6 U.S. Cities With the Worst Reputations

Millennials want to live in places where they can prosper. Fortunately, people can find ways to prosper anywhere they live. But when considering the economic woes this country faces, which often precipitate other factors including crime and a general feeling of helplessness, there are certain cities that have bad track records. Here is a list of six cities with some of the worst reputations.

 1. Detroit, Michigan

The choice of Detroit for the number one spot shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Detroit has been rocked by numerous corruption scandals recently. The unemployment rate in Detroit is over 10%. More importantly, Detroit's financial crisis has reached such epic proportions that the governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, has appointed an emergency manager to take over the city's finances. The city is on the verge of officially declaring bankruptcy. With an exceptionally high crime rate, hope for the Detroit's prospects for renewal looks extremely bleak.

2. Modesto, California

Modesto has a population of over 200,000, so it's not exactly a metropolis. But even though it's smaller in size, its misery rating is sky high. In 2012 alone, the city experienced almost 7,000 foreclosures. For a city of this size, this is absolutely devastating. While Modesto might not have the high crime rate of larger cities, it's unemployment rate is hovering around 15 percent. This figure is frightening, making Modesto a less than favorable place for millennials to live.

3. Flint, Michigan

Flint, Michigan is a sad place to live. It's is a smaller city, with a population of 100,000. But its reputation is among the worst in the nation. While people are leaving the city in droves, it still has one of the top crime rates in the nation. In 2011 alone, the violent crime rate was 2,337 crimes per 100,000 people. The state of the city is so bad that homes are being demolished as people leave, only adding to its notorious reputation.

4. St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis and Detroit are the only two metros to rank in the bottom 50% on the nine metrics of misery scale. This is not a compliment to St. Louis. In 2011, it had the third highest homicide rate of any major city in the United States. But the worst part of St. Louis's plight is that people are rapidly leaving the city.

5. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago does not seem like a city that would make this list. But 2012 brought plummeting home prices and high foreclosure rates to the city, making times especially tough. Add to this a horrible commute plus a 38% rise in murders in 2012 alone, and Chicago is looking less appealing. Also, the migration rate out of Chicago is sixth in the nation.

6. Camden, New Jersey

Camden, New Jersey has a ghastly reputation. Its woes need no introduction. Almost 43% of the population lives below the poverty line, making it the most impoverished city in the nation.