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These Are the Most Stressed Out Cities in the US

These Are the Most Stressed Out Cities in the US

People around the world have spent the past year coming to terms with the dramatic life changes foisted upon them by COVID-19 — and by no means all of these changes have to do with actually getting sick. Rising poverty levels, unemployment, and safety concerns around commuting are among the many additional factors that lead to increased stress levels.

According to estimates for 2020 by the Urban Institute, the percentage of Americans living in poverty reached 12.4% (without benefit of stimulus checks, the SNAP program, or unemployment benefit increases), with a level of 20.5% for African-Americans. The overall poverty rate in 2019, in comparison, was 10.5%. (Here’s how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minority communities in every state.)

As of January of this year, “The labor market continued to reflect the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it,” according to a report on the current employment situation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the unemployment rate fell slightly as of the beginning of the year, it still stands at 6.3% — compared to 3.5% in 2019, the lowest rate since 1969.

The situation is worse in some places than others. It may not come as a surprise that New York is the country’s most stressed-out city, but the fact that six of the ten most stressed are in supposedly laid-back California might be food for thought. Every state, however, suffers from the same problems to a greater or lesser extent. Here’s a list of the most stressed-out city in every state.

 

Source: Toribio93 / Shutterstock.com

50. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA
> Poverty rate: 11.9% — 236 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 9.3% — 86 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 28 minutes — 42 out of 383 cities

Source: U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Tabatha L. Duarte

49. Sumter, SC
> Poverty rate: 19.4% — 28 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 7.3% — 180 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 25 minutes — 121 out of 383 cities

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

48. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Poverty rate: 22.2% — 12 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 7.4% — 174 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 23 minutes — 201 out of 383 cities

Source: LUNAMARINA / iStock via Getty Images

47. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
> Poverty rate: 12.1% — 226 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.9% — 38 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 30 minutes — 30 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

46. Odessa, TX
> Poverty rate: 10.4% — 297 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.7% — 43 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 24 minutes — 145 out of 383 cities

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

45. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
> Poverty rate: 16.4% — 77 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 9.2% — 87 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 26 minutes — 73 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

44. Trenton, NJ
> Poverty rate: 12.8% — 196 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 8.4% — 124 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 30 minutes — 33 out of 383 cities

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

43. Yuba City, CA
> Poverty rate: 13.4% — 166 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 12.5% — 15 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 28 minutes — 47 out of 383 cities

Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images

42. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Poverty rate: 13.5% — 164 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 8.1% — 138 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 30 minutes — 27 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

41. Flint, MI
> Poverty rate: 16.5% — 72 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 11.3% — 30 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 26 minutes — 77 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

40. Visalia-Porterville, CA
> Poverty rate: 18.8% — 36 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 13.9% — 7 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 23 minutes — 229 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock / Getty Images Plus

39. Napa, CA
> Poverty rate: 6.8% — 374 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 8.6% — 112 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 27 minutes — 68 out of 383 cities

Source: Izabela23 / Shutterstock.com

38. Urban Honolulu, HI
> Poverty rate: 8.1% — 354 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.5% — 47 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 29 minutes — 34 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

37. Alexandria, LA
> Poverty rate: 17.6% — 57 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 5.3% — 321 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 28 minutes — 48 out of 383 cities

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

36. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Poverty rate: 12.9% — 190 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 8.0% — 145 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 31 minutes — 24 out of 383 cities

Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

35. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
> Poverty rate: 10.3% — 301 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 9.5% — 79 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 27 minutes — 66 out of 383 cities

Source: JNix / Shutterstock.com

34. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
> Poverty rate: 9.4% — 326 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 6.5% — 235 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 32 minutes — 18 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

33. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Poverty rate: 9.1% — 337 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 8.4% — 124 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 32 minutes — 14 out of 383 cities

Source: LindaWashburnRoberts / iStock

32. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> Poverty rate: 7.8% — 361 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 8.1% — 138 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 32 minutes — 20 out of 383 cities

Source: c_conn / Flickr

31. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
> Poverty rate: 11.1% — 272 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 18.5% — 3 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 26 minutes — 82 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

30. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Poverty rate: 27.3% — 1 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.4% — 49 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 24 minutes — 144 out of 383 cities

Source: Solidago / Getty Images

29. Salinas, CA
> Poverty rate: 12.7% — 200 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 12.1% — 18 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 25 minutes — 111 out of 383 cities

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

28. Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
> Poverty rate: 8.6% — 349 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.8% — 41 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 33 minutes — 11 out of 383 cities

