California is a state with many attractions, such as beautiful beaches, diverse cultures, and a booming economy. However, not every city in the Golden State offers a high quality of life for its residents. Some cities struggle with high crime rates, low incomes, poor education, and other social problems. Based on various statistics and rankings, the worst city to live in California has been revealed: Emeryville.
Emeryville: The City With The Highest Crime Rate in The State
Emeryville is a small city in Alameda County, with a population of 12,692. It is located near the vibrant city of Oakland, and is home to several major companies, such as Pixar and Peet’s Coffee. However, despite its economic potential, Emeryville suffers from a severe crime problem that makes it a dangerous place to live.
According to the latest data from the FBI, Emeryville has the highest crime rate in California, with 165.71 property crimes and 11.24 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. This means that Emeryville residents have a 1 in 6 chance of being a victim of a property crime, and a 1 in 89 chance of being a victim of a violent crime. These rates are much higher than the state averages of 23.8 property crimes and 4.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
Some of the most common crimes in Emeryville include theft, burglary, robbery, assault, and vehicle theft. Emeryville also has a high rate of drug-related crimes, such as possession, sales, and manufacturing. In 2023, Emeryville reported 1,057 drug arrests, which is equivalent to 83.3 arrests per 1,000 residents. This is more than 10 times the state average of 7.8 arrests per 1,000 residents.
Emeryville: The City With Low Income and High Cost of Living
Another factor that makes Emeryville a poor place to live is its low income and high cost of living. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Emeryville is $77,806, which is lower than the state median of $80,440. However, the cost of living in Emeryville is much higher than the state average, especially in terms of housing.
The median home value in Emeryville is $568,600, which is higher than the state median of $505,000. The median rent in Emeryville is $2,216, which is higher than the state median of $1,503. As a result, many Emeryville residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing, which is considered a burden by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Moreover, Emeryville residents also face high costs in other areas, such as transportation, food, health care, and utilities. The overall cost of living index in Emeryville is 178.9, which is much higher than the state average of 149.9 and the national average of 100.
Emeryville: The City With Poor Education and Low Diversity
Another aspect that makes Emeryville a bad place to live is its poor education and low diversity. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Emeryville has only one public high school, Emery Secondary School, which ranks 1,021st out of 1,612 high schools in California.
The school has a low graduation rate of 79%, a low college readiness score of 19.8, and a low student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1. The school also has low test scores in math and reading, with only 17% of students proficient in math and 42% proficient in reading.
Furthermore, Emeryville has a low diversity score of 0.59, which is lower than the state average of 0.64 and the national average of 0.62. The diversity score measures the probability that two randomly selected residents belong to different racial or ethnic groups. Emeryville’s population is predominantly white, with 54.4% of residents identifying as white alone.
The other major racial or ethnic groups are Asian (21.9%), Black or African American (9.4%), Hispanic or Latino (8.6%), and two or more races (4.4%). Emeryville also has a low percentage of foreign-born residents, with only 18.4% of residents born outside the U.S., compared to the state average of 26.8% and the national average of 13.7%.
Conclusion
Emeryville is a city that has a lot of potential, but also a lot of problems. It is a city that suffers from high crime rates, low income, high cost of living, poor education, and low diversity. These factors make it a challenging and unsafe place to live for its residents. Based on these statistics and rankings, Emeryville is the worst city to live in California.