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The Ugliest Cities in Each State

Holbrook, Arizona

Holbrook, Arizona

Holbrook, Arizona is one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it small towns with a population of only 5,000. However, it's probably for the best that you blink and miss this place, because it's nothing to write home about! However, it's not really the town's fault—it's more about where it's located. 

One user said this was not the place to be if you enjoy beautiful natural scenes: "Holbrook is in the middle of NOTHING. It is flat lands with some rolling hills. Pretty ugly nature wise, when compared to Phoenix desert which is MUCH MORE beautiful. The winds are brutal. Due to the location, the winds come-in, and they can be really bad."


 

Essex Junction, Vermont

Essex Junction, Vermont

Despite all the flaws a town has, the long-time residents still find a way to look at the bright side. For example, while there are plenty of outdoor activities in Essex Junction, like hiking and kayaking, but there isn't much else to do, especially in the winter. One resident clarified on Niche that "winter can leave the roads in bad shape with potholes" and the outdoor activities that make everything fun aren't possible during this season.

"Unfortunately I feel that there is a lot to be improved," another person shared. "Sometimes the people seem to be pretty close-minded and cold... On the other hand, this is my home... I would choose to live here again and raise children here eventually, because of the overall safety and lack of pollution. I don't think I turned out too bad living here." Well, Essex Junction, you win some and you lose some.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Gary, Indiana

Gary, Indiana

All we know about Gary, Indiana we learned from The Music Man, so we didn't realize that some people had such strong, negative feelings against this midwestern city. However, some people seem to think that there's one thing that Gary is seriously lacking in: color. 

"Gary, Indiana. The entire city was gray. No color. I thought I had gone colorblind until I got to Chicago." This guy doesn't mince words, and, no matter how you feel about Gary, Indiana, you have to admit that was a pretty solid joke. 

Nome, Alaska

Nome, Alaska

Nome, Alaska is way up north minding its own business, but that hasn't stopped people from trashing the town as boring and ugly. In the city's defense, "boring" and "ugly" seem to be the theme of Alaska as a whole. Unless you love desolate landscapes, you're probably going to have a bad time there. 

The tiny town of 3500 doesn't have much to offer in terms of entertainment or events, which makes sense, considering that it's primarily a gold mining town. So, unless you're an aspiring prospector, you're likely to find Nome boring, uneventful, and a little bit ugly! 

Rolla, North Dakota

Rolla, North Dakota

Rolla definitely isn't the ugliest city in America, but it's at the bottom of the list for North Dakota. It might be a great city in terms of nightlife and suburban life, but it's not the easiest on the eyes. If you like oddly shaped buildings and weird paint colors, then go ahead and call Rolla home.

Residents don't have a ton of negatives to say about Rolla, but it's clear that there's still room to grow. For instance, two Niche residents wrote about the need for the community to rally together and update the city a bit. "I would like to see bigger yards for our kids to play in," one lamented, with another adding, "I like going to shop there, [but it] seems like they are growing community."

(Image via Flickr)

Winner, South Dakota

Winner, South Dakota

Sitting at barely 2,800 residents, Winner, South Dakota, is a loser in our books. Ironic, huh? Back in 1909, the town was dutifully named for being the most successful trading post in Tripp County. Since then, it seems things have only gone downhill. It sucks when you peak in the early 20th-century! 

While the appearance of Winner leaves much to be desired, it has churned out a couple of big "winners" throughout its history, including Frank Leahy, Delores Taylor, and Jim Palmer, a Hall of Fame pitcher who played in Winner in 1963. He famously said, "There are 2,500 people in Winner...There are four girls in town, two restaurants, one movie, no TV, no air-conditioning, and the temperature is always about a hundred." 

(Image via Wikipedia)

Reno, Nevada

Reno, Nevada

Las Vegas might be an eyesore in Nevada, but it's nothing compared to the Las Vegas wannabe city of Reno! Just imagine all the things you hate about Vegas without any of the good and you've got a good approximation of Reno. However, not everyone hates just how trashy Reno is! 

This Reddit user and Reno resident didn't deny the city was trashy, but instead, argued that was a good thing. "We're trashy because we all love each other. We're trashy because we're not afraid to be ourselves; even out in public. We're trashy because we share the same things, we're all in this together and we don't let "normal" social constructions hold us back."

