The 5 Worst Cities to Raise a Family
The state capital has been in economic decline for the past two years while much of the rest of the nation’s economy was growing. If you’re looking for work, Jackson isn’t the place to come. It was the only state besides Alaska where economic output got smaller last year. It ranks at the very bottom in terms of education and childcare, health and safety, “socio-economic environment,” and even affordability, according to the WalletHub analysis.
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Alabama’s economy ranks 46th nationally, according to Business Insider, and Birmingham is suffering the economic blues. The city ranks at the very bottom in “family activities and fun,” its school system and public safety get bad grades, and the housing market is relatively flat. Other surveys indicate that the quality of life for many residents is poor and that residents on the whole do not seem happy.
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Detroit is trying to make a comeback after emerging from the worst municipal bankruptcy in history, and there are signs of a vibrant economic comeback downtown. Overall, the city is a mess, with one of the highest violent crime rates in the country, the highest percentage of families in poverty, one of the lowest median family salaries and the highest divorce rate.
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Southern Florida’s economy is finally starting to pick up after a long recession, with housing and commercial construction showing some rapid growth. But Miami is still saddled with one of the lowest median family salary averages when adjusted for the cost of living, and some of the least affordable housing. Only in the category of education and childcare does Miami rank above average.
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This city has long struggled with a high murder and crime rate, but it has turned the corner on a bad economy is now headed for job expansion in the construction industry -- and a boomlet in hotel construction downtown. But the city ranks near the bottom on just about every other category, including education and childcare, affordability and “socio-economic environment.”
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