Mock

Bottom 10 Cities

bizjournals - April 20, 2009
Bizjournals analyzed 2,065 cities during its study of America's wealth centers. Here are the bottom 10 cities as ranked in the study. A key fact for each city follows.


1. Camden, N.J.
Sits in 2,065^th place, last in the study. Median household income of $23,154 is 85 percent below top-rated McLean⿿s $156,292.



2. East St. Louis, Ill.
Not a single one of its 10,691 households has an annual income above $200,000. The local median is just $22,139.



3. Chester, Pa.
Real estate prices are steep in many Philadelphia suburbs, but not this one. Median home value is $58,900.



4. San Juan, Texas
Per capita income -- the average amount earned by an individual in a year -- is just $9,543. That equals $795 per month.



5. Opelousas, La.
Struggles with the lowest income levels of any community in the bottom 10. Median household income is a mere $18,142.



6. San Benito, Texas
Real estate prices are holding up well in most of Texas, but not here. Typical local house is worth just $39,200.



7. East Cleveland, Ohio
Outside sources of income are rare. Just one of every 20 local households draws any money from interest payments or dividends.



8. Hamtramck, Mich.
Times are tough throughout Michigan, but the pain is especially severe here. Less than one-tenth of adults have college degrees.



9. West Pensacola, Fla.
Education levels are low, poverty is widespread, and houses are small. Just 1.2 percent of homes have at least nine rooms.



10. McKeesport, Pa.
Per capita income of $15,768 is best in the bottom 10, but it⿿s still 40 percent below the U.S. average of $26,178.