Harrington, Delaware

Harrington, Delaware

Harrington has a few interesting tidbits that separate itself from other small towns, so it’s a shame it’s so ugly. Sure, it hosts the Delaware State Fair every year, which draws in people all over the state, but they leave the fairgrounds once the party’s over and you’re left with a lonely 3,500-person town.

As they wait for next year’s fair to start, the only other thing that residents have to do is gamble away their life savings at the Harrington Raceway & Casino in the southern part of the city. Oh, wow, a casino! That probably looks pretty nice, right? Wrong. From the outside, it’s a glorified church. On the inside, nothing special.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Harrisville, Rhode Island

Harrisville, Rhode Island

Let's start with the positives. For all the nature lovers and tree huggers out there, Harrisville may be the place for you! "It’s beautiful living in the woods but relatively close to the city and many stores," a resident of the town wrote on Niche. "Although it is not deep in the woods, we are still able to see wild turkeys on our land and beautiful deer in our back yard. We have had many red robins and blue jays nesting in our trees."

But the opinion of one person doesn't outweigh the ugly reality of living in this woodsy town. While the public schools and recreational activities are nice, the cost of living is way too high given the terrible housing market. Expect to hold a low-tier job and overpay for a house that will crumble beneath your feet. 

(Image via Wikipedia)

Butte, Montana

Butte, Montana

Butte, Montana might not be the prettiest place in the world, but it definitely gets a lot of hate when you're talking about the ugliest cities in the state. Some people have some very colorful and offensive things to say about the city, including this Reddit user who didn't mince words about their feelings towards Butte. 

"Butte, Montana. No place I’ve ever been has more acutely captured the stale beer and piss, dirty ashtray vibe of utter despair." We're not going to pretend like Butte is a wonderland, but surely it can't be as bad as they make it out to be, right? 

Howland, Maine

Howland, Maine

Howland, Maine, seems to be pulling itself together after years of touting a small population and lackluster views despite living on a river. Residents on Niche applaud the government for making the most of this “closely packed” town and developing the community. That’s the thing about ugly cities, there’s always potential to make them beautiful!

However, there aren’t many job opportunities available besides hourly convenient store and customer service positions, so if you’re looking to build a career, try going somewhere that has growing business and a nice view. Plus, this former resident reminds travelers that there’s no “24-hour pizza place,” so is it worth visiting at all?

(Image via Wikipedia)

Aberdeen, Washington

Aberdeen, Washington

Aberdeen, Washington is the hometown of deceased Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, and that's about its only claim to fame. And, according to this Reddit user, it's obvious from looking at the city why Cobain's music was so dark and depressing. It's just not a pretty place to be. 

"After I visited Aberdeen, Washington, I felt like I understood Kurt Cobain better. The natural surroundings are stunningly beautiful, but in the middle of it there’s this gray, dark, depressing town built on a swamp that feels like it sucks the life out of you. If a town could have feelings, this one would be utterly, hopelessly depressed."

Somersworth, New Hampshire

Somersworth, New Hampshire

Somersworth sports many current residents who wish they could leave as sooner rather than later. From high crime rates to businesses leaving at a rapid rate, people found it difficult to love the city they group up in when they rarely felt safe enough to take the occassional evening stroll.

Even worse, jobs leaving town directly translated into increased ugliness inside the city. One Niche reviewer wrote about having their "car windows smashed out" and a "neighbor nearly burn[ing] down the apartment building." Another said, "The water smells weird and the Salmon Falls River is definitely very polluted. The majority of the town isn't very wealthy, so some of the roads are super cracked and the local companies seem to be struggling."

Wahiawa, Hawaii

Wahiawa, Hawaii

Not going to lie, it’s virtually impossible to find any spot in Hawaii that’s not absolutely gorgeous. But there’s always going to be something that’s the ugliest out of a lineup of beautiful things. And unfortunately for Wahiawa, they didn’t make the cut. Surrounded on all sides by a lake and beautiful Hawaiian views, Wahiawa must have been skipped over!

