One of America’s most iconic cities has been dubbed “least desirable” city in the country.
And unfortunately for residents, it’s not the first time it’s topped this unappealing list.
Washington, D.C. has once again earned the dubious distinction of being the least desirable city in America, according to a new poll published by Clever Real Estate.
The District of Columbia was ranked as the most undesirable city for the second year in a row, according to researchers at Clever Real Estate, who surveyed 1,000 American adults in June to find out the best and worst places to live in 2024. https://t.co/GHImJ9kVOO
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For the second year in a row, the nation’s capital has topped the list of places where Americans would least want to live, with a whopping 33% of survey respondents ranking it among the top five worst cities.
Clever, the company behind the study, polled 1,000 people in June and analyzed migration data from the U.S. Census to uncover why D.C. is ranked so poorly.
High cost of living topped the list. A staggering 65% of people said that sky-high living costs make a place unlivable, with D.C. being notorious for high costs.
Apparently D.C.’s reputation has also taken a hit due to a surge in crime, with 2023 seeing 274 murders — the highest number in over two decades.
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s “equitable” approach to tackling crime has some residents claiming it’s destroyed their quality of life.
But our nation’s capitol wasn’t the only major U.S. city that ranked so poorly.
New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco were also on the list of least desirable cities, largely due to their unaffordable housing markets.
The survey noted that L.A. resident needed an annual income of $162,000 to afford a home there.
The Clever study did note that D.C. was the best place for working parents, thanks to its high scores in work and health categories, remote work opportunities and a strong network of pediatricians.
As for cities that ranked as some of the most desirable to live?
Tampa, Florida, was crowned America’s most desirable city for 2024. With year-round warmth, low crime and homes that are far more affordable than in other major cities, 23% of people surveyed put Tampa in their top five.