StreetAdvisor Blog

10 worst US states

StreetAdvisor.com recently published a list of the Top 10 US states as voted by our community members. Now it's time to look at the other end of the list - the worst 10 US states to live in according to reviews of their streets.

Firstly, we have to eliminate Montana and Wyoming. No one in these states has written street reviews! Even Alaska has been reviewed. I hear they have color television in Montana and Wyoming already, so maybe the interweb will follow soon.

Here is the list:

1. Hawaii (StateScore 57.96)
2. Louisiana (StateScore 58.78)
3. Idaho (StateScore  59.96)
4. Nebraska (StateScore  63.56)
5. New York (StateScore 64.59)
6. West Virginia (StateScore 64.76)
7. Arkansas (StateScore 65.01)
8. Wisconsin (StateScore 66.39)
9. Maine (StateScore 66.40)
10. Arizona (StateScore 67.11)

What do these states have in common?

As with the Top 10 US states, the answer is not obvious.

Crime? The 10 states with the lowest crime are New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Maine, New York, West Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Hawaii has the 5th highest crime rating.

Wisconsin, Maine, West Virginia and New York are low crime states, so it makes sense that on this factor they are good states to live in.

Population? The 10 most populated states are California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Only New York is one of the ten most populated states, and Hawaii is one of the least populated states.

Average household income? Reading a list of the top 10 states by median household income does not help here – Hawaii has a high median income but many residents who rate their streets poorly.

Politics? 6 out of these 10 states were red states in the 2004 Presidential election. Compared to the Top 10 US states, where 8 out of 10 were red states, this suggests that more blue states means more unhappy people.

This seems to add further evidence to the hypothesis that Republicans are happier in general and in particular as homeowners (and hence more likely to write positive reviews).

We don't take sides; we simply report on the reviews that our community members write. For Hawaii, it seems that a relatively low population and high median incomes does not make people happy when it is combined with a high crime rate.

Tell us about your state

Log into StreetAdvisor.com, where you can write StateGuides that tell everyone what makes your state (as well as your street) special.

Where is the affordable housing on StreetAdvisor.com?

Finding somewhere to live that you like AND can afford is difficult. Compromises are usually made in the search for affordable housing. There is widespread discussion in the US and Australia about the 'housing affordability crisis'. Recent television shows and print media stories repeat doom and gloom stories.

For example, SBS in Australia has covered the issues twice - Desperate housing and Out of reach. According to the recent report from Australia's National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), called Wherever I lay my debt, that's my home (737kb PDF), housing affordability in the US and Australia is very poor.

At StreetAdvisor, we know many of our community members have had to make difficult choices, but many have found quality affordable homes. If you do your research, good value neighborhoods can be found.

At Albion Place N, Seattle, Washington, United States (StreetScore 73.35), resident chasey says:

"Albion Place is full of medium-sized condo complexes with a few, older, single family homes tucked in between. It also borders a commercial area, although these structures are disappearing quickly in favor of condos. It is super-convenient to downtown Seattle, and is within walking distance to the fun, quirky, Fremont area with lots of shopping, restaurants, bars and clubs. Great place for active people who want to live close to everything Seattle has to offer in a relatively quiet, safe neighborhood.

One low-income housing project already exists on this street, and one is being built currently, as the Fremont neighborhood association is committed to providing affordable housing within this VERY competitive, expensive area. Overall a great place to live with decent parking options. Very quiet at night, although can get very busy on weekends during the summer when Fremont festivals are happening."

At Pursell Circle, Sarasota, Florida, United States (StreetScore 70.14), resident Livewithpassion tells us that:

"Pursell is just off Webber. This is a great starter neighborhood in the suburban area of Sarasota. There are a variety of home types but mainly 2/1 and 3/2 ranches. This is conveniently located to shopping, schools, beaches and nightlife. This is an affordable and safe area."

At Grange Drive, Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia (StreetScore 91.75), resident goalie says:

"Grange Drive is in the prestigious Carrington Estate. One entrance means local traffic only. Plenty of playgrounds and large size blocks give you plenty of space. The location is great. And most of all, it's affordable!"

At Poplar Green Lane, Harvest, Alabama, United States (StreetScore 76.28), resident firecracker says:

"Located about 25 minutes from downtown and 10 minutes to area shopping, restaurants, etc. The street is quiet, safe, and affordable."

At W Division Street, Villa Park, Illinois, United States (StreetScore 64.70), resident richparr says:

"There are several affordable apartments and houses here. There is a Metra train station just a block North on Ardmore which means train noise can be an issue, but the convenience of hopping the train to Chicago is great. A few blocks South is St Charles St and there are some good restaurants and fast food places. I love the Hi-View Restaurant for a quiet place with good food and service. Just 17 miles west of Chicago, makes it close enough to do things in the city and still one of the most affordable places to live in the area."

