Rihanna once asked “who gon’ run this town tonight?”. Unfortunately, the answer in many cities is a mishmash of incompetent, self-serving politicians and “civil servants” who think little of selling residents down the river.

In a nation with no shortage of potholed roads, corruption scandals, tainted water supplies, and unsafe neighborhoods, it takes epic failure to become one of the worst-run cities in the United States. Yet, 24 mayors, city councils, and other “leaders” have achieved this dubious and hard-earned distinction.

We relied on WalletHub data that weighs the city’s budget per resident versus the quality of services residents receive. From road quality to the unemployment rate and the prevalence of crime and government corruption, we took a look at some of the least efficient municipalities in the 50 states and highlighted the cities failing their citizens the most.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is the municipal embodiment of a hangover. A city that lives to eat great food and party into the wee hours is chronically plagued by corruption, crumbling infrastructure, crime, and life-threatening failures of leadership — Hurricane Katrina was the most recent (and tragic) reminder of the city’s ills.

The mayor is embroiled in scandal, with critics alleging that she spent taxpayer funds on first-class travel. Trash sits rotting on the street corners, with residents demanding someone pick it up (to no avail). News headlines take a surprised tone when the city’s levees don’t fail. It appeared in 2023 that the city might go without safe drinking water. New Orleans is a mess, and chronically so.

2. Washington, D.C.

If there was ever an indictment of bureaucracy, it is Washington, D.C.’s annual appearance on lists of the worst-run cities in the nation. Check in on D.C., and you’ll find a violent crime spike that defies trends, plenty of poverty, and a chronic homelessness issue that is a common symptom of poorly run cities.

It’s not as if D.C.’s dysfunction is due to lack of resources. Many of those who allocate funds live in the city (or, at least, have to work there), which suggests they’d be eager to toss money at the problem. Instead, D.C.’s chronic ills suggest waste, poor management, and possibly even corruption.

3. San Francisco, CA

What other city has a “Human Waste Map?” Leaders have let the “City by the Bay” fall on such hard times that feces-laden sidewalks have become a fact of life. Rather than addressing the root issues that have hardworking residents getting dung on their dungarees, power brokers decided to spend (millions?) more taxpayer money on a poop map.

This is just one of countless examples of why San Francisco is unequivocally one of the worst-run cities in the U.S., if not the world. It’s no surprise that journalists have uncovered “staggering” corruption within the city’s leadership ranks, but it is a real shame a once-great city has become a laughingstock.

4. New York City, New York

Credit goes to Tony Bennett, Billy Joel, and other musicians who have masked New York City’s ills with catchy hooks for decades. You may argue that the sheer mass of humanity residing in the Big Apple makes it unmanageable. Yet, there are many similarly sized cities throughout the world where subways run on time, trash is collected like clockwork, and criminals are deterred from breaking the law.

Not in New York. Garbage piles mar otherwise idyllic city streets, crime and homelessness go perpetually unsolved, and the city is literally sinking under the weight of its skyscrapers. All these issues despite having a larger budget than certain states.

5. Gulfport, MS

As one of the poorest states in the country, Mississippi is no stranger to communities that lack the most basic civil services. Gulfport’s beaches attract tourists, but the community struggles with homelessness and other problems that often plague semi-urban communities in impoverished states.

Those working at a Navy base in Gulfport even aligned 20 shipping containers as a barrier to stray gunfire from the neighborhood across the street. Sinkholes leave Gulfport streets closed for months on end. In a state where limited tax dollars must be spent wisely, Gulfport suffers the ills of mismanagement.

6. Oakland, CA

Oakland keeps putting the phrase “it can’t possibly get any worse” to the test. San Francisco’s red-headed stepbrother has had moments of gentrification and rejuvenation over the years, but decades of weak leadership has the city in the worst shape in recent memory.

With criminals seemingly running the city, matters got even more dire when Mayor Sheng Thao’s home became the site of an F.B.I. raid in June 2024. Robberies rose by 38% in 2023, and residents are fleeing a city now described as a “ghost town.” Things don’t get this bad unless leaders have failed miserably.

