We’ve identified the 15 of the most depressing cities in the United States, using Census and FBI crime data collected from thousands of cities, taking into consideration poverty rates, population change, median household incomes, median home price and violent crime rates.
To give you some perspective on these metrics, the national average for poverty is 11.4%. The national average for median household income is $62,843. The national average for violent crime rate is 398.5 per 100,000 people. The median home price in the United States is $374,900.
Most of these cities are rust belt cities that struggled greatly after industry had collapsed. As more and more residents left the city, blight and high crime rates filled in the void.
Here are the 15 most depressing cities in the United States.
1. East St. Louis
(map)
Population in 2020 | 18,469 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -32% |
Peak Population | 82,366 (1950) |
Violent Crime Rate | 1451.08 |
Median Household Income | $24,343.00 |
Median Home Price | $39,900.00 |
Poverty Rate | 33.4% |
2. Gary, Indiana
(map)
Population in 2020 | 69,093 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -14% |
Peak Population | 178,320 (1960) |
Violent Crime Rate | 506.56 |
Median Household Income | $31,936.00 |
Median Home Price | $93,500.00 |
Poverty Rate | 30.6% |
(Related: How Many Abandoned Houses Are There In Gary, Indiana?)
3. Flint, Michigan
(map)
Population in 2020 | 81,252 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -21% |
Peak Population | 196,940 (1960) |
Violent Crime Rate | 1225.82 |
Median Household Income | $28,834.00 |
Median Home Price | $28,834.00 |
Poverty Rate | 38.8% |
4. Camden New Jersey
(map)
Population in 2020 | 71,791 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -7% |
Peak Population | 118,700 (1930) |
Violent Crime Rate | 1632.52 |
Median Household Income | $27,015.00 |
Median Home Price | $99,500.00 |
Poverty Rate | 36.4% |
5. Saginaw, Michigan
(map)
Population in 2020 | 44,202 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -14% |
Peak Population | 98,265 (1960) |
Violent Crime Rate | 2327.95 |
Median Household Income | $29,582.00 |
Median Home Price | $107,900.00 |
Poverty Rate | 34.8% |
6. East Cleveland, Ohio
(map)
Population in 2020 | 13,792 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -23% |
Peak Population | 39,667 (1930) |
Violent Crime Rate | 391.53 |
Median Household Income | $20,743.00 |
Median Home Price | $60,000.00 |
Poverty Rate | 37.5% |
7. Detroit, Michigan
(map)
Population in 2020 | 639,111 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -10% |
Peak Population | 1,849,568 (1950) |
Violent Crime Rate | 2248.44 |
Median Household Income | $30,894.00 |
Median Home Price | $78,000.00 |
Poverty Rate | 35.0% |
8. Youngstown, Ohio
(map)
Population in 2020 | 60,068 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -10% |
Peak Population | 170,002 (1930) |
Violent Crime Rate | 397.88 |
Median Household Income | $28,822.00 |
Median Home Price | $89,000.00 |
Poverty Rate | 35.2% |
9. Pontiac, Michigan
(map)
Population in 2020 | 61,606 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | 4% |
Peak Population | 85,279 (1970) |
Violent Crime Rate | 1363.50 |
Median Household Income | $33,568.00 |
Median Home Price | $124,900.00 |
Poverty Rate | 30.7% |
10. Atlantic City, New Jersey
(map)
Population in 2020 | 38,497 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -3% |
