(The Center Square) – Lexington has been rated the worst place to live among any city in North Carolina, according to a 24/7 Wall Street analysis examining the communities where households have the most difficulty seeking happiness and fulfillment.
With a population of 18,897, Lexington recorded a median home value of $ 106,000. The community’s poverty rate was set at 31 percent and its annual five-year unemployment rate was 13.8 percent, according to the analysis.
24/7 Wall St. used data from the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Census Bureau to determine which city in each state faces the greatest social and economic distress. He weighed 25 social, financial and health measures to find the worst places to live.
Most of these cities have experienced population decline in the past five years, according to the analysis. The cities on the list don’t necessarily rank so badly, however, compared to communities nationwide, the authors said.
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Worst Cities to Live, State by State
| State | The worst city | Population | Median house value | Poverty rate | Average unemployment over 5 years |
| Alabama | Selma | 18,804 | $ 90,200 | 41.0% | 15.7% |
| Alaska | Kaliforski | 8,134 | $ 247,000 | 11.6% | 7.2% |
| Arizona | New Kingman-Butler | 13,471 | $ 62,600 | 28.0% | 15.9% |
| Arkansas | Helena-West Helena | 10 965 | $ 75,600 | 41.7% | 12.2% |
| California | Muscoy | 13 726 | $ 236,800 | 38.1% | 17.8% |
| Colorado | Clifton | 20,572 | $ 138,100 | 25.6% | 11.0% |
| Connecticut | Thompsonville | 8,439 | $ 173,500 | 25.5% | 9.3% |
| Delaware | Wilmington | 70,904 | $ 169,400 | 25.1% | 8.4% |
| Florida | Avon Park | 10,386 | $ 68,400 | 33.0% | 19.9% |
| Georgia | Blond oaks | 9 173 | $ 100,900 | 32.6% | 8.1% |
| Hawaii | Makaha | 8,740 | $ 383,200 | 28.0% | 16.7% |
| Idaho | Blackfoot | 11 854 | $ 124,100 | 15.4% | 1.9% |
| Illinois | East of Saint-Louis | 26,647 | $ 52,200 | 37.8% | 17.4% |
| Indiana | Chicago East | 28,448 | $ 73,900 | 32.5% | 12.3% |
| Iowa | Denison | 8 358 | $ 90,700 | 16.0% | 10.7% |
| Kansas | Junction city | 23,703 | $ 138,700 | 12.0% | 6.8% |
| Kentucky | Middlesboro | 9,583 | $ 88,000 | 40.6% | 8.1% |
| Louisiana | Bastrop | 10,521 | $ 76,000 | 47.9% | 7.3% |
| Maine | Bangor | 32,098 | $ 150,700 | 22.5% | 6.6% |
| Maryland | Lansdowne | 8,571 | $ 151,100 | 27.9% | 10.1% |
| Massachusetts | Town of Southbridge | 16,894 | $ 193,500 | 19.2% | 8.1% |
| Michigan | Beecher | 9,128 | $ 28,600 | 38.4% | 23.1% |
| Minnesota | Cloquet | 11,998 | $ 142,500 | 14.9% | 5.9% |
| Mississippi | Natchez | 15 188 | $ 108,000 | 35.9% | 10.3% |
| Missouri | spanish lake | 18,048 | $ 98,000 | 19.2% | 13.6% |
| Montana | Haven | 9 762 | $ 143,900 | 17.7% | 7.1% |
| Nebraska | Alliance | 8 313 | $ 109,800 | 13.1% | 6.1% |
| Nevada | Pahrump | 36 174 | $ 152,400 | 16.6% | 9.8% |
| New Hampshire | Manchester | 111,657 | $ 217,100 | 14.8% | 5.1% |
| New Jersey | Camden | 74,608 | $ 82,700 | 36.8% | 12.6% |
| New Mexico | Chaparral | 14 793 | $ 71,200 | 43.7% | 12.4% |
| New York | New place | 8,133 | $ 376,400 | 63.3% | 9.8% |
| North Carolina | Lexington | 18,897 | $ 106,000 | 31.0% | 13.8% |
| North Dakota | Minot | 48,304 | $ 204,000 | 10.5% | 2.7% |
| Ohio | Middletown | 48,449 | $ 97,000 | 25.4% | 9.7% |
| Oklahoma | Altus | 19,034 | $ 99,200 | 17.7% | 5.7% |
| Oregon | Altamont | 18 987 | $ 144,700 | 21.8% | 8.7% |
| Pennsylvania | Johnstown | 19 812 | $ 39,700 | 38.7% | 14.2% |
| Rhode Island | Central falls | 19,382 | $ 147,800 | 32.8% | 7.3% |
| Caroline from the south | Parker | 12,850 | $ 73,300 | 32.0% | 6.8% |
| South Dakota | Huron | 13,291 | $ 89,900 | 21.6% | 1.3% |
| Tennessee | Knoxville | 185,429 | $ 128,800 | 26.2% | 5.9% |
| Texas | Robstown | 11,494 | $ 52,900 | 41.1% | 20.0% |
| Utah | Vernal | 10 653 | $ 163,500 | 20.8% | 8.8% |
| Vermont | Closed off | 8,711 | $ 154,300 | 26.6% | 6.3% |
| Virginia | Franklin | 8,211 | $ 168,300 | 16.2% | 15.0% |
| Washington | Park | 37 185 | $ 205,500 | 16.7% | 9.4% |
| West Virginia | Huntington | 47,420 | $ 97,100 | 32.7% | 7.2% |
| Wisconsin | Beloit | 36 813 | $ 87,400 | 24.1% | 9.4% |
| Wyoming | Rawlins | 8 975 | $ 162,800 | 13.2% | 4.4% |
Source: 24/7 Wall Street.