7. Cleveland, OH

Some will tell you that Cleveland is an underrated Midwestern city, and they’re not necessarily wrong. Even so, Cleveland ranks in the bottom ten of WalletHub’s rankings of worst-run cities.

As one example of what WalletHub may be citing, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office “lost” $500,000 worth of goods intended for the jail commissary. Cleveland’s own firefighters have sued the city, while municipal authorities have lagged in resolving lead poisoning hazards in older residences.

8. Philadelphia, PA

Want to lose sleep? Seek out a YouTube documentary or news snippet exploring Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.

Open-air drug markets are not usually a sign of a well-run city. In fact, such obvious detritus is usually a symptom of far deeper-rooted problems. Described as “America’s poorest big city,” the City of Brotherly Love suffers from trash littering its streets, violent crime frying residents’ nerves, city workers abandoning their posts, and a simmering sense of desperation denoting a city on the brink.

9. Tacoma, WA

Washington state has long been one of the more expensive places to live. Yet, as Tacoma proves, taxing the living sin out residents does not necessarily guarantee safe communities with paved streets, clean water, and picket fences.

Public safety is low. Homelessness rates are high, as are costs of living. Yet, leaders are telling residents that if they want a safe community, they’ve “got to build it” themselves (more or less). Usually, taxpayers hand over the money, and the leaders take care of the problems. Apparently, that’s not how it works in Tacoma.

10. Jackson, MS

While the Northeast and other areas of the country have no shortage of crumbling cities, the poverty in a poor Southern urban center is uniquely depressing. Jackson, Mississippi, is Exhibit A for the human cost that comes when city residents are let down by their leaders.

It seems almost unfathomable that Americans in 2022 (or even 1972) would be without drinkable water. Yet, the nation became aware that Jackson’s 150,000 residents were under a boil-water notice due to years of neglect. The city is also unsafe, connected by war zone-quality roads, and plagued by high unemployment rates.

11. Denver, CO

Denver residents are known for having their heads in the clouds, whether they’re skiing fresh powder or just leaving the dispensary. Yet, the issues in Denver have become too glaring to ignore. A years-long population influx may have proven too much for city leaders to handle.

A relentless wave of migrants has further exacerbated a years-long homelessness crisis in Denver. Words like “breaking point” are now being affixed to Denver, while housing costs, open-air drug use, and an oversaturated jobs market are among residents’ other pressing concerns. Based on how these problems have gone unabated, residents aren’t holding their breath (unless, well, you know).

12. Flint, MI

Just because Flint, Michigan receded from the headlines doesn’t mean things have gotten any better.

The same lack of urgency that allowed Flint’s corroded water pipes to flood contaminated water out of residents’ faucets and shower heads is still a problem in the impoverished city. While politicians brag about “state-of-the-art technologies,” city leaders face a federal contempt of court charge. The allegation: Flint failed to replace water service lines by agreed-upon deadlines.

Water is wet, grass is green, and Flint is dysfunctional.

13. Los Angeles, CA

If cities were publicly traded stocks, Jim Cramer would likely slap Los Angeles with the “Sell! Sell! Sell! Sell!” badge of shame. Once the epitome of Americana and the dream destination of wide-eyed hopeful actresses from Atlanta to Sacramento, Los Angeles has become a fallen metropolis.

An out-of-control homeless crisis threatens the sanity and safety of residents who pay an arm and a leg in taxes. Hardworking residents are leaving a city with more tents than affordable homes. Residents hear that crime is down, but they don’t feel protected by leaders who boldly demand a hefty portion of their paychecks.

14. Sacramento, CA

What does it say about California that several of its cities made this list? Is there anything about rulers’ philosophies or ideologies that lead to poorly run municipalities? You can answer that for yourself, if you’d like.

Whatever the root cause, Sacramento is in shambles. Do a little homework, and you’ll find that Sacramento residents have the same complaints as residents in the state’s other major cities:

The homeless are everywhere, and leaders seem feckless in addressing the problem. In fact, many have argued that policies instated in the name of “compassion” have only exacerbated addiction and homelessness on Sacramento’s streets (and elsewhere).

