Florida’s warm beaches, theme parks, and scenic landscapes draw a diverse range of visitors, including tourists, retirees, and snowbirds.
But not every area of Florida is as glitzy or secure as it might seem. Some of the state’s cities are less appealing places to live or visit due to serious problems like high crime rates, poverty, and social problems.
We use the term “ghetto” here to refer to cities with low-quality of life indices, such as high rates of unemployment, low levels of education, low income, high rates of violence, widespread drug use, and noticeable blight, even though it can be subjective and insulting to some.
Utilizing data from trustworthy sources like CrimeGrade.org, NeighborhoodScout.com, and RoadSnacks.net, we have developed a list of the top 7 most disadvantaged cities in Florida.
Below are the top 7 most Ghetto cities in Florida:
Miami:
Miami is the biggest and most well-known city in the state of Florida. It is celebrated for its vibrant culture, lively nightlife, and abundant entertainment options. Nevertheless, it is imperative to recognize that Miami is not without its share of difficulties; with 25.8%, it is regarded as one of the cities in Florida with the highest rates of poverty.
Furthermore, Miami’s crime index is 3, meaning that there are 3.9 crimes for per 1,000 residents, compared to 100 for the safest conditions.
Unfortunately, there are persistent problems with gangs, narcotics, prostitution, and homelessness in some parts of Miami, which raises questions about safety. Brownsville, Little Haiti, Allapattah, Overtown, and Liberty City are a some of the neighborhoods dealing with these issues.
In order to resolve these problems and promote a safer atmosphere for all locals and visitors, collaboration between the community and the authorities is essential.
Opa-locka:
The small city of Opa-locka, which is in Miami-Dade County, is home to about 16,000 people. Regrettably, it is recognized for encountering numerous difficulties. 43.4% of Opa-locka’s population live in poverty, while the city has a crime rate of 67.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, or a crime index of 2 (100 being the safest). It is therefore among Florida’s most disadvantaged cities.
In addition, Opa-locka has a problematic past filled with violence, corruption, and poor administration. Due to its dire financial circumstances, which have been in place since 2016, it has earned a reputation as one of the worst-managed cities in the country.
Some Opa-locka areas are notorious for having greater crime rates and raising safety issues. Gladeview Gardens West, Bunche Park, and Magnolia Gardens North are a few of these neighborhoods. There is continuous work being done to resolve these problems and enhance the general state of the city.
Fort Pierce:
The population of Fort Pierce, which is in St. Lucie County, is roughly 46,000. With a crime rate of 56.8 per 1,000 residents, a crime index of 4 (100 being the safest), and a poverty rate of 33.3%, it has regrettably gained a reputation as one of Florida’s most impoverished cities.
Fort Pierce has seen several difficulties over the years, such as societal turmoil, drug abuse, and economic deterioration. Though it has earned the unpleasant moniker “Homicide City” due to its high murder rate, it is nevertheless renowned as the “Sunrise City” for its scenic waterfront views.
Lincoln Park, Eastside, Park Avenue, and Heights are a few of the Fort Pierce neighborhoods with notably high crime rates.
Daytona Beach:
The population of Daytona Beach, which is in Volusia County, is roughly 68,000. With a poverty rate of 32.5% and a crime rate of 79.2 per 1,000 residents, it has had difficulties and has a crime index of 3 (100 being the safest).
The city has a reputation for drug trafficking and prostitution, despite being well-known for its motorsports events and spring break celebrations.
Daytona Beach has been listed as one of the worst places to live in America by a number of magazines. Ridgewood Heights, Derbyshire, and Midtown are a few of the areas deemed to be riskier.
Homestead:
Homestead is a town in Miami-Dade County with over 70,000 people living there. Unfortunately, it is regarded as one of Florida’s most impoverished cities, with a high crime rate of 46.5 incidents per 1,000 residents and a poverty rate of 29.6%. The crime index, which is scored from 100 to 100, where 100 is the safest, is at 8, which indicates serious safety issues.
Hurricane Andrew caused significant damage to the city in 1992, and despite efforts, it has not recovered fully. Homestead has had a number of problems over the years, such as unemployment, drug misuse, and gang violence. Sadly, these issues have had a disproportionately negative impact on neighborhoods like Modello, Naranja, and Leisure City.