The Saddest, Unhappiest Cities in America

15. Birmingham, Alabama

Population loss over the last decade has led to stifled employment opportunities in Birmingham and a huge increase in the jobless rate. Its high poverty rate makes it one of the poorest cities in the country. Residents say there are signs that the city is working to improve things, including discrimination. However, because the state closed a majority of its psychiatric hospitals in 2015, the act severely impacted access to mental health care in Birmingham, resulting in a negative ripple effect for many residents.

• Unemployment Rate: 13.30%
• Divorce Rate: 15.2%
• Three-Year Change in Earnings Per Individual: -0.28%
• Well-Being Index Score: 62.00
• Poor Mental Health Days: 4.00
• Misery Score: 81