At Wakefield Drive, Athens, Georgia, United States (StreetScore 79.41), resident jascrl says:

"Good mix of people. Young & older, families & singles, professionals & students. Friendly neighbors, quiet, safe neighbohood. Wakefield is a highly desirable and affordable neighborhood. Priced from 120s to 140s, you get alot for your money and priced for any budget."

We have many more unique street reviews and comments about housing affordability at StreetAdvisor. Does your neighborhood have affordable housing? Log into StreetAdvisor.com, where you can tell everyone about your street.

Law and order

Law and order is one of the fundamental issues for every resident. At StreetAdvisor, it is one of the most commonly discussed issues. Here are some of the recent positive and negative stories told by community members.

At W Seventh Street, Media, Pennsylvania, United States (StreetScore 85.41), resident Trixie says:

"Media life is tantamount to living in a small town, however, it is within 15 minutes of the Philadelphia International Airport and 20 minutes to Philly. Over 50 restaurants of every imaginable kind--except Mexican (boo hoo) is here and catering to any budget. Since Media is the County Seat there are ample patrons during the work week that keep this community thriving financially.

Every year there are festivals of all kinds that are well attending by families, singles and couples. It is a pet-friendly community where on any given day you will find dozens of people out walking their dogs (and they pick up after them---most of the time). Media has it's own police force 24/7---ensuring safety year-round."

At Earle Way, Claymore, New South Wales, Australia (StreetScore 17.64), resident whatthe says:

"Housing commision hell hole slum for dumping lossers and hard to get along with drug addicts and lots of alcoholics not to metion one of the areas where scum from jail get move to so if you offered a place in Claymore you want to know how to stay upright."

At Whiting Street, Berlin, New Jersey, United States (StreetScore 53.27), resident pc25754 says:

"This street is typically quiet for the most part. But at times all hell seems to break loose when you least expect even though several law enforcement officers live in the vicinity. There have been many incidents that posed great danger to folks within this attractive neighborhood. The outwardly appearance is NOT always what it seems."

Neighborhood watch by Xurble - Creative Commons license

At Lake Shore Crest Drive, Reston, Virginia, United States (StreetScore, 62.05), resident jmorgan says:

"It seems relatively quiet and peaceful, but that can be deceiving. One should check the recent police report prior to relocating. Burglaries and incidents of rape occurred during the 2 year time period that I lived there. There is a forest area near the parking lot (where everyone has to park as there are no garages) and at night vagrants can be found hiding in it. Incidences also occurred in people's units during the time I lived there. The neighbors acknowledge one another but could not be called 'friendly'."

At Glebe Street, Glebe, New South Wales, Australia (StreetScore 17.64), visitor diatom says:

"I parked my Honda CT110 motorbike outside 25 Glebe St, in the early evening, and within about 30 minutes, it'd been stolen by a kid, and a bunch of kids followed after it. A witness saw this. I told the cops from Glebe COP shop, and they did nothing about it. The residents of that street tell me the kids are 'known to police' but the police do nothing about them. They also tell me that nearly every day, a car window gets smashed in this street.

I've been told this is a Department of Housing area (I've not seen what Glebe St is like, beyond the top of the hill (walking up, from Kelly St), and although some of the people I met there were very nice, and DID speak English, there tends to be TOO MANY dole bludgers, who have nothing better to do than let their kids roam free, and set fire to bins, and steal motorbikes, etc.!!"

Honda CT110 by Zen - Creative Commons license

Community spirit on StreetAdvisor

Good neighbor relations are important, and the sense of community spirit that develops over time in a neighborhood is a special thing. Not every place has it, but neighborhood harmony is something that residents value enormously. These are some of the comments StreetAdvisor community members have made about community spirit.

At Urunga Street, North Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia (StreetScore 65.40), resident longbeach50 describes:

"a narrow tree-lined street that has a fair share of local traffic divides two nature strips that border houses that range in age and shape from weatherboards, to brick to brick veneer. The demographic is a mix of young and old with young families moving in as the areas becomes gentrified - and more expensive! The community looks after and watches over each other.

There is a strong sense of home with children running freely from house to house and parents indulging over a backyard chat and beer. It is the iconic Australia lifestyle disturbed only by the laughter of kookaburras, the growls of possums and the noise of a lawn mower on a Sunday morning!"

