California is a popular state because of its pleasant climate, stunning beaches, and rich cultural heritage. Still, not every municipality in the state provides an equally pleasant way of life. Affordability concerns, pollution, natural disasters, and high crime rates are just a few of the major obstacles that some people must overcome. Many residents have moved away as a result of these difficulties. These five Californian communities are seeing a population exodus.
San Francisco
San Francisco, a well-known and renowned city, is also among the priciest. The COVID-19 pandemic has badly impacted tourism and hospitality, and many find it financially tough to make ends meet with a typical property price of $1.4 million and monthly rent of $3,100. There are about 8,000 homeless people in the city, making homelessness a major issue. Compared to 2019, the number of persons migrating out increased by 35% in 2020.
Los Angeles
Another well-known city is Los Angeles, which is both pricey and congested. The average cost of a property is $950,000, and the average monthly rent is $2,500. The city is well-known for its smog, air pollution, and traffic jams, but it also has a high chance of earthquakes, wildfires, and droughts. Compared to 2019, there was a 25% rise in the number of persons moving away in 2020.
Bakersfield
Situated in the Central Valley and known for its oil and agricultural sectors, Bakersfield faces high rates of poverty, crime, and unemployment. 10.5% of people are unemployed, 20.5% of people live in poverty, and 5.3 people are victims of violent crime for every 1,000 residents. According to the American Lung Association, Bakersfield also holds the dubious distinction of having the worst air quality in the country. The number of persons migrating out increased by 16% in 2020 as compared to 2019.
Stockton
Another city in the Central Valley with a port and rivers, Stockton, too has problems with high rates of poverty, unemployment, and crime. Due to its high unemployment rate of 11.1%, high poverty rate of 23.4%, and high violent crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents, the city is the ninth most polluted in the country and suffers from poor air quality. Compared to 2019, there was a 12% rise in the number of persons moving out in 2020.
Fresno
The largest city in the Central Valley, Fresno, is well-known for its diversity in agriculture and culture, but it also has high rates of poverty, unemployment, and crime. There are 10.2% jobless people, 26.6% people living in poverty, and 6.1 violent crimes for every 1,000 people living in the area. The number of individuals leaving Fresno, which is the fourth most polluted city in the country, increased by 10% in 2020 compared to 2019.
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