These Are The 20 Worst Cities In The US - Spot The Common Theme

Zero Hedge ^ | 11/07/2015 | Tyler Durden

[Svartalfiar]

Milton,MA id not a city.

Neither are Upper Arlington and Dublin Ohio. They’re well off suburbs of Columbus.

And of course, Southlake, TX really isn't either. In the northern middle of the huge Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It's one of the nicest, most expensive cities in the area, compared to cities/sections like Highland Park, Preston Hollow, University Park, Trophy Club, and some of the rich areas of Plano or Frisco. Definitely NOT a normal-person's city! From Wikipedia - Southlake is known for public schools, Southlake Town Square, its wealth, Gateway Church and Carroll High School's 8-time state champion football team.... The average home in Southlake costs around $784,522..

Housing Costs: Full Weight (~8.33 Points) - Southlake is decently expensive.
Homeownership Rate: Full Weight (~8.33 Points) - Southlake is may more housing than apartments. This doesn't mean much, some cities have lots of apartments, some don't. That doesn't make one better or worse than the other. Some people don't like the amounts of upkeep and maintenance for a house, or are young and can't afford it yet.
Economic Health --Total Points: 25 - Income and % poverty level are both factors of local cost of living. And wealth doesn't always mean happiness/better city.
Quality of Life --Total Points: 25 - Percent of people who walk to work? How was this even measured? Number of bars is not something that means one thing or the other. Older, more family-friendly cities will tend to have fewer bars/clubs, while college towns/younger cities will have more bars and less restaurants. Who says which is a plus and which is a minus? And why is crime rate such a low weight-ed percentage? That makes no sense!

[Svartalfiar]

So how Southlake has one of the highest “Affordability” scores - 3rd, tells me this ranking is complete crap.

[Varda]

Yeah it’s easy to be a “best” city when all they’re doing is finding the right side of the tracks.

I wonder what real metro areas would qualify as best cities. I live in the Pittsburgh metro area and it is often included in lists of this type.

[Reeses]

the least livable small town in the US. It is Colma, California.

Most people would die to move there.

[Svartalfiar]

I wonder what real metro areas would qualify as best cities. I live in the Pittsburgh metro area and it is often included in lists of this type.

Well, this survey (as flawed as the scoring system is) is only looking at cities from 25-100k people. And ONLY includes city proper, and not any surrounding areas. Which, is part of a city's lure/attractiveness. Many people only live in Southlake because of proximity to the DFW metroplex. If Southlake was there by itself, it wouldn't be nearly as wealthy or populous.

[PA Engineer]

Colma, California: People are just dying to move there.

And the highest concentration of democratic voters anywhere in the US.