One unimpressed visitor said the following in a review on Tripadvisor: “Arriving at this little town was depressing….just poverty, limited economic resources, and all the effects of such in a place known for beauty and hospitality. What an irony!” Perhaps it’s all the military bases in the area that prevent the little city from becoming a slice of paradise.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Blue Field, West Virginia

Blue Field, West Virginia

If you're looking for a cheap place to retire and you don't care about the view, Blue Field is the place for you. But don't expect any more than what you pay for. One Niche reviewer claims it's " a dangerous cesspit of failure. No jobs, lousy schools, no hope. Was once kind of a decent place while there was coal and railroad money."

Unfortunately, "none of that money went into local business or infrastructure. They refused any sort of growth that ran off any prospect of business outside of their gain or influence." If that wasn't already bad enough, another resident wrote that "Bluefield, WV" has no redeeming qualities and "is a place [they] wouldn't recommend to anyone as a possibility to stay for any reason." 

(Image via Wikipedia)

Camden, New Jersey

Camden, New Jersey

New Jersey as a state gets ragged on pretty hard about being a terrible place to live. But there aren't many places in the state that get more individual hate than Camden. It's typically pegged as a place that's not that pretty but also pretty sketchy! That's never a good combo. 

This Reddit user claims that Camden is falling apart, and no one wants to do anything about it: "Basic maintenance for property has an ongoing cost, and nobody is willing to pay even that amount of money to live there. Now, after years of abandonment, there are additional repair costs that would be necessary. It's cheaper to go elsewhere."

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Poor Detroit, Michigan just can't seem to catch a break. It's got a reputation for being a bad place to live, and it's also a pretty ugly place to live too. Things are so bad that native Detroiters know that people are talking about them and are actually starting to agree with the naysayers! 

This one Detroit resident and Reddit user got very specific when it comes to places in their city that are ugly. "I mean, just look at a satellite map of Detroit. Once you leave the i94, m10, i75, i375 rectangle (the path that Woodward takes), it gets real ugly real fast."

Holdrege, Nebraska

Holdrege, Nebraska

Holdrege is a city much like any other... only worse. It's nearly there in most aspects, but there's always something that gets in the way. Whether it's having outdated architecture to limited nightlife, this Nebraskan city doesn't give many reasons for people to stay more than a day or two.

Take these Niche reviews from former residents to heart. One writes, "The only thing I would want to see changed is for residential areas to be updated and for Holdrege to expand with more shops.," with another adding, "The fast food restaurants seem pretty dirty, and there are not a ton of nicer restaurants to eat at."

(Image via Wikipedia)

Liberal, Kansas

Liberal, Kansas

Unlike what the name of the town implies about itself, Liberal, Kansas, didn’t get its name from political affiliations. According to the City of Liberal website, the town got its name from S.S. Rogers, who built the first home on the land, and was known for his generosity, which caused people to say, "That's very liberal of you."

That’s cute and all, but the rest of the story is not. Drought forced farmers of the city to move away and allowed natural gas plants in. National Helium, the largest helium plant in the world, was built here in 1963. If you know anything about natural gas and helium plants, they aren’t pretty.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Laurel, Mississippi

Laurel, Mississippi

Laurel, Mississippi is the location for the hit HGTV show Home Town, where Ben and Erin Napier do their best to renovate homes in the historic district of the city. So, you might think that this would be a beautiful city, but, despite the couple's best efforts, there are still lots of people out there who think Laurel is downright ugly! 

This Reddit user didn't mince words when they said, "Laurel, Mississippi. They try to doll it up on the HGTV show Home Town, but it's a cesspool. Upgraded to one of the most violent cities in Mississippi last year, if I'm not mistaken."

West Memphis, Arkansas

West Memphis, Arkansas

West Memphis, Arkansas is not the same place as Memphis, Tennessee, but it's just about as ugly! (And don't worry, Memphis haters, the main city has its place on this list as well!) This Arkansas city is just on the other side of the Mississippi from Memphis, and it's honestly nothing to write home about. 

Like many cities in the region, West Memphis has been in a slow decline for decades, causing it to incrementally fall into more and more disrepair. It's a sad sight, and, more importantly to this slideshow, it's an ugly sight. If you visit, get ready for terrible roads and plenty of run-down buildings! 

Watts Mills, South Carolina

Watts Mills, South Carolina

Out of all the cities on this list, Watts Mills (or Wattsville based on who you talk to) has some of the most potential for recreational activities and natural beauty. It will never beat out Hawaii for views, but its lakes and streams are beautiful all year long.  But when we say the city itself has the most potential, that's not exactly a good thing. When you actually go into the city center, it looks like a ghost town in a horror movie.

