Top 11 Horrifying Cities You REALLY Don’t Want to Live In

Here are eleven cities that you really don’t want to move to. Four are no-brainers especially if you watch the news.

The others were chosen based on economy, school system, low wages, low house prices, and high crime rates. You’ll be surprised at what cities make the list and which ones got left off.

You might be surprised by number 11 because of its snowbird reputation. And numbers 6 and 9 probably won’t be on your bucket list. And if they are you might want to reconsider!

11. Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee is the home of Elvis Presley’s mansion, Graceland. It was the heart of rock and roll, soul
and blues. If you like music, there is a lot to see.

Since home prices are based on demand, the lower the prices, the less the demand. Memphis’ median home price is $93,700 and the unemployment rate is 11.3%, so paying for one of those low prices houses in difficult.

According to the FBI, the crime rate is the 9th highest in the US. Educationally, Memphis has the 76th highest high school dropout rate.

10. Jackson, Missouri

Jackson , Missouri is located in Cape Girardeau county. It has a median house price of $89,500 and an unemployment rate of 12.8%.

The median income is approximately $54,000. As a result, small Jackson has the 52nd highest crime rate in the US. A brief search on TripAdvisor yields a rather short must-see list in Jackson.
Educationally, Jackson underspends when compared to the US average. Many of the salaries are lower than US average for the same job .

9. Damascus, Syria

The worst city in the world to live in is Damascus , Syria. This city was established about 5,000 years ago. However, since it is currently in an active war zone, it is no longer a desirable place to live. Many of the refugees fleeing to Europe are Syrians.

The US State Department ranks Syria as a Level 4: Do Not Travel. They cite the use of deadly force against civilians including ballistic missiles and chemical weapons as the reason for the ban.

8. Dayton, Ohio

If you are an airplane buff, you know Dayton , Ohio. However, it is on the list as a bad place to live. With the 2nd worst median home prices of $66,600, an unemployment rate of 13.3% and the 3rd lowest median income ($28,745), there is a lot of crime.

The median income means a lot of people live at or below the poverty rate. Dayton has the 34th highest crime rate in the US.

7. Detroit, Michigan

The home of car manufacturers and Mo-Town,
Detroit , Michigan was once a booming prosperous city. Now, it ranks among the worst cities. Median home values of $41,000 ranks it the worst. The unemployment rate of 22.1% ranks it the worst.

The median income of $26,249 puts many people at or below the poverty level. Detroit ranks number 3 in crime, behind Saint Louis and Baltimore. Healthwise, Detriot residents have the 2nd highest risk of hypertension (blood pressure) in the US (just behind Memphis)

6. Tripoli, Libya

Tripoli , Libya was once a global city. Founded in the 7th century BC, Tripoli has a long and storied history. Unfortunately, it also has an active war, thank to Muslim extremists.


The US State Department ranks Libya as a Level 4: Do Not Travel. They list immediate risk to US citizens from four different terrorist groups that focus on Westerners in general and American in particular. The level of piracy is increasing as well.

5. San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino , California is east of LA. It ranks miserably in being a desirable place to live. Housing prices are $176,800 (but then, it is in California) and the employment rate of 14.7% lands it at 7th worst. The crime rate is high.

The US scale ranking for violent crime is 31.1, San Bernardino is 80.6. Property crime ranks 56.2, compared to the US ranking of 38.1. San Bernardino underspends the US average for per student.

4. Cleveland, Ohio

Besides being the butt of jokes and the background for the Drew Carey Show  Cleveland makes the list for worst places to live. Home value have a median of $67,000 (the 3rd worst) and the unemployment rate of 17.3% is also the 3rd worse.

Its crime rate makes it the 13th highest. The US ranks violent crime at 31.1. Cleveland has a ranking of 91.6 out of 100, making it incredibly violent. Property crime ranks is twice the US average.

3. Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria on the continent of Africa is one of the fastest growing in the world. Those two alone qualify it for horrifying city, but there is more. Boko Haram, a particularly unpleasant group of Muslim extremists frequently put Lagos in the news.


The US State Department ranks Nigeria as Level 3: Reconsider Travel. They list both terrorist action and violent crime as good reasons not to visit or live in Lagos.

2. Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville , Texas made the list of horrible places to live not so much because of its low home values (9th worst), and moderate unemployment rate (9.4%), or moderate median income ($34,255), but because it is boring.

The summers are long, hot and humid. The winters are cool, dry and windy and it is cloudy much of the year. It is near the Gulf of Mexico and lots of outdoor activities, if you can stand the weather.

1. Tucson, Arizona 

makes the list for the low median home values (51st worst) and above average unemployment rate of 10.1%. It also has the 15th highest crime rate of US cities. Violent crime ranks Tucson about twice the US average, while property crime is two and a half times higher.


Since Tucson is in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, it is hot in the summer and moderate in the winter. The average salary per occupation is lower in Tucson than the US average.