The Most Miserable Cities In America (high unemployment, stagnant economy, moribund real estate)

Business Insider ^ | 09/15/2011 | Gus Lubin and Linette Lopez

[SeekAndFind]

Combine high unemployment, a stagnant economy and basement-level housing prices, and what have you got?

The most miserable cities in America, according to Brookings, of course! The think tank combined every major U.S. city's unemployment rate, level of employment, gross metropolitan product and housing prices to create an index of utter wretchedness.

Nationwide economic progress in the second quarter was "uneven and unsure" and some by measures we're back in recession. The worst cities are clustered in former housing bubble areas like Florida and California

[SeekAndFind]

THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION HAS THE DETAILS :

http://www.brookings.edu/metro/2011_09_metro_monitor.aspx

[Steamburg]

Title correction: “The Bluest Cities in America”.

[arrogantsob]

Florida and California cities for the most part.

[Responsibility2nd]

Miserable cities? Let me guess:

Those that are controlled and populated by leftists and democrats.

(Do I win a cookie?)

[PittsburghAfterDark]

You know this is really shocking to me, well maybe it shouldn’t be, that the majority of those cities listed 50% decreases in home value.

I was looking at a change of location to Orlando and did a quick search for homes in the $250k range. I was shocked at what you can get in that market for the price. I mean new construction, in ground pool, 4 bed, 2/3 baths etc. Even in Pittsburgh a home like that is going to be in the $350-400k range.

Needless to say that with the weather here, no income tax there and a tremendous housing upgrade this decision is looking really easy.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Detroit is on this list, but Baltimore is NOT?

I don’t know whether to be offended, or relieved.

[Jean2]

I noticed that too. I am just surprised that Honolulu isn’t on the list. It has been populated and run by leftists and democrats sine at least 1954.

[sauropod]

Baltimordor has a black Mayorette.

And, in the burbs, they beat up transgender people...

so they get special dispensation.

[RnMomof7]

LOL..Buffalo not on it either.. we always make lists like this..

[goseminoles]

Mom lives in Clearwater, Fl. Her house went from 300k to 170k. Floridians are taking a hit...

[upchuck]

I have never lived around Orlando and have nothing against it. However, I have several friends that live there.

Consider possible bad weather, property taxes and housing insurance. Florida does not have an income tax, true. But they get the money in other ways.

[TheRightGuy]

surprised chicago didn’t make the cut

[John.Galt2012]

the whole thing is skewed because they give to much weight to the housing market. Its way down in fl and ca because it was super inflated before. If they had inserted crime, deteriorated school system etc. thats when all the leftist bastions like Chicago and Baltimore and dc would pop up.

[KarlInOhio]

I wonder if the author had a "most wonderful places to live" list in 2007. Other than New Oreleans ( 2 years post Katrina) and perennial loser Detroit, many of those cities would be boosted by huge run-ups in property values with no end in site and would have been listed as great places to live.

[ScottinVA]

LOL!! “Baltimordor”

[Disambiguator]

Title correction: “The Bluest Cities in America”.

Not entirely. Boise is on the list (probably because the real estate market here has been hammered). My understanding is that unemployment in the Treasure Valley is not as bad as some other places.

Only small parts of Boise are blue (the North End), the rest are solid red.

[longtermmemmory]

the LOST city of Detriot.

[Chode]

the 0bama MISERY Index...!!!

[newzjunkey]

HA! Modesto and Bakersfield are on the list.

For those unfamiliar, those are the two cities that will be the first link in the CA High Speed Rail boondoggle for the low, low price of $100 million per mile.