Because "there have been a lot of transplants moving from New York and other northern states," one resident on Niche admitted that "safety has become an issue." They continued, "Far too many citizens live at, or below, the poverty line. There are few professional jobs in the area. There are many trade jobs, but they do not pay well. I even commute to another county to work." It was originally named after the Watts textile mill, but it been long since abandoned. This image is a representation of what the abandoned 1902 factory looks like today. 

Hazard, Kentucky

Hazard, Kentucky

Names don’t account for much of anything, but come on! Hazard? That’s a terrible name for drawing in residents and certainly doesn’t highlight the beauty of the town. Well, there’s not much beauty to begin with, so that actually makes sense. At least Hazard, Kentucky, wasn’t named after an actual disaster; it was just after a War of 1812 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.

Back in the early 20th century, the arrival of railroads briefly allowed guests and migrants to visit Hazard directly when it had once been isolated due to the surrounding mountains. The Great Depression ended that visitor boom, unfortunately, and the town hasn’t changed much and is generally boring to look at. In fact, it was President Clinton’s first stop on his national tour of poverty-stricken communities in 1999. Not exactly something you want to hear...

(Image via Wikipedia)

Eastman, Georgia

Eastman, Georgia

From run-down homes to muted gray box stores, Eastman, Georgia, lacks more than character alone. Racking up a measly 5,000 residents, it seems to be lacking much life at all! There are some nice turn-of-the-century homes sprinkled across town, but not enough to get people to stay in the middle of nowhere.

The only things of note are a railroad that runs through the town -- like seemingly every other city in America -- and the first Stuckey’s Pecan Shoppe first established in Eastman during the Great Depression. Absolutely thrilling stuff here, people! This city definitely peaked back in the 19th century when it was America’s center for the timber and sawmill industry.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Glencoe, Minnesota

Glencoe, Minnesota

Let’s be honest: every small, neglected town in America looks practically the same, and this lack of uniqueness makes these places rank even lower on the beauty scale. As for this tiny Minnesota town -- on top of looking generally ugly-- Glencoe suffers from the worst kind of small-town syndrome -- exclusivity. Sitting at barely 5,600 people, you’d think these residents wouldn’t act so high and mighty!

A few former residents shared their experiences on Niche, saying, “If you haven't lived here your entire life, you're not accepted,” and, “Moved away about a year ago. Best decision ever. You either need to be born here or know someone born here to be accepted. The residents are very self-absorbed and the schools are horrible. The kids treat new people terribly and the schools do nothing about it."

(Image via Wikipedia)

Afton, Wyoming

Afton, Wyoming

As of 2010, the tiny town of Afton, Wyoming just missed the 2,000-person mark at barely 1,911 residents. With so few people in residence, it's no wonder that there's nothing to do except be slightly disturbed at the world's largest arch made of elk antlers lining the highway.

As for residential reviews on Niche, the worst of them warns travelers to "just keep driving" because "everything is closed. The mountains are open... and pizza hut. And we doubt it's a good idea to walk through the mountains on your own with only a 12-inch pizza to your name."

(Image via Wikipedia)

People's Freeway, Utah

People's Freeway, Utah

Is there any place worst to live than right on a major highway? Talk about street noise! People's Freeway in Utah is exactly what it sounds like: a city aptly named by the freeway it sits beside. "Its an urban hell," a long-time resident shared on Niche. "Do not move here unless you want to drive 20 minutes to get to the freeway, listen to CONSTANT helicopters, airplanes, trains, and jets. It [is] far away from EVERYTHING. Just don't do it."

Another clarified just how ugly the atmosphere is. "The surrounding areas like the shopping centers where old and run down adding to the overall dreary energy of the town. Traffic is horrendous, [and it's] insanely crowded." You heard it here first: living on a crowded highway is terrible! We doubt we needed to clarify that, anyway.

Lochbuie, Colorado

Lochbuie, Colorado

Home to nearly 7,400 residents, Lochbuie is a humble town with humble roots.It started as the Spacious Living Mobile Home Park AKA “Space City” back in the ‘60s. A decade later, Space City became an actual city named after the Scottish town of Lochbuie, Mull. Unfortunately, the American Lochbuie isn’t nearly as beautiful as the Scottish Isle of Mull.

