10 Cities Americans Should Leave (But They Aren’t)

A recent study by Rocket Moving analyzed cities across all 50 U.S states, revealing the places that people should probably consider moving out of. The study looked at seven factors to base that on, including crime rates, cost of living, unemployment and even Google searches for “moving out.”

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Here are the top 10 cities where Americans are staying put despite financial, social and environmental factors suggesting they consider other options:

10 Cities Americans Should Leave (But They Aren’t) — ChrisBoswell / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Camden, New Jersey

Personal income: $767,174
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 4.7
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 140,000
Population change from 2020 to 2024: 53
Cost of living index: 114.1

Camden comes in as the top city Americans should move out of. Yet, despite it having a high crime rate and the third-highest unemployment rate, the population actually grew between 2020 and 2024.

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Cleveland

Personal income: $731,787
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 4.5
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 152,600
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -10,199
Cost of living index: 94.0

Cleveland has seen a mass exodus, with over 10,000 residents leaving in the last few years. With a crime rate pushing 74 and unemployment at 4.5%, it’s clear why. But for those who haven’t left, the combination of economic stagnation and social decline makes for a tough situation.

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Rockford, Illinois

Personal income: $911,804
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 5.2
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 200,200
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -1,019
Cost of living index: 90.8

Rockford’s got the highest unemployment rate on this list at 5.2%, and crime isn’t any better, sitting at 82.09. Add to that over 200,000 Google searches for “moving out” and it’s clear the city has plenty of residents looking to leave.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Stockton, California

Personal income: $3,218,470
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 4.9
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 487,200
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -172
Cost of living index: 134.5

Stockton may be in California, but life here is anything but glamorous. Crime remains high, and with nearly 500,000 searches for “moving out” and an unemployment rate close to 5%, Stockton is struggling despite its hefty personal income figures.

St. Louis

Personal income: $390,378
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 3.8
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 96,600
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -7,186
Cost of living index: 88.4

St. Louis has seen over 7,000 residents leave since 2020, and with a crime rate of 84.32, it’s not surprising. Though unemployment is lower than some cities on this list, St. Louis still struggles with social and economic challenges that make it a hard place to stay.

Pueblo, Colorado

Personal income: $478,444
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 3.9
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 175,000
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -23
Cost of living index: 105.5

Pueblo offers great air quality, but not much else. The cost of living is creeping up, and the crime rate is high, which could make residents think twice about staying.

Honolulu

Unemployment rates as of July (%): 2.9
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 37,800
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -9,017
Cost of living index: 179.0

Honolulu might look like paradise, but it comes at a price — literally. With a cost of living index of 179.0, living in Honolulu is far from affordable. Even with low crime and unemployment rates, over 9,000 residents have left since 2020.

Macon, Georgia

Personal income: $668,464
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 3.4
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 217,000
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -3,364
Cost of living index: 91.0

Macon’s crime rate (86.23) is one of the highest on this list, and over 3,000 residents have left in recent years. While the cost of living is relatively low, the crime situation makes Macon a tough place to stay.

Baltimore

Personal income: $469,899
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 2.8
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 96,600
Population change from 2020 to 2024: -6,659
Cost of living index: 119.5

Baltimore’s low unemployment rate doesn’t make up for its high crime. With a crime rate of 86.84 and a population drop of over 6,000, residents may be concerned about safety. The cost of living doesn’t help either, pushing more people to look for a way out.

Springfield, Massachusetts

Personal income: $628,992
Unemployment rates as of July (%): 3.5
Searches for “Moving out of [city]”: 96,600
Population change from 2020 to 2024: 649
Cost of living index: 148.4

Springfield rounds out the list with a high cost of living (148.4) and a crime rate of 85.82. Despite these challenges, the city actually gained some residents — 649, to be exact. But with costs so high, it’s hard to see that trend continuing.

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