Forbes Ranks Stockton as America’s Most Miserable City

We know studies like these cannot be taken at face value. But they do point in a frightening direction. Last year, Forbes ranked Stockton as the 2nd most miserable city. According to Forbes, we are now the most miserable city in the United States. Our community needs solutions. It is in times like these we are forced to look at our foundations and build upon them. We hope that the Stockton/San Joaquin community realizes that our library system, an institution whose mission it is to better the quality of life for those in our community, ranks in the 7th percentile of the state. This means that 93% of libraries in the state of California rank higher than ours. Our community needs to come together and invest in our collective future.

Excerpts from America’s Most Miserable Cities
By: Kurt Badenhausen

Topping the charts is Stockton, Calif., which was the runner-up on our list last year…

…Stockton ranks in the bottom seven in four of the nine categories we looked at: commute times, income tax rates, unemployment and violent crime. Only New York City has a higher income tax rate than what Stockton, and all California residents, are forced to pay.

Stockton was ground zero for the housing boom and now the subsequent bust. Home prices more than tripled between 1998 and 2005 and then came crashing down last year. Stockton had the country’s highest foreclosure rate last year at 9.5%, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed property. Things are not looking much brighter in 2009 as housing prices are expected to fall another 36% on the heels of a 39% drop in 2008. Also, unemployment is expected to jump to 13.3% from 10.4%, according to economic research firm Moody’s Economy.com.

“We are engaging the entire community and encouraging everyone to get involved and help us find solutions that meet the needs of our community,” says Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston. “Volunteerism is encouraged, looking out for your neighbor, and taking personal responsibility where individuals can make a difference. We are partnering with all community organizations–schools, churches, non-profits– to provide support services and help individuals and families get through these difficult times…”

…Only 15% of Stockton adults have a college degree, which is one of the lowest rates in the U.S. Unemployment is expected to hit 15% in 2010, while housing prices should keep falling back to their mid-1990s level when the median home price was $130,000…

…We compiled our rankings by looking at the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S., which meant those with a population of at least 378,000. We ranked those metros on nine factors: commute times, corruption, pro sports teams, Superfund sites, taxes (both income and sales), unemployment, violent crime and weather.

Metro International summed Stockton’s position in the Forbes ranking:
With only 15 percent of adults having achieved a college degree, and the likelihood of unemployment hitting 15 percent by 2010, there’s not much to envy in Stockton.

Click here to read the full Forbes article.
Click here to read the full Metro International text.