America’s 9 Most Disliked Cities, Ranked

This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.

 

America’s biggest cities are often celebrated for their culture, history, food, and economic power. But some of the nation’s most recognizable urban centers also carry reputations that divide public opinion. 

A 2025 YouGov survey of 2,175 U.S. adults asked Americans whether they viewed dozens of major cities favorably or unfavorably. The results revealed a fascinating pattern: some cities with global influence also ranked among the least liked. 

The reasons behind these opinions vary. Crime concerns, housing costs, traffic, homelessness, political tensions, and economic struggles all play a role in shaping how Americans view different places. 

However, reputation does not always tell the whole story. Many of these cities are also experiencing major investments, falling crime rates, cultural growth, and renewed efforts to rebuild their communities. 

Here are the 9 American cities that received some of the highest unfavorable ratings in the survey. 

New York City, New York 

New York City has always inspired strong opinions. 

Supporters describe it as the center of culture, finance, fashion, entertainment, and global influence. Critics point to crowded streets, high prices, long commutes, and the stress of daily life. 

Housing affordability remains one of the city’s biggest challenges. Millions of residents compete for limited space in one of the world’s most desirable urban markets. 

Yet New York continues to attract people from around the globe. 

It is a city that can frustrate residents while still remaining one of the most influential places on Earth. 

Washington, D.C

America’s capital city carries a unique burden: people often judge it based on the federal government. 

Washington, D.C., is associated with elections, political battles, lobbying, and government debates. For many Americans, frustration with politics becomes frustration with the city itself. 

Beyond the political world, Washington offers historic neighborhoods, museums, restaurants, universities, and vibrant communities. 

Its challenge is separating the city’s identity from the political battles that happen inside it every day. 

Baltimore, Maryland 

Baltimore has a complicated story. The city is rich in history, famous for its waterfront, and home to respected universities, hospitals, and cultural institutions. 

But years of economic struggles and crime concerns have shaped a difficult national reputation. 

Violence, poverty, and abandoned properties have been major challenges. However, recent years have brought improvements in several crime categories and increased investment in neighborhoods across the city. 

Baltimore remains a place where problems and progress exist side by side. 

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles represents opportunity, entertainment, and ambition. It is the heart of Hollywood and a global center for creativity. 

But life in Los Angeles can be difficult. 

Traffic congestion, expensive housing, homelessness, and long commutes have caused many people to question whether the famous California dream is still affordable. 

The city remains one of the most diverse and influential places in America. 

For many residents, Los Angeles is both frustrating and unforgettable. 

Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield’s appearance on this list comes with an interesting twist. 

Unlike Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Chicago, Bakersfield is not a city most Americans immediately associate with controversy. Instead, its biggest challenge may be visibility. 

According to the survey, 29% of Americans viewed Bakersfield unfavorably, but 46% said they did not know enough about the city to have an opinion. 

Located in California’s Central Valley, Bakersfield has built its economy around agriculture, energy production, and manufacturing. It is also known for its influence on country music through the famous “Bakersfield sound.” 

However, the city often gets overshadowed by California’s glamorous coastal destinations. 

Economic struggles have also shaped perceptions. Like many inland communities, Bakersfield faces concerns involving poverty, wages, and access to opportunity. At the same time, it offers something increasingly rare in California: more affordable housing compared with the state’s coastal markets. 

The city’s reputation problem may not be that Americans dislike Bakersfield. It may simply be that many Americans have never looked closely enough to understand it. 

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is one of America’s greatest cities and one of its most debated. 

Few cities offer Chicago’s combination of architecture, food, sports, culture, and economic opportunity. 

However, concerns about crime, taxes, weather, and political disagreements have shaped its national image. 

Supporters argue that Chicago’s reputation is often unfairly defined by its problems rather than its neighborhoods, businesses, and communities. 

Critics believe the city must address major challenges before its reputation can recover. 

Chicago remains a city where opinions are rarely neutral. 

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit received the highest unfavorable rating in the YouGov survey. 

The city’s reputation has long been shaped by industrial decline, population loss, abandoned buildings, and economic struggles following the collapse of the auto industry. 

But Detroit today is not the same city many Americans remember. 

Downtown redevelopment, new businesses, cultural projects, and investment have created signs of recovery. The city remains a symbol of both America’s industrial past and its ability to rebuild. 

Detroit’s biggest challenge may be changing the way people see it. 

Atlanta, Georgia 

Atlanta has become one of America’s most important economic and cultural hubs. The city is home to major corporations, a booming film industry, world-famous music scenes, and one of the busiest airports on the planet. 

Yet rapid growth has created frustration for many residents. 

Traffic congestion, rising housing costs, infrastructure challenges, and concerns about crime have shaped some negative opinions about the city. 

The Atlanta metropolitan area continues to attract new residents because of job opportunities and a lower cost of living compared with many coastal cities. But managing that growth remains one of its biggest challenges. 

Oakland, California 

Oakland has a powerful identity built on art, activism, diversity, and community pride. 

But the city has also struggled with crime concerns, homelessness, business closures, and rising costs connected to the broader Bay Area housing crisis. 

Many longtime residents argue that national attention focuses too heavily on Oakland’s problems while ignoring its creativity and cultural contributions. 

The city continues working toward revitalization, but changing its national reputation remains a difficult task. 

Final Thoughts

The most disliked cities in America are not necessarily the worst places to live. They are cities facing complicated challenges while trying to rewrite their stories. 

Many of them are also centers of innovation, culture, history, and opportunity. 

Public opinion can change slowly, especially when old stereotypes become stronger than current realities. 

Behind every statistic is a city filled with millions of people who work, raise families, create businesses, and fight every day to improve where they live. 

America’s cities are not defined only by their problems. They are also defined by their ability to change.