Most Ghetto Cities In the U.S.

The Top Ten
1 Memphis, TN
2 New Orleans, LA

Yo I was born on the north side of the lake but all I can say is that this place is in the dirty ass south and way more ghetto than Detroit, plus we got Lil Wayne and dj khaled yo plus Louisiana got the highest crime rate, casinos and strippers everywhere as well as drugs. Yep, this place is the most ghetto

Story: I wasn't allowed to go alone in the Walmart with the Jazz statue next to the abandoned Six Flags alone because of how ghetto it was, in the car, me and my brother joked about if this was the NOLA Walmart, what would the Compton Walmart be like?

New Orleans is full of crime, strippers, drunks, gangs, rednecks, drugs, and filth. I don't see why it's so popular. It was a horrible vacation.

Gangs. Rednecks. Everything needs a a fresh coat of paint. Drugs. Strippers. New Orleans is so overrated.

3 Birmingham, AL Birmingham is the largest city in the US State of Alabama. It is located 147 miles, or 237 kilometers west of Atlanta.

Atlanta is better. B-ham is a run down, brick layered, pile of crap

4 Atlanta, GA Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. With an estimated 2017 population of 486,290, it is also the 38th most-populous city in the United States.

I remember, whenever we go there with only the boys (older sister is a tattletale, younger sister too young to hear the genre, Mom would scold Dad for listening to it), Dad would automatically switch to the R&B station because "it was the Dirty South, so duh" it was annoying because I didn't want to look like a white who thinks he's black I always told him to turn it down whenever we entered the Six Flags parking lot and all that stuff.

Hard to understand a word anyone says. Have some nice areas but man when you hit the west side, pure country ghetto, and the gold teeth business is in competition with New Orleans and Baltimore. Pure mess.

Ghetto dance moves are invented here. Dab, nae nae, etc.

They attacked Beyonce! That should explain a lot

5 Baltimore, MD

This city is full of ghetto people. Women dying their hair like if they were clowns, men putting gold teeth in their mouth and getting piss poor tattoo inkings (especially when they're dark skinned Blacks), and the kids carry around switchblades and wear gay tight saggy khakis! Not to mention, littering on their own town and yelling like if it was their only option to expression.

-Baltimore City resident, moving out in the summer of 2016

On the news every night. Colored folks riot, burn parked cars, loot businesses, disrespect the law and refuse to obey police instructions - resulting in deaths. Unbelievable.

Wayne. (overseas visitor)

This city is a blue collar failure. There are third world cities that are statistically safer than this trash city.

Hate this ghetto place. There's nothing to do unless you love being drunk.

6 St. Louis, MO St. Louis is an independent city and inland port in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is situated along the western bank of the Mississippi River, which marks Missouri's border with Illinois.

St. Louis is def tops on this list however I do want to add for the ignorant who clearly don't live in the city or around it frl and just wanted to comment the East St Louis is not a part of St. Louis its its own city on the opposite side of the river.

So many good qualities ( great restaurants, professional sports, charming neighborhoods with gorgeous French Victorian architecture, entertainment venues , a world renown zoo, gardens, etc) but unfortunately so many ignorant low life thugs that ruin it for others.

North & East St. Louis City say it all. Vacant buildings everywhere. And the murders. The disrespect. The crime. The racist police. If your black & you go to St. Louis county or South st lohis city. It's like police kkk against every black person. & it's so hot & humid in the summer!

Murder central. Ebonics galore. The pizza sucks. Avoid this place like the plague.

7 Oakland, CA Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port city, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the San Francisco Bay Area, the eighth most populated city in California, and the 45th largest city in the United States.

Epitome of the Wild West! Definition of Filthy. The most Ghetto Graffiti-filled Town.

My job has brought me to every large city in the country with a population over 300k, and without a doubt, Oakland is by far the most run-down, sketchiest city I have ever been to. It has consistently been in the top 10 most dangerous cities for the past five decades. Even the police are afraid! Oakland Police (highest paid in the nation), why!? Because Oakland PD has more crime per officer than any other city in the nation. Even with this high salary, nobody wants to risk their lives.

