The 10 worst — and best — US cities for women to live revealed in new study
They should take the “Miss” out of “Mississippi.”
Finding the “perfect” city in which to live is difficult for anyone, but the definition can differ depending on whether you’re a man or a woman.
But a new study has revealed that the worst possible metropolis for women is Jackson, Mississippi, scoring a paltry 23.41 out of 100 on a female-friendly scale.
Finance site WalletHub recently ranked which US cities are the most and least suitable for the fairer sex based on various factors, ranging from personal safety to employment opportunities.
While the Magnolia State capital isn’t the worst when it comes to health and safety, it placed dead last regarding economic and social well-being, Oklahoma’s News 4 reported.
And it wasn’t the only Mississippi metro area that received a dismal rating. Gulfport ranked second from the bottom with a score of 25.04 out of 100.
It was followed by Brownsville, Texas (26.19), Augusta, Georgia (27.82), and Shreveport, Louisiana (29.33).
To deduce the best and worst cities for women, WalletHub rated 182 locales across 15 metrics, including median yearly wages for women, unemployment rates, access to preventative healthcare, the prevalence of rape victimization among women, and more.
The site then scored them on a scale from one to 100, “with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for women,” per the survey.
“Living in the right city can significantly improve a woman’s economic status, health and safety,” said WalletHub analyst Christie Matherne.
Columbia, Maryland, ranked No. 1 overall, scoring an impressive 76.31, in part because it boasted the highest median annual wages for women at $59,230 (adjusted for the cost of living).
Also enviable was the Mid-Atlantic mecca’s job market. The unemployment rate sits at 4% — the 17th-lowest in the country — while 24% of businesses are owned by women, the sixth-highest percentage in the US.
As for women’s health, the feminist oasis has the 10th best life expectancy for women at birth, the 12th highest share of women over age 21 who have received a cervical cancer screening within the recommended period, and the 21st highest percentage who have undergone a mammogram in the past two years.
In addition, nearly 85% of Columbia’s women are physically active — the sixth-highest percentage in the country.
That said, it’s likely that many women “wish they all could be California girls” — at least according to the survey.
The Golden State boasted the next four best cities on the list: Fremont (74.08), Huntington Beach (70.53), Irvine (70.31) and San Francisco (69.93).
New York City, meanwhile, scored an unremarkable 51.8 out of 100, placing 89th on the list, while neighboring Jersey City, New Jersey, placed 20th with a score of 62.45. Meanwhile, Yonkers was ranked 26th with a score of 61.33.
The 10 worst cities for women:
- Jackson, MS (23.41)
- Gulfport, MS (25.04)
- Brownsville, TX (26.19)
- Augusta, GA (27.82)
- Shreveport, LA (29.33)
- Huntington, WV (30.64)
- Laredo, TX (32.63)
- Akron, OH (33.08)
- Lubbock, TX (33.28)
- Columbus, GA (35.21)
The 10 best cities for women:
- Columbia, MD (76.31)
- Fremont, CA (74.08)
- Huntington Beach, CA (70.53)
- Irvine, CA (70.31)
- San Francisco, CA (69.93)
- Santa Clarita, CA (68.44)
- Washington, DC (67.90)
- Juneau, AK (67.82)
- Seattle, WA (67.63)
- Scottsdale, AZ (66.98)
