6. Stockton, California
Stockton is located in north-central California on the San Joaquin River. The city has a population of 300,899. Stockton suffered significantly during the recent recession, as housing prices dropped by nearly 39% in 2008. Then in 2012, the city of Stockton filed for bankruptcy. Stockton also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. As of July 2014, 13.4% of the population was without a job. Forbes has voted Stockton as one of the most dangerous cities in America due to its high crime rates. A total of 20,369 violent and property crimes were committed last year, making Stockton safer than only 3% of US cities. With little opportunity for growth and development, Stockton is firmly on the list of the worst places to live in the US.
5. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis rests in the southwestern corner of Tennessee. With a population of 653,450, it is the largest city in Tennessee as well as the largest city on the Mississippi River. In both the 2011 and 2012 edition of Travel & Leisure magazine, Memphis was voted in the top ten of “America’s Dirtiest Cities” – not a very flattering honor. The median income for a household in the city is $32,285 and is it estimated that 20.6% of the population live below the poverty line. Memphis has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country at 1,583 per 100,000 residents. There is a 1 in 12 chance of being a victim of crime in Memphis. More promising opportunities are available in nearby Nashville.
