Every city has a unique identity, but some are plagued by a reputation they just can't seem to shake. While local tourism boards work hard to highlight the best a destination has to offer, public perception is often shaped by whispers, headlines, and bad news. But what happens when you separate rumors from hard reality? To look past the myths and see how America's most notorious destinations actually stack up, we went straight to the data.
Pulling from the latest U.S. Census reports, Department of Labor employment metrics, and FBI crime statistics, we’ve analyzed the numbers to build a clearer picture of the country's most troubled urban centers. From struggling economic hubs to areas facing severe public safety crises, here is Infamous America: 25 U.S. cities ranked by their questionable reputations.
25. Modesto, California
Agro-centric Modesto is the home of Gallo Family Winery and the birthplace of Star Wars director George Lucas. While there’s much to do around this Central Valley city, its reputation—fraught with foreclosures, sky-high unemployment rates, and street gangs—can give some visitors pause.
It feels like a once-great town that has just given up. The FBI reports that per 100,000 inhabitants, there are a shocking 576 violent crimes, 56% higher than the national average.
24. Little Rock, Arkansas
Not only is Little Rock the most dangerous city in Arkansas, but it’s also one of the most dangerous in the United States. According to FBI Statistics, in 2016, there were 1,533 violent crimes committed for every 100,000 people.
That's more than double the state and national averages. There’s also a higher risk of natural disasters such as tornadoes. If the residents don't get you, Mother Nature will.
23. Portsmouth, Virginia
In addition to a decreasing population, Portsmouth has the highest unemployment rate in Virginia. Going by stats from the U.S. Department of Labor (taken in 2016), the statewide unemployment rate is 3.8%, but Portsmouth is at a whopping 6.7%.
That makes Portsmouth one of the hardest cities to get a job in all of Virginia. Why would anyone think about staying in a place like that?
22. Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is another city on this list with a higher unemployment rate than the state average, sitting at 5.8% compared to Washington’s 4.9% (via U.S. Census Bureau). Things are only getting worse, too.
This city is also one of the most dangerous in Washington, with 947 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in 2016, according to FBI statistics. Seems like violence and unemployment seem to go hand in hand.
21. Tucson, Arizona
According to FBI Statistics, Tucson has a reputation for being the most dangerous city in Arizona. It has 801 violent crimes committed for every 100,000 people, which is almost double the state average.
Poverty levels are also incredibly high in Tucson. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that almost a quarter of Tucson’s residents live below the poverty line, making it the city with the highest poverty rate in the state.
20. Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg is one of the poorest cities in the whole country, with a poverty rate of 25.2%. Compared to the national rate of 11.8% (both stats via the U.S. Census Bureau), things don't look good for Parkersburg.
This city also has one of the worst hospital systems and sees 16% of patients being readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of their first discharge, according to 24/7 Wall St. What's keeping all these residents sick?
19. Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie has a poverty rate that is almost double the national average, sitting at a hefty 26%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Not only is the poverty rate depressing, but housing costs in this city are also incredibly high.
Average housing costs are more than five times the median income for Laramie, which is much higher than the national housing affordability ratio of 3:1. That's a combination that isn't helping anyone.
18. Mobile, Alabama
Alabama’s poverty rate sits at 16.19, but Mobile has a poverty rate that sits at a whopping 22.4%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. To make matters worse, Mobile has an unemployment rate of 4.9% as of June 2019.
Living in Mobile is a struggle, and as a result, the city’s population has declined significantly in the last five years. It's no longer the great Southern city that it used to be.
17. Pueblo, Colorado
Residents of Pueblo face difficulty finding a job because the city’s unemployment rate is 4.1% and is higher than the state average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. Going by stats from the U.S. Census, Pueblo's poverty rate also sits at 18.2%, making it the highest city in Colorado for poverty levels.
The crime rate is also abysmal, with 1,081 violent crimes committed in 2016 alone (via FBI stats). This city definitely isn't the reason people are coming to Colorado.
16. Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is hands down the most dangerous city in Kentucky. The FBI reports 750 violent crimes committed for every 100,000 people. Louisville’s rate is more than triple the state average.
It also has the highest unemployment rate in the state and a whopping 16.7% poverty rate, according to information from the U.S. Census. Louisville needs to start making some major changes.
15. Shreveport, Louisiana
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Shreveport's unemployment rate was 5.2% as of July 2019. That means it’s the most unemployed city in the state of Louisiana.
The weak job market has led to low incomes and high poverty rates within the city. Shreveport’s poverty rate is at 25.7%, which is down from the previous years, but still high enough to cause concern.
14. Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage might not seem like a dangerous place, but it really is. It has more violent crimes than any other city in Alaska, with 1,114 violent crimes for every 100,000 people, according to FBI statistics.
People are also finding it harder to find jobs, leading to a high unemployment rate. The good news is that the number seems to be declining, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
13. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Unfortunately for Pine Bluff, it has the distinction of seeing the largest decrease in population since 2010 of any U.S. metropolitan area, according to the U.S. Census. From 1990 to 2018, the city lost 26.97% of its permanent residents.
