Top 10 Worst Places to Live in Tennessee in 2025

Top 10 Worst Places to Live In Tennessee . Top 10 Worst Cities In Tennessee to Live, Raise a Family, Job or Retire. Top 10 Worst Towns in Tennessee. Top 10 Worst Villages in Tennessee. If you’re thinking about a move to Tennessee, here are the places you should avoid to live, retire or raise a family. 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Tennessee You Should Never Move To. Top 10 Worst Cities To Live In North Carolina. 10 Places in Tennessee You Should NEVER Move To.



TOP 10 WORST PLACES TO LIVE IN TENNESSEE

1. RIPLEY

Located in western Tennessee, Ripley is approximately 58 miles northeast of Memphis and is situated near the Mississippi River.

Ripley is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 7852 residents. Ripley ranks 5th in unemployment, 5th in poverty and  2nd in violent crime  in the state.

The poverty rate of Ripley is 28.1%, which is 100.71% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Ripley remained 10.7%, which is 127.66% higher than national rate. The typical household in Ripley earns $34813 a year, which is 48.43% lower than national average. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nearly 65.2% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate. 

The violent crime rate in city is 342.63% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 81.4% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 29 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 7852
Unemployment Rate : 10.7%
Poverty : 28.1%
Median Home Value : $92200
Median Home Income : $34813
Overall Score : 1/10

2. NEWPORT

In eastern Tennessee, Newport is about 45 miles southeast of Knoxville and is nestled near the Pigeon River.

Newport is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 6865 residents. Newport ranks 1st in poverty, 2nd in unemployment  and 4th in lowest median income in the Tennessee. City also ranks 1st in overall crime and 1st in property crime in the state.  Although Newport is not violent as Memphis, it ranks 1st in Larceny and 2nd in Car Thefts in the state.

The poverty rate of Newport is 31.5%, which is 125% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Newport remained 13.9%, which is 195.74% higher than national rate. The typical household in Newport earns $32892 a year, which is 51.27% lower than national average. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 3 residents live below the poverty line. Nearly one in every 1 in every 7 workers in Newport is unemployed. 

The overall crime rate in city is 246.33% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 143.51% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 14 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 6865
Unemployment Rate : 13.9%
Poverty : 31.5%
Median Home Value : $93400
Median Home Income : $32892
Overall Score : 4/10

3. MEMPHIS

Memphis is located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee, on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Memphis is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 650910 residents. Memphis ranks 3rd in overall crime, 1st in violent crime and 5th in property crime in the state. City ranks 1st in Robbery and Assualt and 2nd in Murder and Burglary in the state.

The overall crime rate in city is 237.28% and the violent crime rate in city is 506.19% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 18 chance of being victim of property crime. Residents have 1 in 43 chance of being victim of violent crime. 

The poverty rate of Memphis is 24.6%, which is 75.71% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Memphis remained 8.6%, which is 82.98% higher than national rate. Nearly 57.6% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.



Population : 650910
Unemployment Rate : 8.6%
Poverty : 24.6%
Median Home Value : $107100
Median Home Income : $41864
Overall Score : 3/10

4. DYERSBURG

Situated in northwestern Tennessee, Dyersburg is roughly 78 miles north of Memphis and is near the Forked Deer River.

Dyersburg is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 16371 residents. City ranks 2nd in overall crime, 6th in violent crime and 2nd in property crime in the state. City ranks 1st in Burglary and 2nd in Larceny. 

The overall crime rate in city is 244.14% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 228.79% higher than national average.  Folks have 1 in 15 chance of being victim of property crime.

The poverty rate of Dyersburg is 23.2%, which is 65.71% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Dyersburg remained 8.3%, which is 76.6% higher than national rate.



Population : 16371
Unemployment Rate : 8.3%
Poverty : 23.2%
Median Home Value : $131200
Median Home Income : $41724
Overall Score : 3/10

5. COVINGTON

Located in western Tennessee, Covington is about 42 miles north of Memphis and is close to the Mississippi River.

Covington is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 8863 residents. Covington ranks 9th in lowest median income in the Tennessee. City also ranks 6th in overall crime, 4th in violent crime and 8th in property crime in the state. It ranks 3rd in Assault and 5th in Larceny.

