Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and dig into the data to determine which neighborhoods in the United States are the worst.
If you’re in one of the places we’re about to highlight, odds are you know you’ve got yourself a problem area.
Turns out the Shelby Forest-Frayser neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee is the worst place where you can live in the United States based on Saturday Night Science. The best? Battery Park in New York.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Worst Neighborhoods In The United States For 2026
Almost every single neighborhood on this list is in the Midwest, and most are in Tennessee. We had figured most would be in the Deep South.
Check out more about America here:
- Best Cities In The US To Raise A Family
- Most Affordable States In The United States
- Most Dangerous States In The United States
The 10 Worst Neighborhoods To Live In America For 2026
/10
Population: 34,345
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 3,196
Property Crime Per 100k: 8,549
Median Home Value: $63,796
Median Income: $30,093
/10
Population: 38,591
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 3,668
Property Crime Per 100k: 10,479
Median Home Value: $74,096
Median Income: $37,738
/10
Population: 87,467
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,746
Property Crime Per 100k: 8,357
Median Home Value: $78,449
Median Income: $39,603
/10
Population: 23,547
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,257
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,776
Median Home Value: $53,753
Median Income: $27,867
/10
Population: 48,022
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 4,029
Property Crime Per 100k: 10,728
Median Home Value: $112,443
Median Income: $30,027
/10
Population: 26,331
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,113
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,554
Median Home Value: $113,358
Median Income: $33,773
/10
Population: 129,659
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,774
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,023
Median Home Value: $66,156
Median Income: $32,777
/10
Population: 17,093
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,978
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,590
Median Home Value: $64,674
Median Income: $33,765
/10
Population: 32,392
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,877
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,048
Median Home Value: $86,670
Median Income: $30,863
/10
Population: 18,002
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,547
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,047
Median Home Value: $41,953
Median Income: $34,153
How we determined the worst neighborhoods in the US
To rank the worst neighborhoods in America, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place to live. Most people like low crime, things to do, and a stable economy.
So, we used Saturday Night Science to research FBI crime and Census data. The following are the criteria we used:
- Lower Population Density
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low Median Income
- Low Home Prices
- High Crime
The chart at the bottom lists the 100 worst neighborhoods in the United States based on these criteria.
We updated this report for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the worst neighborhoods in America. This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment — don’t freak out.
There You Have It — The Worst Neighborhoods In The US
If you’re looking at small cities in the U.S. where crime is high, people are broke, and the public schools are lousy, this is an accurate list.
Here’s a look at the best neighborhoods in America according to the data:
- Battery Park, New York
- Downtown, Jersey City
