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This South Carolina City is the Worst Place to Live in the U.S.

Author Catherine Lane

This South Carolina city is among the worst places to live in the country. And I might add it pains me to name this South Carolina city. I live in the Palmetto State and pretty near this city and we love the area.

The folks at NeighborhoodScout.com did some research on the 100 most dangerous cities in America. And they focused their studies on cities with populations over 25,000. They primarily took a look at violent crimes per 1,000 residents. They say the report shines a spotlight on safety patterns in America.

This Is The Only City In North Carolina and South Carolina That Ranked

According to our source ,noradarealestate.com, 1 South Carolina city is among the worst places to live in the country. Spartanburg, South Carolina came in #19 on the list of the 20 worst places. Now hold on just a minute, I live in Clover, South Carolina and that isn’t far from Sparkle City. We experience lovely neighbors, gorgeous property, and newly built schools. But then Clover is much smaller than Spartanburg.

According to data gleaned from research, you have a 1 in 65 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Their analysis includes armed robbery, rape, or aggravated assault as violent crimes. There are many lovely things about Spartanburg. Get details here.

The Absolute Worst Place To Live In The Country

Bessemer, Alabama is listed as the worst place to live in the country. This report says you have a 1 in 30 chances of being a victim of a violent crime there. Bessemer replaces Monroe, LA for the dubious title of worst place to live in the country.

According to noradarealestate.com, “Bessemer has experienced varying crime rates over the years. While efforts have been made to improve safety, it’s advisable to stay vigilant, especially in certain neighborhoods. Living in Bessemer requires awareness and community involvement. While there are challenges, proactive measures contribute to a safer living environment”.

There are some things you can do to avoid crimes or at least to be aware. Keep your “head on a swivel” and be aware of your surroundings. And when walking, don’t keep checking your phone. That makes it easy for someone to sneak up on you and catch you unaware. Safety experts say being aware goes a long way.

Beware: The 7 Riskiest North Carolina Cities For Homeowners

Do you know the riskiest North Carolina cities for homeowners? Purchasing a home is a big investment. And not just financially through the purchase price- though that cannot be understated. You also are investing time, you’re committing your family to the area, and you’re setting yourself up for every surprise that home may bring you. It’s inevitable that there will be some big unforeseen expenses with any home you purchase. It’s if not when. But that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t do anything and everything to mitigate that risk. That’s why the experts at ClaimGuide.org created a list of the riskiest cities in the nation to be a homeowner.

Let’s face it. The last thing you want after you’ve made a significant financial commitment to purchase a home is to find out it’s in danger of flooding. Or perhaps that it’s not up to fire code, or the area is full of crime. Nationally the top 5 riskiest cities for homeownership were:

  1. Houston, TX
  2. San Bernardino, CA
  3. Glendale, CA
  4. New Orleans, LA
  5. Fort Lauderdale, FL
The list and research that ClaimGuide.org shared with us are based on insurance and climate-related factors. The study compared insurance-based risk factors of the 170 most populated cities in the country. Seven North Carolina cities are among the most populous and you will find their rankings in the state, as well as nationally, below. Insurance-based risk factors included not only climate-related ones, but also property crime, the median age of homes in the city, vacant rates, and availability of emergency services.
Thanks to Claimguide.org for sharing their research with us. You can view the full study here. Or keep reading to see how the 7 most populous locations rank when it comes to the riskiest North Carolina cities for homeownership. Do any of them surprise you? Let us know on social media!

The 7 Riskiest North Carolina Cities For Home Owners

  • 7. Cary, NC

    downtown cary

    Nationally Cary, NC the southwest Wake County suburb of Raleigh, ranked 160th out of 170th when it comes to risk. So if you’re looking to purchase a home, this is just another benefit to attribute to the city. It also has low crime, fantastic schools, lots of businesses, and is just a great place to live (or stay when visiting the Triangle).

    Homes with Flood Risk: 12%

    Homes with Wildfire Risk: 60%

    Homes with Heat Risk: 89%

    Natural Disasters: 23

    Avg. Age of Homes: 22

    Percent of Vacant Homes: 8.3%

    Fire Stations Per 100K: 5.0

    Property Crime Per 100K: 1,102

  • 6. Raleigh, NC

    Raleigh, North Carolina, USA downtown skyline

    Staying in the same area next on the list is our state’s capital. Raleigh North Carolina ranked 143rd nationally on the list. Making it one of the least risky cities nationwide to purchase a home. It is a great place to live with all the amenities of city life including professional sports- The Carolina Hurricanes, multiple universities, a thriving downtown, and more.