The poverty rate of Covington is 23.6%, which is 68.57% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Covington remained 5.2%, which is 10.64% higher than national rate. The typical household in Covington earns $34208 a year, which is 49.32% lower than national average. 

Nearly 59.6% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate. The violent crime rate in city is 279.97% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 161.21% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 20 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 8863
Unemployment Rate : 5.2%
Poverty : 23.6%
Median Home Value : $113800
Median Home Income : $34208
Overall Score : 5/10

6. HUMBOLDT

Humboldt is in the western part of the state, around 21 miles north of Jackson and near the Forked Deer River.

Humboldt is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 8145 residents. Humboldt ranks 7th in poverty and 3rd in lowest median income in the Tennessee. 

The poverty rate of Humboldt is 27.7%, which is 97.86% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Humboldt remained 7.7%, which is 63.83% higher than national rate. The typical household in Humboldt earns $31995 a year, which is 52.6% lower than national average. 

Nearly 66.4% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.


The violent crime rate in city is 96.88% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 38 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 8145
Unemployment Rate : 7.7%
Poverty : 27.7%
Median Home Value : $84600
Median Home Income : $31995
Overall Score : 2/10

7. BROWNSVILLE

Found in western Tennessee, Brownsville is approximately 55 miles northeast of Memphis and is close to the Hatchie River.

Brownsville is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 9497 residents. City ranks 3rd in Violent crime, Murder and Rape in the state. 

The poverty rate of Brownsville is 22.6%, which is 61.43% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Brownsville remained 5.7%, which is 21.28% higher than national rate.

The violent crime rate in city is 316.86% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 79.98% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 29 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 9497
Unemployment Rate : 5.7%
Poverty : 22.6%
Median Home Value : $91100
Median Home Income : $35160
Overall Score : 5/10

8. MORRISTOWN

In eastern Tennessee, Morristown is about 45 miles east of Knoxville and is situated near the Nolichucky River.

Morristown is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 29887 residents. Morristown ranks 9th in poverty and 8th in lowest median income in the Tennessee.

The poverty rate of Morristown is 27%, which is 92.86% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Morristown remained 9%, which is 91.49% higher than national rate. The typical household in Morristown earns $33511 a year, which is 50.35% lower than national average. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 67.2% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

Folks have 1 in 23 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 29887
Unemployment Rate : 9%
Poverty : 27%
Median Home Value : $119500
Median Home Income : $33511
Overall Score : 2/10

9. LEXINGTON

Located in the western part of the state, Lexington is about 124 miles southwest of Nashville and is close to the Beech River.

Lexington is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 7838 residents. Lexington ranks 2nd in unemployment, 3rd in poverty and 6th in lowest median income in the Tennessee

The poverty rate of Lexington is 30.1%, which is 115% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Lexington remained 13.9%, which is 195.74% higher than national rate. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 3 residents live below the poverty line.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 6 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nearly one in every 1 in every 7 workers in Lexington is unemployed. 


Population : 7838
Unemployment Rate : 13.9%
Poverty : 30.1%
Median Home Value : $128200
Median Home Income : $33337
Overall Score : 5/10

10. CHATTANOOGA

Chattanooga is located in southeastern Tennessee, along the Tennessee River and is about 135 miles south of Knoxville.

Chattanooga is a city in Tennessee State in USA with a population of 181370 residents. City ranks 4th in overall crime, 5th in violent crime and 3rd in property crime in the state. It ranks 1st in Car
Thefts and 3rd in Robbery and Larceny.

The poverty rate of Chattanooga is 17.6%, which is 25.71% higher than national average. The typical household in Chattanooga earns $47165 a year, which is 30.13% lower than national average.


The violent crime rate in city is 251% higher than national average.  While the property crime rate of city is 225% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 15 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 181370
Unemployment Rate : 5.2%
Poverty : 17.6%
Median Home Value : $174900
Median Home Income : $47165
Overall Score : 4/10

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• most dangerous cities in tennesseeRipley
 
• Newport
 
• Memphis
 
• Dyersburg
 
• Covington
 
• Humboldt
 
• Brownsville
 
• Morristown
 
• Lexington
 
• Chattanooga