Pine Bluff also doesn't have much of a reputation as a safe place to live, either. It's no surprise that medical care in the city is also pretty bad, making residents move elsewhere for better assistance.
12. Springfield, Massachusetts
Due to the high poverty and crime rates, Springfield has the worst reputation in the state of Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau reports a poverty rate of 28.7%, and almost one in four people lives in poverty.
Crime is also a growing issue in Springfield, where 1,031 violent crimes were reported for every 100,000 residents in 2016, according to FBI statistics. Things are clearly not moving in the right direction here.
11. Rockford, Illinois
Rockford has had a struggling economy for years now, which has led to a weak job market. With an unemployment rate of 6.6% in July 2019 (via U.S. Census Bureau), Rockford has the highest rate in the state.
After the FBI released its 2016 data, it was revealed that Rockford is also a dangerous city with 1,658 violent crimes for every 100,000 people, making it a city with one of the highest crime rates in the country.
10. Aurora, Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, has an extremely high crime rate. It's 84% higher than the rest of the state, and, for this reason, many Colorado-natives refuse to drive through the city.
The good news is that violent crime has been shrinking over the last 20 years, but that has yet to improve Aurora's reputation. Aurora is doing what they can, but will it be enough?
9. Camden, New Jersey
Once a major manufacturing hub for companies such as General Electric and RCA, Camden is now one of the most dangerous cities in America, according to NBC Philadelphia. Camden actually had one of the worst crime rates in the entire nation in 2012 because it was 6.6 times higher than the national average.
In 2019, Courier Post reported that crime had dropped by 19.5% for violent offenses and 16.9% for non-violent offenses. While this is great news, it's still 225% higher than the national average.
8. St. Louis, Missouri
While St. Louis is well-known for cool landmarks like the Gateway Arch, Union Station, and the St. Louis Zoo, a few seedy statistics give this American heartland city a bad rap.
St. Louis has earned the "distinction" of having the most cosmetic surgeons, obesity, and violence per capita than any other U.S. city. If that doesn't scream, "Stay away!" I don't know what does.
7. Flint, Michigan
Is this much of a surprise? Flint has had a huge problem lately, so it certainly has a terrible reputation. Once a booming auto industry town, the municipal water supply in Flint is pure poison.
Cost-cutting measures leading to off-the-charts lead content have landed the city in a state of emergency. It's not a safe place to be for residents and visitors alike.
6. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas has had a major issue with human trafficking – not something you want your city known for. Underage trafficking is becoming such a problem that huge training sessions are being held to teach people how to protect themselves. Since 1994, the city has recovered 2,229 victims, but that pales in comparison to the number that goes missing every year.
According to the Las Vegas Police, there are "roughly 400 children picked off the streets" each year. In addition to this, the U.S. Justice Department also named Las Vegas among the 17 most likely destinations for human trafficking.
5. Memphis, Tennessee
There’s plenty to see—like the Memphis Zoo, great museums, and Graceland, home of Elvis Presley—but this city has a high-crime reputation, and it's not entirely undeserved. The FBI reported that the crime rate for Memphis sits at 1,142 per 100,000 people.
That's 209% higher than the national average. The worst part about this is that people who have lived in Memphis for decades are beginning to leave the bustling city. If the natives can't take it, why would anyone else be able to?
4. Baltimore, Maryland
If there's some good news for Baltimore, it's that while the city's population has been on the decline since the 1960s, the suburbs are absorbing those who are moving. The city has lost 1% of people in the past 5 years, while the metropolitan area has gained 3% (according to the U.S. Census).
That being said, Baltimore has had some unsavory headlines, particularly around race relations and its police force, in recent years. But then again, Baltimore has never really been high on anyone's "Best Of" lists.
3. Oakland, California
Since the 1960s, crime has been a major issue for San Francisco’s neighbor across the Bay. A consistently dwindling police force and a traditionally poor relationship between law enforcement and the community make it difficult for Oakland to curb the violence in this picturesque waterfront city.
Forbes actually ranked it first nationwide in violent robberies, and there's no indication that things will be changing in this dangerous city anytime soon. The good news is that Oakland may be improving. Gun violence dropped 30%, according to the Guardian, but the city has still had 103 homicides in the first six months of 2019.
2. Chicago, Illinois
There is so much to love about the Windy City, but its epidemic of violence is hard to ignore. In 2016, Chicago saw 762 homicides—the highest rate in 19 years. Contributing factors include drug activity and years of gang factions that operate like well-oiled machines. It's sad when violence becomes an everyday part of life in a city like this.
Chicago Police have a bit of good news, however. Since 2016, Chicago has made historic reforms, which seem to be helping. In 2018, there were 100 fewer murders than in 2017 and a 14% decrease in shootings. It has a long way to go, but does this mean it may not be at the top of the list one day?
1. Detroit, Michigan
Detroit has experienced the second-most dramatic population decline of any major city of the last century. Since it peaked in population during the 1950 census, the city has lost 63.8% of its population.
With the loss of this tax base, the city itself had to declare bankruptcy. Abandoned and dilapidated houses litter the city, scaring off any potential residents.
