There aren’t many upsides to living in Montebello, California. Fourteen percent of the population lives in poverty, while 19% don’t have any health insurance and rely on government benefits. If residents do have a job, they can expect an average commute of around 33 minutes.
Even if you do make a decent living in Montebello, the sky-high housing prices practically guarantee that you’ll never own a home. In 2019, a home-ownership counselor said the opportunities for first-time homebuyers in Montebello were nearly nonexistent. So, Montebello in California is not a place for young families; it is apparently not a place to retire, as it has nothing to offer.
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield used to be considered quite a prosperous city. But when the GM factory closed its doors, the town took a turn for the worst. Without the ready availability of industrial jobs, many workers were left without an income or an opportunity to earn money. Once a person is unemployed, it is very difficult to climb back up onto the employment ladder, and this is exactly what is happening here.
After the factory shut down in 2010, crime in the city has been steadily on the rise. Since 2012, violent crimes in Mansfield increased by 37%, indicating a population who’s not happy about their situation.
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce may be an ocean town, but it’s not the idyllic beach city of your dreams. The city has to replenish the sand on the beaches every few years due to constant erosion. Imported sand probably didn’t enter your mind in your daydreams about living on the beach.
Of the 46,000 residents in Fort Pierce, 36% live in poverty, struggling to make ends meet. While the economy in Fort Pierce was once centered on citrus farming, the industry slowly collapsed due to changes in trade deals. Without a primary source of income, the city has steadily declined year after year.
Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena, California, is known for its wealthy communities, but Pasadena, Texas, is an entirely other story. Don't get confused by the two, as the differences between the two places are to the extreme. Pasadena is exceptionally divided. The southern part of the town consists of mostly white individuals, while the northern section is comprised of Latino residents who are in a lower level of life.
Despite the hostilities, Latinos kept moving into the city, drawn by its cheap housing and abundant jobs. By 2010, they made up more than 60 percent of the city's population, and it keeps growing and growing.
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana, is the third most populated city in the state, following New Orleans and Baron Rouge. It has five universities and, for years, was considered to have great potential. It played a significant part in the Louisiana Oil industry; however, many things have changed here since the 1980s. Shreveport started its descent into a miserable city in 2015.
At that time, the Red River overflowed and flooded the town. Since then, Shreveport has never recovered. Between 2015 and 2016, the murder rate in Shreveport doubled. The city has also faced growing issues with more violent crime, transforming it into a rather dangerous place to live.