Texas is a large and diverse state with many attractions and opportunities for its residents. However, not all cities in the Lone Star State are equally happy and prosperous. According to a new report from Business Insider, some Texas cities are among the “most miserable” in America. These undesirable locales tend to have some things in common — few opportunities, devastation from natural disasters, high crime rates and high addiction rates.
The Criteria for Misery
Business Insider developed its ranking using U.S. census data from 1,000 cities, taking into account the population change, the percentage of people working, median household incomes, the percentage of people without health care, median commute times and the number of people living in poverty.
The report ranked Gary, Indiana, the most miserable city in America. All in all, California was the state with the most miserable cities, according to the report. New Jersey landed in second with nine, Florida took third with six and Texas came in fourth, with five.
The Most Miserable City in Texas
According to the list, the most miserable city in all of Texas is Port Arthur. This city 90 miles east of Houston has a population of just under 55,000 and is often in the path of the state’s worst storms. Port Arthur was hit by hurricanes in 2005, 2008 and 2017.
Tropical Storm Imelda recently swept through the city, flooding homes throughout the area. Crime rates in Port Arthur are 28% higher than the national average and 30.7% of residents live below the general poverty level. The city also has a high unemployment rate of 9.3% and a low median household income of $34,667.
The Other Unhappy Cities in Texas
Port Arthur is not the only Texas city that made the list of the most miserable cities in America. Here are the other four unhappy cities in the state, according to Business Insider:
Brownsville: This border city took 12th in the ranking of America’s most miserable cities. Of Brownsville’s 183,000 residents, more than 31% live in poverty and 35% don’t have health insurance. The city also has a low median household income of $36,276 and a high unemployment rate of 6.9%.
Beaumont: This city near Port Arthur ranked 18th on the list of the most miserable cities in America. Beaumont has a population of 118,000 and a poverty rate of 22.7%. The city also has a high crime rate, with 1,059 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2017. The median household income in Beaumont is $45,268 and the unemployment rate is 6.4%.
Weslaco: This city in the Rio Grande Valley ranked 21st on the list of the most miserable cities in America. Weslaco has a population of 40,000 and a poverty rate of 33.5%. The city also has a low median household income of $37,601 and a high unemployment rate of 9.7%. Weslaco also suffers from poor air quality and a lack of health care access.
Pasadena: This city near Houston ranked 25th on the list of the most miserable cities in America. Pasadena has a population of 154,000 and a poverty rate of 19.3%. The city also has a low median household income of $50,207 and a high unemployment rate of 5.6%. Pasadena also has a high rate of drug overdose deaths, with 38.3 per 100,000 residents in 2017.
Conclusion
While Texas is a great state with many advantages, it also has some cities that are struggling with various challenges and hardships. According to a new report from Business Insider, Port Arthur is the most miserable city in Texas, followed by Brownsville, Beaumont, Weslaco and Pasadena. These cities have low incomes, high poverty, high crime, high unemployment, poor health and frequent natural disasters. Hopefully, these cities can overcome their difficulties and improve their quality of life in the future.