Forbes: 5 local cities among America's most miserable | News

In a recent survey, Forbes looked at the 200 largest metro areas and divisions in the U.S. and ranked the 20 most miserable cities based on 10 factors. Sacramento, Stockton, Merced, Modesto and Vallejo were each ranked in the top 20, with Sacramento deemed the most miserable of the five local areas.

The 10 criteria by which Forbes judged each city were judged are as follows:

1. Average unemployment rate between 2009 and 2011
2. Median commute times to work for 2010 based on U.S. Census data
3. Violent crimes per capita from the FBI's crime report
4. Success of pro sports teams over the past three seasons
5. Change in median home price between 2008 and 2011
6. Foreclosure rates in 2011 from RealtyTrac
7. Property tax rates based on median real estate taxes paid and median home values in 2010 per the U.S. Census.
8. Corruption based on convictions of public officials over the past decade by the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice
9. Income tax rates
10. Weather in relation to temperature, precipitation and humidity

Following are the 20 most miserable cities in America according to Forbes:

1. Miami, FL
2. Detroit, MI
3. Flint, MI
4. West Palm Beach, FL
5. Sacramento, CA
6. Chicago, IL
7. Ft. Lauderdale, FL
8. Toledo, OH
9. Rockford, IL
10. Warren, MI
11. Stockton, CA
12. Cleveland, OH
13. Lansing, MI
14. Akron,OH
15. Merced, CA
16. Memphis, TN
17. Bakersfield, CA
18. Vallejo, CA
19. Modesto, CA
20. Gary, IN

Courtesy:Forbes.com