News Summary
A recent WalletHub study has identified five South Florida cities, including Dania Beach and Lauderdale Lakes, as some of the worst small cities to live in the United States. The evaluation considered various metrics such as affordability, economic health, education, health, quality of life, and safety, revealing that these cities rank poorly in these categories. While areas like Boca Raton and Coral Gables performed significantly better, this report highlights the urgent need for improvements in specific urban living conditions in the region.
Florida – Five cities in South Florida have been ranked among the worst small cities to live in the United States, according to a recent study released by WalletHub. The report evaluated a total of 1,318 small cities across the nation using diverse metrics that measure various aspects of urban living.
Low Rankings for South Florida Cities
Dania Beach and Lauderdale Lakes, both located in Broward County, are at the bottom of the list, ranking in the 2nd percentile, meaning they performed better than only 2% of the cities evaluated. Meanwhile, Kendall in Miami-Dade County ranked in the 4th percentile, while Lauderhill and North Miami fell in the 6th percentile.
Evaluation Metrics Used
WalletHub’s study assessed over 1,300 small cities with populations ranging from 25,000 to 100,000 based on five core categories: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety. In total, the analysis utilized 45 different metrics, including key factors such as median household income, unemployment rate, high school graduation rates, average commute times, and violent crime rates.
Specific Rankings of South Florida Cities
In the detailed findings, Dania Beach ranked poorly in several key indicators, scoring 1,129th for affordability, 1,272nd for economic health, 823rd for education and health, 782nd for quality of life, and 1,072nd for safety. Similarly, Lauderdale Lakes did not fare well, with rankings of 1,130th for affordability, 1,078th for economic health, 928th for education and health, 1,219th for quality of life, and 1,045th for safety.
Kendall ranked 1,060th for affordability, 1,294th for economic health, 674th for education and health, 1,304th for quality of life, and 798th for safety. Both Lauderhill and North Miami were ranked 1,079th and 1,051st respectively for affordability, displaying similar challenges across the board in terms of livability.
Comparative Context and Regional Highlights
Interestingly, while these specific cities faced significant challenges, others in South Florida fared much better. Boca Raton, for example, was among the top-performing small cities, ranking in the 82nd percentile overall. Parkland and Coral Gables also secured favorable positions, both standing in the 78th percentile. Specific performance in affordability saw Boca Raton ranked 1,101st while it ranked 7th for quality of life.
A comprehensive count revealed that out of the 32 South Florida cities included in the study, various others also struggled. Greenacres and Riviera Beach both ranked in the 11th percentile, while Lake Worth Beach and Homestead were in the 12th percentile. Higher rankings were achieved by cities like Palm Beach Gardens in the 63rd percentile and Key West at 64th percentile.
Conclusion
The WalletHub study has shed light on the hardships faced by specific cities within South Florida, emphasizing the importance of focusing on improvements in areas such as economic health and safety to enhance the living conditions for residents. As rankings draw attention to various issues, local governments and communities may be prompted to develop strategies that address these challenges, aiming for a brighter future.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Miami New Times: 5 South Florida Cities Among Worst Small Towns
- NBC Miami: Today’s Forecast
- NBC Miami: Live Updates on South Florida News
- Local 10: Hurricane Updates
- Local 10: Rip Current Risk in South Florida
- Wikipedia: South Florida
- Google Search: Florida Urban Living Rankings
- Google Scholar: South Florida Quality of Life Study
- Encyclopedia Britannica: South Florida
- Google News: South Florida Cities
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