- North Sutton Area, New York
Table: Worst Neighborhoods To Live In The United States
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income | Crime Per 100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby Forest-Frayser, Memphis, TN | 34,345 | $63,796 | $30,093 | 11,745 |
| 2 | Parkway Village-Oakhaven, Memphis, TN | 38,591 | $74,096 | $37,738 | 14,147 |
| 3 | White Haven-Coro Lake, Memphis, TN | 87,467 | $78,449 | $39,603 | 11,103 |
| 4 | Lakewood Heights-Southeastern Atlanta, Atlanta, GA | 23,547 | $53,753 | $27,867 | 6,033 |
| 5 | Downtown, Memphis, TN | 48,022 | $112,443 | $30,027 | 14,757 |
| 6 | Park, Stockton, CA | 26,331 | $113,358 | $33,773 | 6,667 |
| 7 | Northeast, Houston, TX | 129,659 | $66,156 | $32,777 | 6,797 |
| 8 | Puritas Longmead, Cleveland, OH | 17,093 | $64,674 | $33,765 | 7,569 |
| 9 | Seaport, Stockton, CA | 32,392 | $86,670 | $30,863 | 6,925 |
| 10 | South Side, Toledo, OH | 18,002 | $41,953 | $34,153 | 5,594 |
| 11 | Far North, Houston, TX | 59,742 | $52,586 | $30,316 | 7,271 |
| 12 | Tioga-Nicetown, Philadelphia, PA | 17,382 | $58,569 | $24,935 | 12,752 |
| 13 | South Boulevard-Park Row, Dallas, TX | 26,359 | $64,083 | $30,213 | 9,120 |
| 14 | Roseland, Chicago, IL | 17,708 | $121,809 | $39,713 | 12,476 |
| 15 | Warrendale, Detroit, MI | 20,647 | $32,118 | $26,435 | 11,034 |
| 16 | Raleigh, Memphis, TN | 58,688 | $81,134 | $41,580 | 9,369 |
| 17 | South, Raleigh, NC | 17,197 | $131,456 | $42,477 | 4,580 |
| 18 | East Toledo, Toledo, OH | 21,142 | $39,404 | $35,424 | 5,910 |
| 19 | Midtown, Memphis, TN | 61,886 | $128,531 | $40,518 | 12,832 |
| 20 | Edison, Fresno, CA | 23,773 | $165,716 | $32,395 | 4,479 |
| 21 | West Englewood, Chicago, IL | 20,571 | $107,861 | $32,258 | 9,525 |
| 22 | Alleghany West, Philadelphia, PA | 18,676 | $48,477 | $25,196 | 10,842 |
| 23 | South East, Fort Worth, TX | 59,810 | $53,724 | $31,691 | 5,145 |
| 24 | Hickory Ridge-South Riverdale, Memphis, TN | 66,172 | $105,147 | $49,911 | 10,687 |
| 25 | West Baltimore, Baltimore, MD | 52,160 | $78,008 | $28,589 | 7,657 |
| 26 | Northeast, Fort Worth, TX | 38,197 | $73,740 | $40,654 | 5,157 |
| 27 | West Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV | 20,794 | $175,140 | $34,789 | 14,152 |
| 28 | Southeast, Houston, TX | 261,757 | $97,556 | $41,297 | 5,958 |
| 29 | Hunting Park, Philadelphia, PA | 17,642 | $65,918 | $28,438 | 7,869 |
| 30 | Fresno-High, Fresno, CA | 56,759 | $127,194 | $35,850 | 5,931 |
| 31 | Five Points, Toledo, OH | 20,573 | $67,982 | $45,285 | 4,530 |
| 32 | Greater Rosemont, Baltimore, MD | 18,664 | $70,600 | $35,059 | 6,285 |
| 33 | Westwood, Cincinnati, OH | 31,273 | $104,526 | $42,904 | 6,314 |
| 34 | Pacific, Stockton, CA | 44,600 | $145,654 | $42,679 | 6,817 |
| 35 | North Hill, Akron, OH | 15,911 | $75,423 | $38,185 | 4,296 |
| 36 | Prospect Hill, San Antonio, TX | 27,957 | $65,332 | $34,400 | 9,285 |
| 37 | Southwest, Raleigh, NC | 22,629 | $132,067 | $38,691 | 4,423 |
| 38 | Nevadalidgerwood, Spokane, WA | 27,612 | $171,165 | $46,128 | 10,584 |
| 39 | Model City, Miami, FL | 25,023 | $94,396 | $24,443 | 4,643 |
| 40 | Haddington-Carroll Park, Philadelphia, PA | 35,068 | $68,396 | $28,706 | 7,659 |
| 41 | West Price Hill, Cincinnati, OH | 17,820 | $86,100 | $44,469 | 6,783 |
| 42 | East End, Houston, TX | 87,359 | $102,414 | $37,480 | 6,023 |
| 43 | Powellhurst, Portland, OR | 25,760 | $186,475 | $40,114 | 10,469 |
| 44 | Urbandale-Parkdale, Dallas, TX | 25,716 | $78,462 | $33,974 | 5,206 |
| 45 | Germantown, Philadelphia, PA | 66,915 | $99,031 | $29,642 | 7,566 |
| 46 | Englewood, Chicago, IL | 36,917 | $113,739 | $26,828 | 4,482 |
| 47 | Elmwood, Philadelphia, PA | 15,688 | $103,192 | $36,392 | 11,263 |
| 48 | Old Brooklyn, Cleveland, OH | 32,541 | $88,530 | $43,059 | 5,461 |
