price of houses in the city is $1,290,350, whereas, the national average is $362,481.
4. Miami
Number of Upvotes: 16,200
Miami is located in Florida. The city is faced with intense climate-related issues. The city is geographically vulnerable to rising sea levels and ultimately flooding. Rising climate concerns are impacting the tourism and real estate markets in the city. Furthermore, in 2022, 20% of the population in Miami was living in poverty.
3. Jackson
Number of Upvotes: 20,400
Jackson is a city in Mississippi. It is one of the most run-down cities in the US. In 2023, the city had a population of 143,709. In 2022, among the population above the age of twenty-five, only 28.7% had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Furthermore, 25.9% of the population was living in poverty. The lower education and higher poverty rates are contributing to the run-down condition of the city.
2. Oakland
Number of Upvotes: 20,583
The city of Oakland is situated in California. The city is faced with many challenges. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May, 53,200 people in the city were unemployed. The 2022 statistics show that 13.2% of the population was living in poverty. The average rents and house prices in the city are also declining. The average house value in Oakland is $792,520 which indicates a 2.7% decline compared to last year.
1. Bakersfield
Number of Upvotes: 32,100
Bakersfield is located in California. Based on the user sentiment on Reddit, it is the most run-down city in the US. Air pollution is one of the biggest issues impacting the city. The city is geographically more prone to the entrapment of pollutants which is worsened by the exposure of the city to emissions from factories and agriculture. The city also faces issues of homelessness and poverty. It is estimated that 46 out of every 10,000 individuals are currently homeless in California.
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