3. San Francisco, CA
The City by the Bay is one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S. The median income is higher here, but so are the costs for gasoline and utilities, which fall well above the national average. Job growth hovers just above 1%. Renters pay an average of $4,030 per month for a place to live. About 10% of the population lives below the poverty level. As for crime, the city experienced more than 50 murders and nearly 4,000 assaults in 2021.
Unemployment rate: 4.6%
Median household income: $119,136
Walk Score ranking: 89 (very walkable)
4. Mendota, CA
What pushes Mendota to the top of the worst places to live list comes down to an array of issues. Around 38.5% of the population lives below the poverty level, one of the highest rates in the country. Unemployment is high, too. Public school test scores also fall far below the national level.
Unemployment rate: 5.9%
Median household income: $36,376
Walk Score ranking: 75 (very walkable)