15. Long Beach, CA

Nestled on California’s Pacific Coast south of Los Angeles, Long Beach should be an American paradise. Instead, lackluster leadership has made it an expensive, comparatively unsafe community with stunning views.

Long Beach residents deal with rolling blackouts, air pollution that’s among the worst in the country, sewage encroaching on their beaches (which are about the only thing the city still has going for it) and droves of homeless that have become a California staple. Residents are fed up, but if their actions are any indication, leaders don’t seem to give a darn.

16. Detroit, MI

I have taken flak from proud Detroiters for including Motor City on lists like this before. Comeback or not, the facts are what they are.

Detroit remains among the American cities with the most consistently squandered public resources. Since its heyday as one of the nation’s manufacturing hubs, leaders have struggled to root out crime, demolish or repurpose abandoned buildings, and attract top talent to the city.

To be fair, there are many reports of Detroit’s progress, with spruced-up parks and code enforcement being reasons for optimism. Yet, even rose-tinted articles note that a “flourishing” downtown stands in stark contrast to lagging property values and a cash-poor tax base.

17. Yonkers, NY

Look into Yonkers, and you’ll quickly understand why it’s on this list.

The city has faced formal allegations of police misconduct, signaling simmering tensions between law enforcement officers and the community. Broken water mains and other signs of outdated infrastructure come as no surprise in Yonkers. Boil water notices have also affected locals, despite New York state commanding some of the most heavy-handed tax demands from residents.

The data and the anecdotes suggest that leaders in Yonkers are not making the most of the funds at their disposal.

18.  Kansas City, KS

If it weren’t for Patrick Mahomes and barbecue, residents in Kansas City might not have much to look forward to. The city’s own mail service faced an audit after chronic delays interrupted businesses and further eroded trust in the establishment.

In May 2024, the city’s municipal website went down for two weeks, leaving those who relied on the site S.O.L. Leaders were coy with explanations but have suggested some malicious third party could be at fault. In a city plagued by crime and many other problems, we wouldn’t be shocked if an incompetent city official kicked the server’s power cord and didn’t realize it.

19. Salt Lake City, UT

When you think of Salt Lake City, you’re not alone if you think of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You might instead think of Utah’s capital city as one of the most polluted in the country.

Analyses suggest that several human-driven factors — including the layout of roads, airports, and industry — play a notable role in the unsafe air in Salt Lake City. The responsibility to ensure that residents are able to breathe their air without fearing serious health problems seems fundamental.

Plus, the lake is shrinking. That may not be leaders’ fault, but it’s not great.

20. Chicago, IL

Nobody can tell you straight-faced that “Chicago is safe.” Sure, there are countless residents and tourists who walk through Chicago without being accosted. We call that luck.

The data indicates that Chicago — a great American city that has long been associated with crime and municipal corruption — has problems that may be insurmountable without drastic change. There were 695 homicides in Chicago in 2022, while “many” public school students are illiterate.

The city may not have New York City’s trash piles, but it has its own serious issues.  Some say Chicago’s woes are overhyped, but that’s exactly the kind of dismissive attitude that has allowed the city’s objective ills to get to this point.

21. Hartford, CT

You might argue that Hartford should be ranked higher on this list after reading the article titled, “What Isn’t the Matter with Hartford?” Connecticut’s capital city is the epitome of how bleak urban cities can become when they’re chronically mismanaged.

The city has recently seen a spike in violent crime that serves as a poor omen. Hartford is suffering from a growing homeless population. Nearly 50,000 people in the city live within two miles of a “major trash incinerator,” and we don’t mean Hartford itself. Few cities are as bleak as Hartford, which also suffers unforgiving winters as an added negative.

22. Memphis, TN

On a recent trip to Memphis, multiple Uber drivers made it plainly clear to me that downtown Memphis is not where you want to be at 2 a.m. on a weekend night. Sure, B.B. King’s and The Orpheum are fine places to spend your time, but you’ll be bumping elbows with those who think little of civility or your safety.