| 49 | Southside, Fort Worth, TX | 56,682 | $83,117 | $37,624 | 6,086 |
| 50 | Ottawa, Toledo, OH | 18,509 | $79,484 | $43,778 | 4,094 |
| 51 | Kensington, Philadelphia, PA | 24,869 | $142,231 | $42,035 | 8,543 |
| 52 | North Lawndale, Chicago, IL | 35,417 | $126,400 | $26,510 | 6,175 |
| 53 | Southwest, Houston, TX | 108,921 | $102,760 | $48,850 | 4,273 |
| 54 | Charleston Heights, Las Vegas, NV | 38,504 | $120,190 | $47,170 | 11,106 |
| 55 | Frankford, Philadelphia, PA | 23,989 | $93,217 | $33,299 | 12,258 |
| 56 | Maplewood, Rochester, NY | 18,384 | $76,412 | $43,339 | 5,466 |
| 57 | Kenmore, Akron, OH | 15,909 | $66,290 | $40,829 | 4,327 |
| 58 | East Garfield Park, Chicago, IL | 18,665 | $222,929 | $28,558 | 7,019 |
| 59 | West Akron, Akron, OH | 15,361 | $83,686 | $33,584 | 3,725 |
| 60 | Cedar Crest, Dallas, TX | 67,875 | $83,769 | $33,363 | 4,723 |
| 61 | Whitmer-Trilby, Toledo, OH | 16,896 | $91,173 | $42,574 | 4,039 |
| 62 | Berclair-Highland Heights, Memphis, TN | 32,735 | $61,048 | $32,973 | 14,072 |
| 63 | East Tampa, Tampa, FL | 21,443 | $149,050 | $34,862 | 4,083 |
| 64 | North, Houston, TX | 119,685 | $88,419 | $34,255 | 6,067 |
| 65 | Northside, Fort Worth, TX | 44,752 | $68,951 | $37,189 | 4,714 |
| 66 | Hyde Park Brookwood-Southern Hills, Shreveport, LA | 17,375 | $123,400 | $46,846 | 6,327 |
| 67 | Auburn Gresham, Chicago, IL | 45,607 | $115,671 | $32,470 | 5,561 |
| 68 | Sugarland, Houston, TX | 125,992 | $83,472 | $42,634 | 4,606 |
| 69 | Southeast, Raleigh, NC | 28,074 | $124,092 | $43,932 | 3,766 |
| 70 | Eastside, Fort Worth, TX | 95,072 | $108,565 | $49,038 | 4,594 |
| 71 | Cuf, Cincinnati, OH | 15,325 | $146,725 | $34,465 | 5,985 |
| 72 | Logan-Fern Rock, Philadelphia, PA | 23,813 | $80,772 | $30,568 | 5,302 |
| 73 | Chicago Lawn, Chicago, IL | 15,636 | $146,417 | $37,465 | 12,443 |
| 74 | Sycamore, Fort Worth, TX | 40,126 | $85,861 | $44,497 | 3,659 |
| 75 | Bear Creek, Stockton, CA | 16,747 | $185,550 | $63,519 | 5,618 |
| 76 | Valley Oak, Stockton, CA | 36,077 | $150,024 | $45,891 | 3,276 |
| 77 | Harrowgate, Philadelphia, PA | 16,098 | $87,075 | $29,043 | 9,716 |
| 78 | Deanwood, Washington, DC | 29,798 | $221,083 | $41,869 | 8,641 |
| 79 | East Memphis-Colonial-Yorkshire, Memphis, TN | 104,210 | $147,292 | $60,304 | 10,125 |
| 80 | Lakeview, Stockton, CA | 32,545 | $181,728 | $45,375 | 5,217 |
| 81 | Glen-Fallstaff Area, Baltimore, MD | 15,750 | $124,662 | $43,823 | 4,057 |
| 82 | Park Heights, Baltimore, MD | 33,761 | $98,165 | $36,783 | 4,544 |
| 83 | Chatham, Chicago, IL | 18,683 | $172,638 | $49,214 | 11,175 |
| 84 | Northwest, Houston, TX | 138,832 | $132,124 | $48,919 | 6,019 |
| 85 | New City, Chicago, IL | 41,153 | $110,614 | $32,588 | 3,814 |
| 86 | South Shore, Chicago, IL | 40,415 | $163,136 | $38,548 | 7,201 |
| 87 | Jefferson, Cleveland, OH | 18,226 | $77,712 | $44,569 | 6,385 |
| 88 | Poplar-Ludlow-Yorktowne, Philadelphia, PA | 18,907 | $184,789 | $35,486 | 10,066 |
| 89 | Juniata Park-Feltonville, Philadelphia, PA | 34,014 | $78,023 | $31,888 | 4,792 |
| 90 | Hartranft, Philadelphia, PA | 20,205 | $90,838 | $23,203 | 4,600 |
| 91 | 19th Ward, Rochester, NY | 19,116 | $81,181 | $47,842 | 4,637 |
| 92 | South Chicago, Chicago, IL | 28,988 | $143,288 | $44,876 | 4,551 |
| 93 | Northeast, Reno, NV | 24,745 | $257,758 | $49,900 | 7,236 |
| 94 | West Pullman, Chicago, IL | 26,366 | $103,967 | $46,956 | 4,089 |
| 95 | Grand Boulevard, Chicago, IL | 22,603 | $158,817 | $36,187 | 5,582 |
| 96 | Douglas, Chicago, IL | 19,514 | $145,570 | $39,212 | 5,809 |
| 97 | Active Bethel, Eugene, OR | 26,225 | $147,138 | $46,446 | 5,073 |
| 98 | Morgan Park, Chicago, IL | 15,013 | $145,444 | $53,937 | 5,356 |
| 99 | Central, Arlington, TX | 24,962 | $128,731 | $41,113 | 5,262 |
| 100 | West Central, Mesa, AZ | 61,951 | $115,836 | $38,678 | 4,002 |