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Worst Places to Live in Texas in 2023 & 2024

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Via: jbb • 10 months ago • 13 comments

By: Marco Santarelli (Norada Real Estate Investments)

Worst Places to Live in Texas in 2023 & 2024

Discover the worst places to live in Texas. We unveil the areas you might want to avoid, highlighting key factors and statistics.

S E E D E D C O N T E N T

December 13, 2023 by Marco Santarelli

In the vast landscape of Texas, there are communities facing significant challenges that make them less than ideal for residents. From economic hardships to social issues, each town and city on this list has its unique set of obstacles that impact the daily lives of its residents.

Whether it's the ramifications of repeated natural disasters, high rates of unemployment, or underperforming school systems, the challenges paint a vivid picture of the hurdles faced by these Texas locales. Let us examine some of the worst places to live in Texas.

Worst Places to Live in Texas in 2023

Hutchins

This small town near Dallas has a high poverty rate of 35%, a high unemployment rate of 8.3%, and a high crime rate of 60% above the national average. The education and housing quality are also low, making it a poor choice for living.

Robstown

The small agricultural hub of Robstown near the Corpus Christi area offers very little outside of crop harvesting jobs. Nearly 40% of the population lives below the poverty line with limited access to resources for advancement. Public schools are underfunded with extremely poor testing results. The violent crime rate is also about three times higher than average.

This town claims to be the birthplace of Texas hold 'em poker, but it also has a lot of problems. It has a high poverty rate of 32%, a high unemployment rate of 11.8%, and a low median home value of $76,300. It also ranks low on education, health, and environment.

With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Robstown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32. Within Texas, more than 92% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Robstown.

Livingston

This town located near Lake Livingston has a high crime rate of 90% above the national average. It has a low median income of $33,000, a low median home value of $88,900, and a low graduation rate of 77%. It also has poor health and environmental indicators.

San Benito

Near the Mexico border and the Rio Grande Valley, San Benito suffers from high poverty levels reaching 30% of households, below-average incomes, under-resourced schools, as well as crime rates that are more than double state rates. The cost of living is relatively affordable here, but economic opportunities and quality of life measures lag behind most of Texas.

The crime rate in San Benito is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest. According to Neighborhoodscout, based on FBI crime data, San Benito is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Texas, San Benito has a crime rate that is higher than 84% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Balch Springs

A suburb 15 miles east of Dallas, Balch Springs tops our list as the current worst place to live in Texas. Violent crimes are 225% higher than average here while poverty and unemployment are both widespread. City infrastructure is outdated and failing while recreational opportunities are very minimal for families. The school district is also considered one of the most deficient.

This suburb of Dallas has a high crime rate of 70% above the national average, a high poverty rate of 25%, and a low median home value of $97,200. It also has low ratings on education, health, and the environment.

Port Arthur

On the Sabine Lake between Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico sits Port Arthur, an area ravaged by crime, poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and the lasting impacts of repeated hurricanes and tropical storms. Nearly 1 in 3 residents live below the poverty line as the city suffers from a declining population and tax base.

This city on the Gulf Coast has a high poverty rate of 28%, a high unemployment rate of 10.4%, and a low median home value of $64,600. It also has poor health and environmental conditions, especially after being hit by several hurricanes.

Cleveland

This town, not related to the one in Ohio, has a high poverty rate of 29%, a high unemployment rate of 9.2%, and a low median home value of $91,500. It also has low scores on education, health, and environment.

Donna

This city in the Rio Grande Valley has a high poverty rate of 36%, a high unemployment rate of 9.9%, and a low median home value of $64,800. It also has low scores on education, health, and environment.

Killeen

The city of Killeen has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation even though it has given birth to stars like Ne-Yo and Clayton Kershaw. Gang violence and drug trafficking are ongoing issues that blanket the community in fear and limit economic mobility for many residents. Public school performance is also bleak here.

Freeport

Freeport occupies an ideal coastal location on the Gulf of Mexico south of Houston, but high rates of poverty, vanishing economic opportunities, crime, and weak city services make it one of the least desirable areas to plant roots in Texas. The cost of living is low, but so is the quality of life by most measures.

This city on the Brazos River has a high poverty rate of 24%, a high unemployment rate of 9.7%, and a low median home value of $79,900. It also has poor health and environmental quality.

Sinton

This city in San Patricio County has a high poverty rate of 26%, a high unemployment rate of 8.7%, and a low median home value of $75,400. It also has low ratings on education, health, and the environment.

Jacksonville

This city in Cherokee County has a high poverty rate of 25%, a high unemployment rate of 8.6%, and a low median home value of $87,300. It also has low scores on education, health, and environment.

Dilley

Located about an hour southwest of San Antonio, Dilley has struggled economically for years. The small town of around 4,000 residents has limited job opportunities outside of agriculture, an underfunded school system, as well as elevated rates of poverty and crime compared to state averages. Housing options are sparse and aging as well.

Orange

Situated east of Houston near Louisiana, Orange has stagnated economically with the decline of the shipbuilding and fishing industries that once drove the local economy. Today roughly one-third of residents live in poverty as crime, drugs, and gang activity run rampant. Public infrastructure is crumbling in many neighborhoods as well.

Snyder

In West Texas north of the Permian Basin, Snyder has become one of the poorest places in the state with unemployment triple the national average. City services like public transportation and recreation opportunities are extremely limited for the town's size. Violent crime has also been on the rise in recent years.

Raymondville

The small town of Raymondville has the unfortunate distinction of being the poorest city in the entire state of Texas by a number of metrics. Located 40 miles north of the Mexico border, nearly half the population lives below the poverty line with limited access to steady employment, healthcare, or other critical services. Drug trafficking is also a major problem.

While many parts of Texas continue booming, these places represent some of the least opportune places to put down roots based on critical factors like crime, poverty, employment, infrastructure health, educational opportunities, and general quality of life.

They each face their own mix of complex socioeconomic challenges in providing residents with basic needs and access to advancement. However, strategic investments and partnerships focused on economic development, infrastructure, policing, and education in the coming years could help set some of these troubled areas on an improved track.