Peak Population | 66,198 (1930) |
Violent Crime Rate | 2,335.25 |
Median Household Income | $29,232.00 |
Median Home Price | $169,900.00 |
Poverty Rate | 37.1% |
11 Canton, Ohio
(map)
Population in 2020 | 70,872 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -3% |
Peak Population | 116,912 (1950) |
Violent Crime Rate | 1415.23 |
Median Household Income | $32,287.00 |
Median Home Price | $139,900.00 |
Poverty Rate | 30.8% |
12. Dayton, Ohio
(map)
Population in 2020 | 137,644 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -3% |
Peak Population | 262,332 (1960) |
Violent Crime Rate | 1106.48 |
Median Household Income | $32,540.00 |
Median Home Price | $129,900.00 |
Poverty Rate | 30.6% |
13. Niagara Falls, New York
(map)
Population in 2020 | 48,671 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -3% |
Peak Population | 102,394 (1960) |
Violent Crime Rate | 758.15 |
Median Household Income | $36,346.00 |
Median Home Price | $119,900.00 |
Poverty Rate | 28.2% |
14. West Memphis, Arkansas
(map)
Population in 2020 | 24,520 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -7% |
Peak Population | 28,259 (1990) |
Violent Crime Rate | 2475.53 |
Median Household Income | $33,103.00 |
Median Home Price | $130,000.00 |
Poverty Rate | 26.3% |
15. Cairo, Illinois
(map)
Population in 2020 | 1,733 |
Population Change (2020 vs 2010) | -39% |
Peak Population | 14,407 (1940) |
Violent Crime Rate | 1038.66 |
Median Household Income | $26,439.00 |
Median Home Price | $33,000.00 |
Poverty Rate | 34% |
Data
City | 2020 Population | 2010 Population | 2010 vs 2020 Population | Peak Population | Median Household Income | Median Home Price | Poverty Rate | Violent Crime | Violent Crime Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flint, Michigan | 81,252 | 102,434 | -21% | 196,940 (1960) | $28,834.00 | $74,900.00 | 38.8% | 996 | 1225.82 |
East Cleveland, Ohio | 13,792 | 17,843 | -23% | 39,667 (1930) | $20,743.00 | $60,000.00 | 37.5% | 54 | 391.53 |
Atlantic City, New Jersey | 38,497 | 39,558 | -3% | 66,198 (1930) | $29,232.00 | $169,900.00 | 37.1% | 309 | 802.66 |
Camden, New Jersey | 71,791 | 77,344 | -7% | 118,700 (1930) | $27,015.00 | $99,500.00 | 36.4% | 1,172 | 1632.52 |
Youngstown, Ohio | 60,068 | 66,982 | -10% | 170,002 (1930) | $28,822.00 | $89,000.00 | 35.2% | 239 | 397.88 |
Detroit, Michigan | 639,111 | 713,777 | -10% | 1,849,568 (1950) | $30,894.00 | $78,000.00 | 35.0% | 14,370 | 2248.44 |
Saginaw, Michigan | 44,202 | 51,508 | -14% | 98,265 (1960) | $29,582.00 | $107,900.00 | 34.8% | 1,029 | 2327.95 |
Cairo, Illinois | 1,733 | 2,831 | -39% | 14,407 (1940) | $26,439.00 | $33,000.00 | 34% | 18 | 1038.66 |
East St. Louis, Illinois | 18,469 | 27,006 | -32% | 82,366 (1950) | $24,343.00 | $39,900.00 | 33.4% | 268 | 1451.08 |
Canton, Ohio | 70,872 | 73,007 | -3% | 116,912 (1950) | $32,287.00 | $139,900.00 | 30.8% | 1,003 | 1415.23 |
Pontiac, Michigan | 61,606 | 59,515 | 4% | 85,279 (1970) | $33,568.00 | $124,900.00 | 30.7% | 840 | 1363.50 |
Gary, Indiana | 69,093 | 80,294 | -14% | 178,320 (1960) | $31,936.00 | $93,500.00 | 30.6% | 350 | 506.56 |
Dayton, Ohio | 137,644 | 141,527 | -3% | 262,332 (1960) | $32,540.00 | $129,900.00 | 30.6% | 1,523 | 1106.48 |
Niagara Falls, New York | 48,671 | 50,193 | -3% | 102,394 (1960) | $36,346.00 | $119,900.00 | 28.2% | 369 | 758.15 |
West Memphis, Arkansas | 24,520 | 26,245 | -7% | 28,259 (1990) | $33,103.00 | $130,000.00 | 26.3% | 607 | 2475.53 |