Maryland is a state with many attractions, such as the Chesapeake Bay, the National Aquarium, and the U.S. Naval Academy. However, not all of its cities are equally enjoyable to live in. According to a recent study by Zippia, a career resource website, one city in Maryland stands out as the most miserable in the state: Salisbury.
How the Study Was Conducted
Zippia used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to rank the cities in Maryland based on nine criteria:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute time
- Unemployment rate
- Cost of living
- Poverty rate
- Percentage of married residents
- Percentage of residents without health insurance
- Average hours worked per week
- Percentage of residents who are divorced
The study assigned each city a score for each criterion, based on how it compared to the state average. The higher the score, the more miserable the city. The scores were then added up to get the final ranking.
Why Salisbury Is the Most Miserable City in Maryland
Salisbury, located on the eastern shore of Maryland, scored the highest on the misery index, with a total of 40 points. The city has a population of about 33,000 people, and is the largest city in the region. However, it also has some of the worst statistics in the state, such as:
- Only 23.6% of residents have a college degree, compared to the state average of 39.9%
- The average commute time is 21.8 minutes, compared to the state average of 19.9 minutes
- The unemployment rate is 7.1%, compared to the state average of 4.1%
- The cost of living is 102.3, compared to the state average of 100
- The poverty rate is 28.6%, compared to the state average of 9.4%
- Only 34.9% of residents are married, compared to the state average of 49.2%
- 12.5% of residents do not have health insurance, compared to the state average of 6.1%
- The average hours worked per week is 38.4, compared to the state average of 37.6
- 14.4% of residents are divorced, compared to the state average of 10.1%
These factors indicate that Salisbury is a city with low educational attainment, high economic hardship, low social cohesion, and poor health outcomes.
How Salisbury Can Improve Its Situation
Salisbury is not doomed to be miserable forever. There are some steps that the city and its residents can take to improve its situation, such as:
- Investing in education and training programs to increase the skills and qualifications of the workforce
- Developing and diversifying the local economy to create more jobs and opportunities
- Improving the public transportation system to reduce traffic congestion and pollution
- Supporting and expanding the social services and safety net programs to help the vulnerable and needy
- Promoting and facilitating community engagement and civic participation to foster a sense of belonging and pride
- Encouraging and celebrating the cultural and historical heritage of the city and the region
Conclusion
Salisbury is the most miserable city in Maryland, according to a recent study by Zippia. The city suffers from low education, high unemployment, high poverty, low marriage, low health insurance, high work hours, and high divorce rates. However, the city can overcome its challenges and improve its quality of life by taking some proactive measures to enhance its education, economy, transportation, social services, community, and culture. Salisbury has the potential to be a great city, if it can overcome its misery.