A Southern city with plenty of character (but also some of the bleakest poverty you’ll find in America), Memphis has lots to do and even more potential. Unfortunately, its problems are dire. Someone was killed every 25 hours in Memphis in 2021, and its most essential infrastructure (including water pipes) needs a serious overhaul.

23. Baltimore, MD

Fans of The Wire will find nothing shocking about this selection. HBO’s legendary show established Baltimore as a city where corruption and leadership go hand-in-hand. The fruits of this poisoned tree include widespread failure in the public school system, an undercurrent of danger in many of Baltimore’s communities, and even mass casualty events.

Baltimore still offers delicious seafood, world-class sporting venues, and a harbor front that keeps loyalists returning. Yet, few deny that the city has problems its leaders have failed to address acceptably.

24. Nashville, TN

One of America’s most popular tourist cities and growing metropoles also ranks poorly in terms of taxpayers’ return on investment. Brutal traffic, rising homelessness, and a lack of affordable housing are among the problems that residents would like to see addressed by their leaders.

These issues aren’t anything a night shuffling through Broadway’s honkytonks won’t solve. Actually, the next day, when the headache sets in, the city’s headaches will still be there. Perhaps these problems are mere growing pains, but some suspect it’s a failure of leadership.

25. Nampa, Idaho

When determining which cities are well-run, WalletHub researchers looked for adult-like behavior from politicians. Rather than running up massive debts like a fifteen-year-old with their mom’s credit card, the leaders in Nampa prioritize solvency.

Nampa’s population has exploded from 28,400 in 1990 to more than 118,000 today. Yet, Nampa’s leaders have not forgotten the city’s humble roots. Incomes in Nampa are high, which means the tax base is strong, yet leaders don’t seem to be squandering residents’ money.

That’s a breath of fresh air you can only whiff in wild, civic-minded states like Idaho.

26. Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville is one of the Southern United States’ most underrated gems. The vibrant South Carolinian city ranked fourth in U.S. News & World Report’s list of 25 Best Places to Live in 2024-25, and you don’t earn that spot if your leaders are incompetent.

Leaders have successfully coaxed companies like GE and Michelin and the jobs they bring, ensuring residents have money to spend. The city is clean, the taxes are low, and housing is reasonably accessible and affordable. There are many cities doing far worse than Greenville.

When residents’ top complaint is the heat, you have to give your local leaders props.

27. Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho, offers a rare combination of wild, wild country and vibrant culture. Stunning peaks and lakes pair perfectly with a top-tier food scene. With such an attractive value proposition, Boiseans can tolerate the frigid winters.

Even more attractive than the scenery and the food are the leaders, who keep Boise’s budget in tip-top shape. Usually, when politicians habitually pay their debts, they also ensure the trash gets collected, the parks are well-kempt, and issues like homelessness stay at bay. That is, in fact, the Boise way.

28. Lexington, Kentucky

You can tell a lot about leaders’ priorities based on the quality of water in a city. WalletHub researchers found that Lexington’s water is the second-purest in the country. This means Kentucky’s horses almost certainly drink higher-quality water than pregnant women and children in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, and Flint, Michigan. Let that sink in.

You won’t find many unsheltered homeless in Lexington, as city officials refuse to let their city go the way of San Francisco and New York City. Furthermore, Lex-Town is supremely safe for a city of its size.

29. Naples, Florida

U.S. News & World Report dubbed Naples the best city to live in—yes, in the entire nation.

While Floridians know Naples as the city that people migrate to as soon as they turn 65, it’s more than just a retiree haven. Naples is also clean, fiscally responsible, and a downright pleasure to live in. Perhaps all the retirees have time to attend city council meetings and keep a hawk-like watch on their elected officials.

Whatever the cause, Naples runs like a well-oiled electric wheelchair.

