Which Georgia city is “neediest?” See where your town ranks among other US cities
‘Tis the season for joy and kindness, but it is also the season in which the glaring differences between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ become more obvious.
Columbus is no exception and is ranked in the top 50 of the neediest cities in the U.S. WalletHub compared over 180 U.S. cities using a few key metrics that determine how “needy” a city is and Columbus is not the only Georgia city that landed on the list.
What factors make a city “needy?”
Derek Wu, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Virginia, says the most significant issue low-income families face is “navigating the fragmented and complex safety net system.”
Eligibility for various programs can be extremely complicated and prohibitive to accessing help, therefore keeping people in poverty.
There are a few indicators that paint a detailed picture of the economic well-being, health and safety of each city.
These factors include:
Child and Adult Poverty Rates
Unemployment Rates
Homelessness Rates
Uninsured Rates
Food Insecurity Rates
Crime Rates
Columbus: #41
Ranked in the top 50 of U.S. cities that classify as the neediest, Columbus measures fairly poorly for health and safety and even worse for economic well being.
Poverty rate — 22%, which is roughly twice the national average. The poverty rate for children under 5 is 26%.
Wellness — ranked at the bottom of a list of healthiest cites 179 out of 182).
Access to healthcare — came in dead last
Food and fitness — has poor ratings in terms of access to nutritious food and opportunities for physical activity.
Augusta: #7
Ranking: Among the top 10 neediest cities in the U.S., there are some key issues determining this number:
High child poverty rates
Significant food insecurity
Elevated crime rates
High rates of uninsured residents
Atlanta: #47
Historically, Atlanta has been ranked as one of the neediest cities in the nation for several years, including 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Some of the major concerns for the area include:
High homelessness rate (tied for first in the country)
Significant child poverty rate
Food insecurity and crime rates
The best and the worst
These cities were ranked in the top and bottom of all 182 cities.
Neediest:
#1 — Detroit, Michigan
#2 — Gulfport, Mississippi
#3 — Brownsville, Texas
#4 — Cleveland, Ohio
#5 — Shreveport, Louisiana
Better off:
#182 — Columbus, Maryland
#181 — Overland Park, Kansas
#180 — Bismarck, North Dakota
#179 — Pearl City, Hawaii
#178 — Fremont, California
Although poverty and “neediness” is exceptionally acute during the holidays, it is a year-round problem.
