Springfield, Massachusetts
Because of the high crime and poverty rates, Springfield has earned the worst reputation in Massachusetts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate in the city sits at 28.7%, which means one in four people lives below the poverty line. In addition, crime is a growing concern in Springfield, where there were 1,031 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2016, the FBI statistics revealed. It is clear that things are not going in the right direction.
Rockford, Illinois
For years now, Rockford’s economy has been struggling, which has resulted in a weak job market. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city’s unemployment rate as of July 2019 is 6.6%, the highest in the state. The FBI also released its 2016 data which revealed that Rockford is a dangerous city as well. There were 1,658 violent crimes committed for every 100,000 people, which makes Rockford one of the cities in the country with the highest crime rates.