Lochbuie isn’t coated in muck or anything, but that doesn’t make it worthy of praise either… Aerial shots of the town provide onlookers little information about the city’s character other than “Wow, that’s a small town.” It’s flat, it’s gray, and its disturbing lack of flora in the suburbs seems unnatural for Colorado, which is famous for its gorgeous landscapes and wildlife.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Franklin, Virginia

Franklin, Virginia

Of all places in the nation, Franklin, Virginia, is not the place to move to "sight unseen." Unfortunately for this naive lad, they did just that. While they weren't "expecting the worst" before the move, they realized their mistake right when the stench hit them at arrival.

"The town would be much better without the stinky papermill blowing toxic smoke over residential areas," the poor resident wrote on Niche. "The town literally stinks like a sewer." As for the actual appearance, "It's trashy. I mean residents litter. They throw their trash wherever. It's an eyesore. What happened to Virginia and keep Virginia beautiful?"

(Image via Wikipedia)

Dunn, North Carolina

Dunn, North Carolina

Dunn, North Carolina, gives all the impressions of a charming Gilmore Girls-esque small town but with a little bit of… spice. One resident on Niche claims that Dunn “has always presented with a small town feel. However, it is being over run by issues like gangs, violence and littering.”

Unfortunately, they’re time growing up in Dunn was spent watching it “progressively deteriorate.” Another resident wrote quite passionately about the lack of job opportunities. Apparently, the only opportunities are brought in by fast-food chains. Plus, there’s no public transportation, so good luck running around and having fun if you’re a kid.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Emmett, Idaho

Emmett, Idaho

Emmett, Idaho, is so uninteresting that there’s barely any information to be found on the tiny town. You might have seen the edited pictures of a sprawling lush green landscape, but the reality isn’t photoshopped to perfection. We’re sure they’re trying to get someone to visit the town for more than a drive-by.

Some Niche reviewers conceded that living outside of the city allows people to experience all the woods have to offer, but city life ruins it for everyone. One resident laments that “the youth have no place to go to hang out” and there’s “no interesting features,” yet “the cost of everything is very high.” Another user wrote, “The roads and sidewalks are falling apart or non-existent. The High School need to be condemned for health and safety reasons.” Yikes!

(Image via Wikipedia)

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico

If you're not a fan of the desert vibe, you're probably not going to like any of New Mexico. However, there are some places in the state that are more of an eyesore than others. Unfortunately, one of those places is Albuquerque. It seems like a lot of people considering it ugly simply because it's so boring. 

One Reddit user put it this way--" If you love going to clubs, meeting tons of new people, or just experiencing a bustling city, Albuquerque is not for you. If you are scared about violent/property crime rates, then it is not for you (it is overblown on the news, but our crime rates are high relative to similar size cities)."

Bastrop, Louisiana

Bastrop, Louisiana

Bastrop is the largest city of the Morehouse Parish in the state, but that doesn’t translate to anything beautiful. Most citizens of the town that have since left the city leave similar reviews of the town’s pitfalls on Niche. From poor schooling to a lack of extracurricular activities, the town’s population fell by nearly 1,000 residents between 2000 and 2010.

One former resident wrote, “Bastrop has a lot of things that should change. The town has gone down so much due to no extra activities for kids when they get out of school. There are so many drugs in this town that also has led to it being run down.” Another wrote, “First, Bastrop is extremely small and has old-fashioned stores, exhibiting buildings that are depicted in western movies despite the fact that the town is in the South.”

(Image via Wikipedia)

Riverdale, Illinois

Riverdale, Illinois

We know you might be excited about Riverdale, Illinois, but it’s not like the TV series in the slightest. While Riverdale is a crime drama based on the renowned Archie comics, this Illinois village isn’t even the same Riverdale as the Chicago neighborhood. How much worse can it get? If the cookie-cutter run-down brown buildings aren’t enough to turn you away from the lackluster village, listen to the wise advice of a Riverdale native on Niche:

“Housing is terrible. Taxes are too high for what we get out of the city and it is not affordable if you are renting, especially. There is a lot of on-street parking [but] exterior quality is terrible. Now, a lot of the older people are passing away and their homes are being given to… people who don't care... making it even worst than it already is.”