Source: SeanXu / iStock

27. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
> Poverty rate: 12.8% — 194 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 15.4% — 5 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 26 minutes — 86 out of 383 cities

Source: vichie81 / iStock via Getty Images

26. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
> Poverty rate: 11.8% — 242 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.6% — 45 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 31 minutes — 23 out of 383 cities

Source: AllenS / Wikimedia Commons

25. Farmington, NM
> Poverty rate: 21.2% — 14 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 13.1% — 9 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 23 minutes — 222 out of 383 cities

Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images

24. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Poverty rate: 6.3% — 376 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 7.4% — 174 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 30 minutes — 28 out of 383 cities

Source: mapodile / Getty Images

23. Las Cruces, NM
> Poverty rate: 25.9% — 3 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 11.3% — 30 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 21 minutes — 301 out of 383 cities

Source: Chilkoot / Getty Images

22. Anchorage, AK
> Poverty rate: 10.0% — 311 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 7.4% — 174 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 23 minutes — 208 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

21. Monroe, LA
> Poverty rate: 26.0% — 2 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 6.3% — 246 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 22 minutes — 249 out of 383 cities

Source: MattGush / Getty Images

20. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
> Poverty rate: 12.2% — 221 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.4% — 49 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 34 minutes — 7 out of 383 cities

Source: 7Michael / iStock / Getty Images Plus

19. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI
> Poverty rate: 11.9% — 235 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 21.0% — 1 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 21 minutes — 299 out of 383 cities

Source: Mlenny / Getty Images

18. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Poverty rate: 10.6% — 290 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 11.8% — 23 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 32 minutes — 13 out of 383 cities

Source: jmoor17 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

17. Modesto, CA
> Poverty rate: 12.7% — 197 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 12.1% — 18 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 32 minutes — 15 out of 383 cities

Source: DEREK556 / Getty Images

16. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
> Poverty rate: 8.9% — 341 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.2% — 58 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 35 minutes — 6 out of 383 cities

Source: Paul Sableman (Flickr user: pasa47) / Wikimedia Commons

15. Pine Bluff, AR
> Poverty rate: 23.6% — 6 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 9.5% — 79 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 22 minutes — 233 out of 383 cities

Source: Ron Reiring / Wikimedia Commons

14. Albuquerque, NM
> Poverty rate: 15.5% — 106 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 10.9% — 38 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 24 minutes — 150 out of 383 cities

Source: photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images

13. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
> Poverty rate: 10.1% — 306 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 9.8% — 69 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 30 minutes — 26 out of 383 cities

Source: LPETTET / Getty Images

12. Bakersfield, CA
> Poverty rate: 19.1% — 32 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 13.7% — 8 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 24 minutes — 159 out of 383 cities

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

11. Fresno, CA
> Poverty rate: 20.6% — 17 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 11.9% — 20 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 24 minutes — 154 out of 383 cities

Source: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States / Wikimedia Commons

10. East Stroudsburg, PA
> Poverty rate: 13.0% — 185 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 12.8% — 11 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 40 minutes — 1 out of 383 cities

Source: Ron Johnson / Wikimedia Commons

9. Merced, CA
> Poverty rate: 16.8% — 68 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 12.6% — 12 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 31 minutes — 21 out of 383 cities

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

8. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
> Poverty rate: 15.4% — 110 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 11.9% — 20 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 25 minutes — 127 out of 383 cities

Source: Richard David Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons

7. Hammond, LA
> Poverty rate: 22.9% — 7 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 9.1% — 92 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 32 minutes — 19 out of 383 cities

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

6. Madera, CA
> Poverty rate: 17.6% — 56 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 11.2% — 33 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 33 minutes — 10 out of 383 cities

Source: ibsky / Getty Images

5. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
> Poverty rate: 8.2% — 353 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 9.0% — 98 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 35 minutes — 5 out of 383 cities

Source: Cbl62 / Wikimedia Commons

4. El Centro, CA
> Poverty rate: 25.1% — 5 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 20.4% — 2 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 24 minutes — 186 out of 383 cities

Source: ULU_BIRD / iStock

3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Poverty rate: 12.4% — 208 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 14.4% — 6 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 32 minutes — 16 out of 383 cities

Source: Terrance Emerson / Shutterstock.com

2. Stockton-Lodi, CA
> Poverty rate: 13.7% — 159 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 12.3% — 17 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 36 minutes — 3 out of 383 cities

Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Poverty rate: 11.6% — 247 out of 383 cities
> Unemployment rate (August 2020): 12.9% — 10 highest out of 383 cities
> Average commute time: 38 minutes — 2 out of 383 cities

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