Oakland has a lot of potential because it's centrally located, and its natural geography is beautiful. Its unique black culture and history are rich and beautiful as well. But even with decades of heavy gentrification, its crime has not changed. Due to its crazy rebellious culture (e.g., birthplace of "Side Shows" and CRACK), this city is far from being gentrified. High housing prices backfired, ...more

Calling Oakland ghetto is a compliment! Only Major US city that I genuinely didn't feel safe! This city looks as bad as its reputation..it could be I'm speaking out of anger but people be forewarned! My whole stay was a nightmare…
My Rental was stolen while getting gas & my work mate was robbed of his work laptop in broad daylight! At night people would do donuts in the intersection near my BNB.. I was warned about Oakland City before coming here, But wasn't ready for its reality. I couldn't wait to return home (Milwaukee) Which can also be seedy in parts. But even Metcalfe Park doesn't compare to Oakland!

I live in a affluent and wealthy part of Oakland and Still have to very careful. Upgrading our security systems with new tech soon because the location is more secluded and a hotspot for gang meetings. The premise home defense system, chokepoints, and secure locations in the house must be evaluated in case of a break-in. the more valuable items are in shielded and concealed rooms with false doors and top rated safes. One must assume the worst of Oakland when walking the streets. If you buy an expensive car, DO NOT buy any car with a non solid top such as a convertible and lock your doors when driving slowly through neighborhoods.

Robberies, Muggings, Gang Violence, Murder, Drugs, and Theft is everywhere in this city. The worst of the worst in the Bay Area.

8 Flint, MI

Ghetto. Can't even drink their own tap water.

9 Detroit, MI Detroit is the largest and most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located across from Windsor, Ontario, Canada on the Detroit River, Detroit had an estimated population of 672,662 in 2018.

Its sad really. This comes from the lack of jobs that Detroit used to be VERY famous for... Cars and motors ( Assembly lines of Fords and processing of motors). This used to be one of the most prosperous cities but as time went on jobs were hard to hold on to because of racial problems, and many that even had money moved to the suburbs. Ghettos like this had not much support from the government anymore and sadly the citizens did not have the money t survive which there are many homeless and buildings not in tact.

I lived in Detroit for a while, and hated it. Rampant crime, poverty, drugs, gangs, filth, etc. As another person mentioned, the schools here are in a crisis. The water is dirty. There are no families here. It may be a major city, but there is really not a lot to do. Avoid Detroit at all costs. I left there running and screaming and never looked back.

Drugs. Gangs. Everything needs a fresh coat of paint. Poverty. Crime. The horrible schools (look up Detroit public school crisis). Dirty water. Who in their right mind would live here or visit here?

This is sad. I've seen pictures of Detroit in the 1950's and it was pretty. It must be hard for the people who grew up in Detroit in the 1950's, seeing it all wrecked. It looks like a war zone

10 Camden, NJ

I lived here for a few months. The school system is absolutely awful. There are thousands of gangs residing here, and the crime is horrible. The town is covered in filth, and everything is run down. There are no sane people residing here. No families. I had a bullet through the wall, and left this hell hole right after that.

Can't step outside without seeing and family with a single mother on the streets, not even because they don't have the money to buy a house, but because there is no where to live. the city is a trash dump, wasteland, and a complete $4! + hole

Everything is crumbling and needs a fresh coat of paint. Drugs. Crime. Ghetto.

The Contenders
11 Philadelphia, PA

I believe a huge part of Philadelphia citizens pride themselves on being ghetto. There's dangerous parts as well. But it's the lack of trying to be better that brings this city down. The more ghetto/white trash you are, you almost get more respect. It's very sad. Try to be better, talk proper English, not get tattoos on your breasts and stop dressing like you're 15 anymore... and for the love of GOD don't even try heroin, oxy or Percocet.

