This Surprising US City Retains Worst to Live In Title

For the second consecutive year, this U.S. city has been ranked as the least desirable place to live.

At a Glance

Washington, D.C. is the least desirable city to live in the U.S. for the second year in a row.
33% of survey participants ranked D.C. among the top five worst cities in America.
High crime rates, economic struggles, and poor-quality services contributed to the ranking.
Tampa, Florida, is ranked as the most desirable city due to its low crime rates and affordable housing.

Washington, D.C. Ranked Least Desirable

A new study conducted by Clever, polling 1,000 individuals in June, revealed that Washington, D.C., continues to hold the infamous title of the least desirable place to live in the United States. The data, analyzed alongside U.S. Census migration data, shows that 33% of participants ranked D.C. in the top five worst cities in America. This is an increase from last year’s 20%. The study highlights ongoing issues such as high crime rates and subpar living conditions.

Several factors contribute to this undesirable ranking. Washington, D.C., recorded 274 murders in 2023, the highest in over 20 years. Such alarming crime rates play a significant role in the city’s ranking. Additionally, the high cost of living is another critical factor, with 65% of Americans citing it as a reason for a place being undesirable. According to data from July 2024, Zillow reported the median list price of a home in the D.C. metropolitan area at $638,000.

Of the 10 US cities w most economic disparity, none have crime rates as high as Oakland's.

The city with the most economic disparity—Miami—has a crime rate less than half of Oakland's.

The city w most crime in the top 10 by economic disparity—New Orleans—has 21% lower crime… pic.twitter.com/5w5eRYn8Mf

— Kane 謝凱堯 (@kane) July 18, 2023

Comparing Cities Across America

D.C. isn’t alone in its struggles. Other cities in the top 10 undesirable list include New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Baltimore and Detroit also made the list due to similar public safety concerns. Conversely, Tampa, Florida, was ranked the most desirable city, noted for its year-round warmth, low crime, and affordable housing. Following Tampa, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, are among the top three most desirable cities.

“About 73% of Americans like where they live, but 59% said they still get frustrated by their city or state, and 43% said their state embarrasses them.” – Fox 5 Washington DC

The study also showed that 84% could be convinced to leave their city if crime increased. Affordable housing remains the most crucial factor for relocation, even above safety and low living costs.

📢Crime rates in 49 U.S. cities declined substantially in the first half of 2024 according to novel data from the Live Crime Tracker. Read more in NORC’s Center on Public Safety & Justice's first crime trends brief ⤵️https://t.co/NxHq7iCpVL

— Asheley Van Ness (@asheleyvn) July 17, 2024

The Larger Context

The ranking of cities highlights broader issues within urban management and living conditions. San Francisco, another city featured in the study, was labeled as the worst-run city in the U.S. by WalletHub. The city’s high crime rates, homelessness, large deficit, and poor COVID-19 recovery significantly impacted its ranking. The study cites that WalletHub measures city operating efficiency by comparing service quality against the city’s budget.

“We can learn how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of the services residents receive against the city’s total budget. Using that approach, WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 148 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal which among them are managed best. We constructed a ‘Quality of Services’ score made up of 36 metrics grouped into six service categories, which we then measured against the city’s per-capita budget.” – The California Globe

As American cities continue to grapple with issues of safety, cost of living, and public services, these rankings provide valuable insight into where improvements are necessary. Residents’ growing readiness to relocate highlights the urgent need for strategic urban development and management to address these ongoing challenges.