    Homes with Flood Risk: 13%

    Homes with Wildfire Risk: 59%

    Homes with Heat Risk: 82%

    Natural Disasters: 23

    Avg. Age of Homes: 24

    Percent of Vacant Homes: 13.3%

    Fire Stations Per 100K: 5.9

    Property Crime Per 100K: 2,304

     

     

  • 5. Greensboro, NC

    Greensboro, North Carolina, USA downtown skyline.

    The third least risky spot to buy a home in North Carolina? Greensboro. It’s a city that probably (ok certainly) doesn’t get enough recognition. The city is thriving and growing, with tons to offer. The Greensboro Coliseum hosts national acts, and often the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament. I’ve also heard great things at the developing food and drink scene. It ranked 120th nationally.

    Homes with Flood Risk: 10%

    Homes with Wildfire Risk: 35%

    Homes with Heat Risk: 100%

    Natural Disasters: 25

    Avg. Age of Homes: 37

    Percent of Vacant Homes: 7.8%

    Fire Stations Per 100K: 8.6

    Property Crime Per 100K: 3,755

  • 4. Durham, NC

    Durham, North Carolina, USA downtown skyline.

    The triangle certainly takes the title of the least risky area of the state to purchase a home in. Durham ranked 113th nationally. Downtown Durham is full of breweries, restaurants, the DPAC for performing arts and concerts, and a minor league baseball stadium home to the Durham Bulls. It also tends to be a little more affordable than other cities/suburbs in the Triangle.

    Homes with Flood Risk: 9%

    Homes with Wildfire Risk: 73%

    Homes with Heat Risk: 97%

    Natural Disasters: 21

    Avg. Age of Homes: 26

    Percent of Vacant Homes: 7.4%

    Fire Stations Per 100K: 6.5

    Property Crime Per 100K: 3,254

  • 3. Charlotte, NC

    Things to do Charlotte

    Purchasing a home in Charlotte isn’t without risk. The Queen City ranks with the third highest risk in the state. Though it still ranks in the bottom half nationally at 101st. So make of that what you will. All I can say from experience is that it seems like you’ll get a good return on your investment as I watched home prices nearly double in the past 4 years. Which is great for homeowners, but terrible for those looking to purchase.

    Homes with Flood Risk: 10%

    Homes with Wildfire Risk: 58%

    Homes with Heat Risk: 96%

    Natural Disasters: 14

    Avg. Age of Homes: 27

    Percent of Vacant Homes: 6.9%

    Fire Stations Per 100K: 4.8

    Property Crime Per 100K: 3,592

  • 2. Fayetteville, NC

    Fayetteville North Carolina Downtown City Center Hay Street

    Fayetteville tends to get the short end of the stick when it comes to a lot of this list. I’ve only visited once, and while yes, there isn’t as much to offer as some of the larger cities it’s not a bad place from what I can tell. Fayetteville ranked 60th nationally and as the 2nd riskiest city in North Carolina. Being closer to the coast than any other city on this list probably factors in for metrics like natural disasters and flood risks.

    Homes with Flood Risk: 16%

    Homes with Wildfire Risk: 91%

    Homes with Heat Risk: 100%

    Natural Disasters: 20

    Avg. Age of Homes: 39

    Percent of Vacant Homes: 8.0%

    Fire Stations Per 100K: 8.1

    Property Crime Per 100K: 3,458

  • 1. Winston-Salem, NC

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA Downtown Skyline.

    And the riskiest city for homeownership in North Carolina? It’s Winston-Salem. Though for the city’s credit it still only ranks 56th nationally. So overall the state stands pretty well.

    Homes with Flood Risk: 9%

    Homes with Wildfire Risk: 57%

    Homes with Heat Risk: 100%

    Natural Disasters: 21

    Avg. Age of Homes: 40

    Percent of Vacant Homes: 12.2%

    Fire Stations Per 100K: 7.6

    Property Crime Per 100K: 3,893

Catherine Lane is the morning show co-host and midday host on Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for the past 24 years and is a recipient of the Academy of Country Music Major Market Personality of the Year award. Catherine has been on air in both radio and television in the Queen City for 38 years. As a content creator for Country 1037, Catherine writes blogs on local events and restaurants. She also writes about great travel spots and out of the way places in the Carolinas. Anything outdoors, travel, food, animals or the many country artists from the Carolinas.

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