12 American Cities You Should Leave Right Now (But Most People Aren’t)
“A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams.” – Herb Caen.
Are you comfortable when everything around you tells you to adapt to new conditions? People should consider leaving these 12 American cities because of increasing expenses and fading employment opportunities.
Which of these twelve locations is your residence? Your next step should be relocating right now.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco transformed from an attractive place to live but now faces serious livability challenges. Due to escalating housing prices, which now average $3,295 monthly, and rising crime levels, people find it difficult to justify living in this area.
The current 27% rate of empty office spaces shows that the area’s business base is weakening. When high living costs and limited employment opportunities affect your life, you should find a more stable place to live.
Seattle, Washington
Top tech brands in Seattle transformed into growing job markets before Microsoft and Amazon recently decided to pause hiring while letting employees go. Homelessness in the city reached a record high, with 16,385 people living without housing, states the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.
Heavy traffic keeps making daily travel across the city painful for everyone. Moving to a small tech hub means you save money while still having good chances to develop your career.
Los Angeles, California
Despite its reputation as the City of Angels, Los Angeles faces serious problems from rising inflation plus the decline of its air quality, which hurts its residents. Drivers who commute through this area struggle with some of the nation’s top gas rates at $4.49 per gallon.
Based on AreaVibes research, crime in Southern California is 52% higher than in all other cities across the United States. Select a smaller town if you value secure surroundings and need to spend less.
Chicago, Illinois
Despite its solid cultural foundation, the Windy City is experiencing an exodus because of its climbing rates of violent crime. According to last year’s data, Chicago registered 573 fatal incidents, which reveal the escalating safety issues.
According to SmartAsset data, most homeowners pay property taxes at an effective rate of 2.27%. You can save money and live safely by exploring different cities for your next home.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Despite its famous cultural life, New Orleans faces declining infrastructure quality and rising crime rates, which make life here less attractive. According to CNBC, flooding problems and outdated drainage infrastructure make daily life in this place harder, especially with hurricane season right around the corner.
Many people in this area live below the poverty line at 23%, which exceeds the amount the U.S. population struggles to make ends meet. If you appreciate Southern charm, try living in these cities offering better infrastructure.
New York City, New York
New York City has a reputation for expensive living, but housing prices have become unaffordable. According to RentCafe, residential lease payments in Manhattan now reach an average of $4,381 monthly.
Added to growing inflation rates, even people with moderate incomes are facing financial problems. Limited green space and crowded conditions make it hard to live healthily. You can find a New York City atmosphere in Philadelphia at budget-friendly costs.
San Diego, California
San Diego’s perfect weather and stunning beaches cannot hide the growing problem of water deficits, threatening the area’s future well-being. Many people cannot afford to buy homes because the city’s median prices have climbed to $950,000.
The city’s employment options have reduced since industries outside tourism and defense disappeared from the job market. Cities that work to spread their economic activities can offer you better career prospects.
Detroit, Michigan
The city has made great efforts to rebuild its economy yet remains among the nation’s top cities for poverty, with 31.5% of its population living below the poverty line, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Schools perform inadequately, and families in the area find it difficult to obtain a good education for their children.
Due to long-term population loss, several neighborhoods in the city stand untouched, and residents feel unsafe. Many families consider Indianapolis in the Midwest a better place to live.
Phoenix, Arizona
According to federal housing experts, the city lost its reputation as a cost-effective escape when housing costs increased 30% since 2020. The city is becoming harder to live in because extreme summer temperatures continue to rise while available water supplies decrease.
The area’s employment opportunities depend mainly on tourists and property sales. Moving to Albuquerque offers a better financial and environmental option.
Miami, Florida
Miami’s reputation as paradise brings expensive drawbacks to its residents. The frequency of hurricanes keeps growing, and the cost for homeowners to rebuild their lives after each hit is staggering, as Hurricane Ian demonstrated with $112.9 billion in statewide damages.
Current housing expenses on land have grown too high for average earners because median rents stand at $3,050. The smaller cities in Florida may protect visitors from climate dangers while keeping access to beachfront attractions.
Atlanta, Georgia
Traffic congestion in Atlanta makes you reconsider your residency. Drivers spend an average of 97 hours in traffic annually (INRIX). Increasing criminal activity and housing prices advancing more than 20% since 2020 creates a hostile living environment.
Enjoy the Southern lifestyle without traffic problems in Athens and Savannah.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Although dreams of living on an island are tempting, many still struggle to make Honolulu a permanent home due to its expensive living expenses. Groceries in this area sell at prices 20% higher than typical U.S. rates, as Numbeo’s findings reflect.
The city depends mainly on tourism, with few other ways to make money available to residents. You can find attractive places to live on the mainland that help you save money.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Disclosure: For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
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