Some parts are good, and some are bad. For example some parts of Kensington aren't that bad and some parts there's just zombies

Worst looking neighborhoods in the country, highest murder rate of all top 10 cites.

12 Compton, CA

Worst place to live in the US is Compton, for sure. The gangs rule the town, and there is minuscule police presence. The town is full of filth, and abandoned businesses. As another person mentioned, I wouldn't eat in Compton. The crime rate is sky high, and nowhere is safe. No families, and drugs, sex, and violence galore.

Compton is infamous for the ghetto population, if you are white, good luck... Gangs outnumber the Innocent, even the most rural places have gangs and drugs galore, and the few children are called "Lil' Homies" there

I watched a documentary about the gangs in Compton, Watts, and South Central and for some reason the local children are always referred to as "Lil' Homies."

Compton, Compton. Ain't no city quite like mine. This place has some serious street cred, I have no idea why it isn't higher.

13 Chicago, IL

Ghetto! It's an embarrassment to be from this place! 762 murders! Every politician in this city is a Democrat and 90% of the population here is brainwashed by the liberal politicians and media in this city, which is why it won't get any better. The Democrats and liberals will act like they want this city to be better, but all what they care about is someone saying a racist comment or the few police shootings, instead of being more focused on the real issue of 99% of shootings being gang-related, and only a quarter of the homicides in this city are solved. That is the real problem with crime in Chicago, and these soft ass liberals are too weak to face the real problem which is why there has been a 57% increase in homicides in the city of Chicago in 2016 alone! This is why I will be moving to Mobile, Alabama when I get a little older since they manage to keep the annual amount of homicides there under 30.

14 Gary, IN

Gary is super ugly. Almost everyone I know from here is super ghetto and even though they graduated from high school they are ignorant. Almost all the homes here are infested with roaches and rats. There are drugs easily found everywhere and youll be surrounded by murders being commited. There is low police supervision. Gary is depressive to live in and it will make you depressed to pass by it.

15 Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn is both amazing and astronomically priced. Just try to rent in DUMBO. Half this country would kill to live here.

Brooklyn hasn't been ghetto for like 30 years. Its super gentrified these days.

16 Miami, FL Miami, officially the City of Miami, is the cultural, economic and financial center of South Florida. Miami is the seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida.

Yo I live in Miami and there is a car accident every day. Once when I was in high school a student got jumped a few feet away from me at a stop waiting for her mom in Hialeah. This place is crazy but the worst part to me is downtown Miami. That place is the worst. I don't recommend it for anyone who isn't rich.

I live In Miami once you leave south beach and cross that bridge it's a whole different world. Also the further south you go from south Miami the worse it gets

Yes, it is a ghetto city. People with guns and knives walking around the city, many drunks walking around.

Full of ghetto druggies and crime and gangs. I don't know who would want to live here.

17 Stockton, CA
18 Newark, NJ

Probably the dirtiest, smelliest, most depressing city on the East Coast.

19 Milwaukee, WI

Children under 18 get killed on a daily basis

Most are innocent of the crime...

I use to live there people get shot everyday in front of little kids that's not right man

20 Rockford, IL
21 Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, officially the City of Las Vegas and often known simply as Vegas, is the 28th-most populated city in the United States, the most populated city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County.
22 San Bernardino, CA

I'm from California, this has the be the most sketchy and ghetto city in the state.

It's sad really, San Bernardino used to be a nice place.

23 Houston, TX Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the fourth most populous city in the United States, with a census-estimated population of 2.312 million in 2017. It is the most populous city in the Southern United States and on the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Tons of homeless, cush corner, always a shooting, car jacking or home invasion being reported. Dirty city lots of gang activity.

The crime rate is through the roof and there is ALWAYS a story of a shooting in the papers there

24 Buffalo, NY Buffalo is the second largest city in the U.S. state of New York and the largest city in Western New York.

Ugly houses everywhere and lots of crime in certain neighborhoods

Not ghetto this is a wonderful city
It's called the city of good neighbors for a reason

25 Tulsa, OK
8Load More
PSearch List