(Image via Facebook)

Hermiston, Oregon

Hermiston, Oregon

Don't fret, Hermiston natives! Just because your tiny town is the ugliest in the state of Oregon doesn't mean that it doesn't have redeeming qualities. For instance, the bustling agriculture industry in the town provides plenty of great job opportunities; however, it does come with a price...

This Niche resident shared, "Agriculture is [the] main focus of the area, which can result in some unpleasant smells." Bad smells are not pretty and contribute to driving potential residents away from the town. "I've lived in Hermiston nearly all of my life," another wrote. "There isn't enough housing for the amount of people coming into the area." And another, "Due to the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter, most yards are yellowed, dead grass full of crabgrass."

(Image via Wikipedia)

Ames, Iowa

Ames, Iowa

Tens of thousands of students flock to Ames, Iowa to study at Iowa State University, but most of them would probably prefer to study elsewhere--this is one city that's not worth writing home about! This place may not be hideous, but it's definitely too boring to be considered beautiful! 

While it may be a safe place to live (unlike some of the other places on this list), it's also one of the most boring. Unless you're a student at ISU, there's probably not going to be enough going on to satisfy you. At least you can always just stare out into the cornfields! 

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown, Ohio

There are lots of cities in the Rust Belt that have started to decline over the years. As businesses and people move away, a city slowly dies a becomes a shell of its former self. Unfortunately, that's what happened to Youngstown, Ohio, and some people have started to notice just how far it's fallen. 

"Youngstown, Ohio. Pure depression." That might be pretty harsh, but we're sure that there are lots of people who would agree with this Reddit user's comment. While the city is trying to come back, it still clearly has a long way to go before it's looking its best again. 

Lawton, Oklahoma

Lawton, Oklahoma

Most people haven't even heard of Lawton, Oklahoma, much less have an opinion about it! But hoo boy, those that are familiar with the place have plenty of opinions on this small Oklahoma town--and most of them are bad. It seems like this is one place that no one wants to be. 

One Reddit user had some major thoughts about Lawton--"Lawton, OK (we used to call it 'Rotten, OK') is a garbage dump of a Military town in Oklahoma. The only people there are Military folk who have to be there, and locals who got stuck there because they got pregnant (or got someone pregnant) at 16. Crime is rampant (they have an enormous gang problem too), their economy is based primarily around pawn shops, tattoo parlors, and Applebee's."

Brockton, Massachusetts

Brockton, Massachusetts

The only architecturally interesting part of Brockton, Massachusetts, is City Hall. The rest of the buildings are organized like a budget version of Paris with all of the straight-edged roads, squished townhouses, and a famous library. At least the city is home to a couple of boxing champions; otherwise, it’d be nothing special.

Referred to as the “City of Champions,” Brockton actually has quite a few fun festivals to attend throughout the year despite its lackluster exterior. Plus, the acuity set a world record in 2010 for having 872 people wearing Santa Hats wearers in one place at one time. That counts for something, right?

(Image via Wikipedia)

New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven isn't all bad. Time and time again residents and visitors alike point out that the Connecticut city is a great place to experience some delicious food. But, not all parts of New Haven are as glitzy, beautiful, and fun as the more tourist-heavy parts of the city. 

One Reddit user and New Haven resident had this to say about the city--"The WORST part of living in New Haven is: the ghettos. The other half of New Haven, where some of the best food is located mind you, certainly is run down, shabby, and maybe not entirely safe. There's crime."

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama is an important, historic city, and there are definitely portions of the city that do look very beautiful. But if you take a bird's eye view of the place, you start to notice a theme. So many of the city's buildings are constructed with the same brown bricks that the whole place looks bland overall. 

"Birmingham, Alabama. Half the city is just bland brown brick buildings from the '80s, and the other half is basically abandoned ruins of bland brown brick buildings from the '80s." This Reddit user wasn't exaggerating--this is one city that takes its love of brickwork to a ridiculous, ugly level! 

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

Unless you're a huge fan of the Cardinals or the giant Arch, St. Louis might not be the city for you--it's not the prettiest place in the world. It's a city with tons of history, but it's also, unfortunately, a city with tons of crime, which has led to some portions of the city turning into run-down dumps. 

