Top 10 Worst Places to Live in Texas in 2025

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



TOP 10 WORST PLACES TO LIVE IN TEXAS

1. BEAUMONT

Beaumont is located in southeast Texas, approximately 90 miles east of Houston, and situated along the banks of the Neches River.

City ranks 5th in Total Crimes, 2nd in Violent Crimes, 3rd in Murders, 2nd in Robberies, 1st in Assaults and 2nd in Burglaries.

The poverty rate of Beaumont is 18.9%, which is 35% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Beaumont remained 5.6%, which is 19.15% higher than national rate. The typical household in Beaumont earns $48168 a year, which is 28.64% lower than national average.


The violent crime rate in city is 215.85% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 82 chance of being victim of violent crime.  Folks have 1 in 30 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 117321
Unemployment Rate : 5.6%
Poverty : 18.9%
Median Home Value : $123700
Median Home Income : $48168
Overall Score : 3/10

2. HOUSTON

Houston is a bustling metropolis in southeast Texas, known for its energy industry and vibrant culture.

City ranks 1st in Total Crimes, 1st in Violent Crimes, 3rd in Property Crimes, 4th in Murders, 1st in Robberies, 3rd in Assaults, 4th in Larcenies and 2nd in Car Thefts.

The poverty rate of Houston is 19.6%, which is 40% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Houston remained 6.2%, which is 31.91% higher than national rate. The typical household in Houston earns $53600 a year, which is 20.59% lower than national average.

The violent crime rate in city is 223.79% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 24 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 2313238
Unemployment Rate : 6.2%
Poverty : 19.6%
Median Home Value : $186800
Median Home Income : $53600
Overall Score : 4/10

3. PORT ARTHUR

Port Arthur is a coastal city in southeast Texas, about 20 miles southeast of Beaumont, with a prominent waterfront on the Gulf of Mexico.

City ranks 6th in Unemployment, 2nd in Median Income, 5th in Poverty in the Texas.

The poverty rate of Port Arthur is 26.7%, which is 90.71% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Port Arthur remained 8.6%, which is 82.98% higher than national rate. The typical household in Port Arthur earns $37794 a year, which is 44.01% lower than national average. 

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 61.2% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

The violent crime rate in city is 100.46% higher than national average. 

Population : 54705
Unemployment Rate : 8.6%
Poverty : 26.7%
Median Home Value : $68700
Median Home Income : $37794
Overall Score : 1/10

4. HARLINGEN

Harlingen is situated in the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas, Harlingen is approximately 30 miles north of Brownsville.

City ranks 8th in Median Income, 7th in Poverty in the Texas. City ranks 5th in Property Crimes, 3rd in Larcenies.

The poverty rate of Harlingen is 26.1%, which is 86.43% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Harlingen remained 5.7%, which is 21.28% higher than national rate. More than 1 in every 11 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 56.6% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.


The overall crime rate in city is 77.42% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 27 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 65028
Unemployment Rate : 5.7%
Poverty : 26.1%
Median Home Value : $92000
Median Home Income : $43003
Overall Score : 3/10

5. GALVESTON

Galveston is an island city on the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston is about 50 miles southeast of Houston, with beautiful beaches and historic charm.

City ranks 7th in Unemployment in the Texas. City ranks 1st in Rapes.

The poverty rate of Galveston is 18.7%, which is 33.57% higher than national average. 

The unemployment rate of Galveston remained 8%, which is 70.21% higher than national rate.

The violent crime rate in city is 66.06% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 70.47% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 30 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 50307
Unemployment Rate : 8%
Poverty : 18.7%
Median Home Value : $196400
Median Home Income : $51280
Overall Score : 4/10

6. LUBBOCK

Lubbock is located in northwest Texas, Lubbock is about 300 miles west of Dallas and is a hub of education and agriculture.

City ranks 2nd in Total Crimes, 3rd in Violent Crimes, 4th in Property Crimes, 5th in Robberies, 2nd in Assaults, 1st in Burglaries, 5th in Larcenies.

The poverty rate of Lubbock is 19.9%, which is 42.14% higher than national average. The typical household in Lubbock earns $51623 a year, which is 23.52% lower than national average.


The violent crime rate in city is 180.39% higher than national average.  While the property crime rate of city is 109.83% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 24 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 257013
Unemployment Rate : 4.2%
Poverty : 19.9%
Median Home Value : $147900
Median Home Income : $51623
Overall Score : 5/10

7. PHARR

Pharr is a city in southern Texas, Pharr is adjacent to McAllen and part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area.

City ranks 5th in Median Income, 3rd in Poverty in the Texas. .

The poverty rate of Pharr is 28.3%, which is 102.14% higher 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 8 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. 

In Pharr, only 68% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of Pharr remained 5.1%, which is 8.51% higher than national rate.


Population : 78689
Unemployment Rate : 5.1%
Poverty : 28.3%
Median Home Value : $81600
Median Home Income : $40513
Overall Score : 4/10

8. TEXAS CITY

Texas City is situated on the Gulf Coast, Texas City is approximately 40 miles southeast of Houston and has a deepwater port.

City ranks 8th in Unemployment in the Texas. City ranks 1st in Murders.

The poverty rate of Texas City is 15.3%, which is 9.29% higher than national average. The unemployment rate of Texas City remained 7.9%, which is 68.09% higher than national rate.

The overall crime rate in city is 32.44% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 35 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 49468
Unemployment Rate : 7.9%
Poverty : 15.3%
Median Home Value : $131400
Median Home Income : $49229
Overall Score : 3/10

9. TEXARKANA

Texarkana is straddling the Texas-Arkansas border, Texarkana is around 175 miles northeast of Dallas, with half the city in each state.

City ranks 11th in Median Income in the Texas. City ranks 3rd in Total Crimes, 1st in Property Crimes, 3rd in Burglaries, 1st in Larcenies.  The overall crime rate in city is 112.78% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 133.51% higher than national average. Folks have 1 in 21 chance of being victim of property crime.

The poverty rate of Texarkana is 21.9%, which is 56.43% higher than national average. Additionally, more than 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year.

The unemployment rate of Texarkana remained 6.6%, which is 40.43% higher than national rate.


Population : 36733
Unemployment Rate : 6.6%
Poverty : 21.9%
Median Home Value : $143300
Median Home Income : $46408
Overall Score : 6/10

10. BROWNSVILLE

Brownsville is located in the southernmost tip of Texas, Brownsville is on the U.S.-Mexico border and is about 280 miles south of San Antonio, alongside the Rio Grande River.

City ranks 6th in Median Income, 4th in Poverty in the Texas. .

The poverty rate of Brownsville is 27.5%, which is 96.43% higher 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 8 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. 

In Brownsville, only 65% of adults have a high school diploma, compared to the 87.7% of adults nationwide. The unemployment rate of Brownsville remained 6.1%, which is 29.79% higher than national rate.



Population : 182230
Unemployment Rate : 6.1%
Poverty : 27.5%
Median Home Value : $92400
Median Home Income : $40924
Overall Score : 3/10

Tags

• worst places to live in texas
 
• worst cities in texas to live
 
• raise a family
 
• job
 
• retire
 
• worst towns in texas
 
• worst villages in texas
 
• most dangerous cities in texasBeaumont
 
• Houston
 
• Port Arthur
 
• Harlingen
 
• Galveston
 
• Lubbock
 
• Pharr
 
• Texas City
 
• Texarkana
 
• Brownsville