30. Nashua, New Hampshire

When researchers tallied up every metric, Nashua (a familiar name to fans of The Office and The West Wing) ranked as the fourth-best-run city in the United States. It was the safest city of all, indicating both that the city attracts desirable residents and that local officials emphasize law and order.

Nashua’s economy also earned high marks. As economists and businesspeople know well, a thriving economy only emerges with some massaging from local leaders. A business-friendly political climate is a major reason why Nashua’s residents have fewer gripes about their politicians than most.

31.  Green Bay, Wisconsin

Green Bay is one of the smallest American cities to claim a major professional sports franchise. This is a testament to fans’ loyalty, ownership’s deep connections with the local community, and leaders’ savvy in keeping the team around.

Public services are especially important in a city like Green Bay. If the streets don’t get plowed in the winter, industry (and life as residents know it) would come grinding to a halt. Go Pack.

32. Sarasota, Florida

As someone who grew up in one of Sarasota’s satellite cities, there was a noticeable difference when you entered Sarasota’s city limits. Streets were noticeably more paved, local businesses were more abundant, and the sense of safety and culture was palpable.

Not much has changed. Sarasota has a well-to-do population that pays their fair share in taxes. City leaders put those tax dollars to work, ensuring reliable public transport, ample funding for the arts, and an emphasis on cleanliness, making the city a preferred destination for retirees, families, and talented young professionals.

33. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Nobody would claim that Oklahoma City is perfect. In fact, residents cite the quality of the streets as an area ripe for improvement. That said, it is exceptionally well-maintained for a city of more than 700,000 people.

The economy is the OKC’s standout feature, and the proof of the city’s smooth operations lies in the growing population. People tend to leave poorly run cities in favor of those with competent leadership. Oklahoma’s status as one of America’s fastest-growing big cities is the strongest endorsement its leaders could receive.

34. Madison, Wisconsin

The capital city and home of the state’s largest university, Madison, receives rave reviews from all non-curmudgeons who visit. It takes serious skill to keep politicians, rowdy college students, bars, and countless other businesses in peaceful coexistence — and that’s precisely what Madison’s luminaries have done for many years.

Excellent public schools are among the surest signs leaders have their priorities straight. Lush parks and ample community events are further signs that Madison’s public servants like the people they serve.

35. Provo, Utah

Few American campuses rest in as stunning a backdrop as Provo, home of Brigham Young University. It will come as no surprise to those who know about Mormon culture that Provo stands out for its safety.

The mountain-laden city also earns its spot in the rankings with strong public education, steady employment throughout the community, and readily accessible health services. These are the benefits that fall by the wayside when leaders prioritize their own pockets over residents’ wellbeing, showing why Provo deserves its status as “well-run.”

36. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

WalletHub’s rankings suggest that a well-run city is not always exceptional at any one thing. Instead, leaders ensure that the city is pretty darn good at administering public services across the board. That’s the story of Sioux Falls, a lush, picturesque city with a waterfall running through it.

Residents of Sioux Falls are comparatively well-off, have the medical treatment they need, are confident their schoolchildren will learn to read and multiply, and have reason enough to trust their leaders. That is (tragically) far more than residents in most American cities can claim.

37. Wichita, Kansas

Many of the cities that ranked in the top ten best-run cities are those you probably never think of. There’s something to that — the fewer headlines a city commands, the more smoothly things are running. After all, it’s the flat tires you tend to pay the most attention to.

Wichita is affordable, has a variety of mouthwatering food options (including Hog Wild Pit BBQ), ample public spaces like Sedgwick County Park, and a downtown area that’s far more picturesque (and river-adjacent) than you might expect.

Most of the cons of living in Wichita, including extreme weather, are outside of leaders’ control.

38. Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia’s commitment to culture and history reflects its strong municipal leadership. The same proactive, responsible attitudes that keep the trains running on time also led to the construction of the National Infantry Museum and Spring Opera House.

Positioned on the Chattahoochee River, Columbus is a prized Southern city that offers residents outdoor stimulation, plenty of job opportunities, as much safety as one can reasonably expect, and many reasons to take pride in the community.