No city is perfect, but some cities in the U.S. suffer from various issues that can make them feel unwelcoming or unfriendly to visitors and residents alike. While these cities have plenty of positive qualities, their downsides can be off-putting. Here are 17 of the least welcoming cities in America.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit has had a massive impact on the music and automotive industries in the U.S., but it is infamous for its high crime rates. Crime rates rose as people moved out of the city when automation replaced tens of thousands of jobs in the auto industry. The city has struggled to lower them, and 2023 saw “252 criminal homicides, the fewest in any year since 1966.”
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore has also suffered from depopulation. Charm City is known for its famous crab cakes and proximity to Washington, D.C., New York, and Philadelphia. But as Holidify notes, “some Baltimore areas have notoriously high crime rates and a bad reputation for drug activities, assaults, and robberies.”
Los Angeles, California
The second most populated city in America, Los Angeles is famous worldwide for being the home of Hollywood. But the city is also notorious for its traffic jams, which can be daunting for visitors and residents alike. Visitors must also be prepared for an expensive trip and the homelessness crisis.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is often called the world’s entertainment capital, famous for its luxurious casinos and warm weather. However, the constant flow of tourists and short-term residents can make it hard to establish a sense of community for new residents, and the city’s emphasis on indulgence can be off-putting for some.
Miami, Florida
This coastal metropolis is known for its beaches and bustling nightlife. While it is a popular tourist destination, Miami does have some downsides, including the risk of tropical storms between June and October. Bounce notes that the “biggest problems to look out for in Miami include pickpocketing and purse snatching, most notably in busy places and near tourist attractions.”
New York City, New York
New York attracts millions of visitors every year and is one of the most visited cities in the world. The sheer density of people in the megacity of 8 million can feel overwhelming and less personal to visitors than in smaller cities. The New York Pass warns that “probably the biggest threat in New York is pickpocketing” and advises visitors to keep their wallets inside their pockets.
San Francisco, California
Famous worldwide for its Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is an expensive city that can seem exclusive and unwelcoming to those on a budget. The homelessness crisis is also evident and can affect visitors’ perceptions of certain areas of the city, along with high rates of car break-ins.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the biggest city in the state of New Jersey and is known for its downtown and county parks, as well as the Port of Newark and Elizabeth, one of the largest ports by tonnage in the U.S. It is also the home of Newark Liberty International Airport, which is known for its long wait times and customer service issues. Travel Off Path notes that “wait times at this airport are 25% longer than the national average.”
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, the biggest city and the capital of Georgia, sits at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains and is known for its abundance of trees. However, heavy traffic can make getting around Atlanta a nightmare for residents and visitors, and the city is experiencing a housing crisis.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tens of millions of tourists visit Pennsylvania every year, attracted by its numerous historical sites, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. But it has the reputation of being dangerous among Americans, with high levels of gun crime and robbery.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland lies next to Lake Erie, the eleventh-largest lake in the world. Recognized for being the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the city boasts several museums and art galleries. But the city is also known for its high rent prices and relatively low salaries, which can make it difficult to move to.
St. Louis, Missouri
Situated on the border of Missouri and Illinois, St. Louis is famed for its iconic Gateway Arch and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The city is afflicted by high crime rates in certain areas and urban decay that can contribute to an unwelcoming environment.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has the third highest population of any city in the U.S. and sits on the shore of Lake Michigan. Famous for its rich culture, the city has several museums, art galleries, and theaters. However, Chicago can be extremely cold in the winter, which can be off-putting to those from warmer climates, and certain neighborhoods are notorious for their high levels of violence and crime.
Dallas, Texas
This Texan city is known for its football team and art district, but it suffers from intense heat during the summer. Dallas is also overly dependent on cars, with a sprawling layout that can be tricky to navigate for visitors and new residents.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is a thriving city with a rising population, economic growth, and a growing computer chip industry. The city also suffers from urban sprawl and an overreliance on cars, and temperatures can reach uncomfortable highs in the summer. The Daily Friend noted that in summer 2023, “Phoenix recorded a record 18 consecutive days where temperatures reached 43 degrees Celsius (109°F).”
Memphis, Tennessee
As a logistics and transport leader in the U.S., Memphis’s largest employer is FedEx. The city is also noted for its blues music and sports teams, but it struggles with high crime rates and economic challenges in certain areas that can make it feel less welcoming.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans has a rich cultural heritage but was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Recovery efforts are still ongoing from the costliest natural disaster to hit America. New Orleans also suffers from high crime rates, but the murder rate decreased by 25 percent in 2023.
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