While a lot of the city's residents are staunch defenders of St. Louis, there are even some residents who aren't thrilled with every part of the city. "I'd also have St. Louis annex East St. Louis so it could be developed and the other side of the river wouldn't be such an ugly wasteland."

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee has had some down years, but it's back on the mend. While some people still consider it an ugly and undesirable city, residents state that they've started to see improvement in areas that were once less than stellar. It's a good sign, but Milwaukee still has a long way to go. 

One Reddit user pointed out this development in the city--"Downtown development is as clear as day and definitely on the rise. New outposts of national chains are moving into the suburbs and regional ones are also expanding into the area. I think that only can be positive."

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee is the place to be if you're looking for good music and good food. Just don't expect any good views while you're there! Despite many individually beautiful historic buildings, the city as a whole just looks run down and sad--which is a shame, because there's genuinely a lot of fun things to do there. 

One Reddit user had advice for anyone considering a visit--try Nashville instead. "The transportation system is a failure, and the city is notorious for its constant danger. Whereas Nashville is prospering with people, and everything seems to be booming there. I would not advise anyone to visit Memphis."

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland

Is it any surprise that Baltimore, Maryland made this list? Even people who live in Baltimore have plenty of opinions about the city and how bad it looks! It's a shame because this historic city was once a real looker, but that's just not the case anymore. 

One Reddit user and city resident diagnosed Baltimore's real problem--"There are 101 things about Baltimore that will break your heart, but one of the things that really gets me is that it's not ugly, it's ruined. Like Patterson Park or Mount Vernon are f*cking gorgeous, but mostly the city has been left to rot."

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

A lot of cities described as "ugly" suffer from other problems as well--namely, crime and poor job prospects. It's a bad trifecta, but, unfortunately, it's the exact mix of problems that Johnstown, Pennsylvania is suffering from. As a former major mining city, Johnstown is declining in more ways than one. 

"Johnstown, Pennsylvania... You can almost feel that the city is dying a slow, unsettling death..." This is one city that is not doing well--and people are starting to take notice. Hopefully, it will be able to look like a million bucks at some point in the future again. 

Albany, New York

Albany, New York

If you're not a fan of the big city, you'd probably think that New York City is the ugliest place in the state. However, there's actually one city in New York that some people hate even more than the Big Apple--Albany. It's the state capital, so Albany is definitely where business gets done, but it's not somewhere you'd want to visit for fun. 

This Reddit user basically wrote an entire thesis on why Albany sucks so much--"Albany, New York, just feels like a really big Greyhound bus station to me. In the summer it's kinda gross, but in the winter it's a muddy, gray sh*tpile. Whenever I've found myself there, I've felt like I needed to escape it — probably in an old-school bus with razor wire strung around it and sharpened broomstick handles protruding from the windows."

Panama City, Florida

Panama City, Florida

Panama City Beach, Florida is a resort town full of lots of fun and scenic views. In a very confusing naming twist, there's also Panama City, Florida which is just right down the road from the resort town. Unfortunately, people don't think it's nearly as beautiful or fun as PCB. 

The main complaint of residents, who are in agreement that Panama City isn't the prettiest place to live, is all of the McMansions that seem to pop up all over the place. They've hit a critical mass of boring, tasteless homes and now it's starting to drag the city down! 

El Paso, Texas

El Paso, Texas

Sometimes you don't have words for just how ugly a place is, which was the issue this Reddit user ran into when they tried to describe the looks of El Paso, Texas--"El Paso, Texas, depresses the hell out of me." It may sound like a vague accusation, but anyone who's been there knows what they're talking about. 

The city is definitely not the most beautiful place we've ever seen, with its main problem being way too many browns and other neutral earth tones. You're already building a city in Texas--it's already earthy enough without throwing in a ton of brown brick buildings into the mix! 

Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield, California is an important city when it comes to agriculture and energy production. But when it comes to looking great? It seems that it's lacking, and the city leaves some people with strong opinions on how it makes them feel. If you ask this Reddit user, they'd probably tell you to bring some Tylenol. 

"Bakersfield, California, always gives me a headache when I visit it." If you're looking for gorgeous views, it seems like this is not the place to be--it might even be bad for your health! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Bakersfield!