Apparently, northern Ohio is the absolute worst part of the country to live in, bar none.
What does it take for a city to be named a miserable place to live? According to Forbes.com’s list of top 20 Most Miserable Cities in the U.S., it takes a combination of factors, namely: high unemployment, high taxes, frozen tundra winters, commute times that would try Job’s patience, sports teams that stockpile losses, an honorable mention as a Superfund pollution site, a stupefying number of violent crimes and corrupt public officials.
Oh, is that all.
The top vote getter was Cleveland, which ranked at the bottom in all of the categories. Cleveland’s weather alone make any protest of its ranking indefensible. Ditto for Detroit and Flint Mich.; Buffalo, N.Y.; and the other four Ohio towns on the list; Canton, Youngstown, Toledo and Akron.
The surprise is that not one city in Alabama, Mississippi or Arkansas made it onto a list of miserable cities to live in. Color us perplexed.
Miami (No. 6 for commute times, violent crimes, corruption); Chicago (No. 10 for commute times and highest sales tax in the country, 10.25 percent); New York (No. 16 for high taxes, commute times); and Philadelphia (No. 20 for high crime rates, long commutes, poor air quality), certainly meet the criteria for inclusion on such a list, but are they really among the most miserable cities to live in?
So let’s recap, Miami is the land of sun and sand; Chicago is the home of the first family and numerous world-class museums, universities and restaurants; New York is a hotbed of culture and commerce; and Philadelphia boasts the Liberty Bell and the best cheesesteak money can buy. If that’s misery, we’ll take a double helping, thank you very much. –michele fling
Is your city included on the list? Leave a comment and tell us why you think it should or shouldn’t be on the list.
Forbes.com’s list of America’s 20 Most Miserable Cities
1. Cleveland
2. Stockton, Calif.
3. Memphis, Tenn.
4. Detroit
5. Flint, Mich.
6. Miami
7. St. Louis
8. Buffalo, N.Y.
9. Canton, Ohio
10. Chicago
11. Modesto, Calif.
12. Akron, Ohio
13. Kansas City, Mo.
14. Rockford, Ill.
15. Toledo, Ohio
16. New York
17. Sacramento, Calif.
18. Youngstown, Ohio
19. Gary, Ind.
20. Philadelphia