At Augusta Court, Buderim, Queensland, Australia (StreetScore 84.92), resident madhun asks:

"Do you remember the time when the kids could roam freely without worry about their safety? Do you remember a time when you could leave a push bike on the front lawn for 3 days and it would still be there? Do you remember a time when you actually wanted to talk to your neighbors instead of involve them in litigation? This place is for you!"

At Tesoro Court, San Jose, California, United States (StreetScore 87.46), tesoroctlivin says:

"The neighbors are friendly and helpful. Kids from different families are outside playing together most of the time. Block parties, impromptu fun gatherings happen four five times a year."

At Rhodes Avenue, St Louis, St Louis City, Missouri, United States (StreetScore 82.48), resident Balloonmann says:

"Rhodes avenue in St. Louis Hills is a great comunity. Many neighbors can be seen out helping others and decorating for the holidays. People take pride in their properties to make sure the whole area looks great."

At Hailey Lane, Munford, Tipton, Tennessee, United States (StreetScore 88.20), resident tchrgrl18 says:

"We just moved from the city. This area is the best place to settle down, if you love peace & quiet of country living. Even though you are in the country, you are only minutes away from shopping as well. Everyone is so friendly. When you meet them, you'd think they would think they've known you, your whole life. Great area for kids. There are a lot of parks nearby as well."

Does your neighborhood have good community spirit? Log into StreetAdvisor.com, where you can tell everyone about the unique character of your street.

Top 10 US states

Recently we looked at the comparative ranking of states in Australia based on cumulative street scores. Now we’re doing the same thing for the US. Lifestyle, health systems, law and order and many other social issues are regularly raised as points of difference between residents of different states.

Although StreetAdvisor is primarily interested in life at the street level, we've built the site so that it can provide useful information at suburb, city and state levels as well. When looking at all the reviews at the state level, we calculate a StateScore based on the ratings of all the suburbs and towns within each state.

Comparing the StateScores reveals a hierarchy of states in terms of their street reviews. According to StreetAdvisor community members, the top 10 US states are:

1. New Mexico (StateScore 84.16)
2. North Carolina (StateScore 79.51)
3. Oklahoma (StateScore 78.53)
4. Delaware (StateScore 78.12)
5. South Carolina (StateScore 77.74)
6. Kansas (StateScore 76.10)
7. Nevada (StateScore 75.57)
8. Colorado (StateScore 75.55)
9. Alabama (StateScore 75.42)
10. Maryland (StateScore 75.18)

What do these states have in common?

We’re not really sure, apart from the fact that they obviously have much loved communities within them.

Not population. The 10 most populated states are California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Of the 10 most populated US states, only North Carolina features in StreetAdvisor’s top 10.

Not crime. The 10 states with the lowest crime are New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Maine, New York, West Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey and Wisconsin.

Only New Hampshire (rated the state with the lowest crime rate) features in our top 10, and two states rated in the 10 highest crime states also feature – South Carolina and New Mexico.

Not average household income. Only two of the top 10 states by median household income – Maryland and New Hampshire – feature in our list.

Politics. 8 out of these 10 states were red states in the 2004 Presidential election. Are Republicans happier in general and in particular as homeowners (and hence more likely to write positive reviews)? Or is this just a coincidence?

Tell us about your state

Log into StreetAdvisor.com, where you can write StateGuides that tell everyone what makes your state (as well as your street) special.

Living near the beach

Many people enjoy living near the beach, and many more dream of it. StreetAdvisor is receiving some great reviews of streets and neighborhoods in coastal areas, and we have collected some of the best comments here. As you will see from the impressive StreetScores (all in the 70s and 80s), these are special places to live.

At S Key Largo Circle, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States (StreetScore 77.95) resident WildDave says:

"Great location. This is the best-kept secret place to live in Myrtle Beach. One or two blocks from an excellent beach. Just off the cruising area so it's quiet, but close enough to the action if you want it. I've been told by friends in the area that they wish they had bought east of Kings Highway; we can easily walk to the beach, but people living to the west have to load up the car to use the beach and it's a lot less convenient.

Lots of development nearby at what was previously the Air Force base. Village Common area with new restaurants, shops and places to live will open in a couple of months. The new Hard Rock amusement park is also opening soon and is very close. It will become the largest employer in the state.

Lots of things to do in the area. Broadway at the Beach is nearby with a lot of shops and entertainment. Nightclubs, bars and restaurants are everywhere. Myrtle Beach is Golf Central. Somewhere between 100 and 150 full-size courses in the area, and lots of miniature golf courses.

One of the only places on the beach where surfing is allowed during the day is here and it is next to a nice pier for fishing and sightseeing (Springmaid Pier). Sailboats, parasailing and jet-skis (Wave Runners) can be rented right here."

Ericeira Beach by @n@bou on Flickr - Creative Commons licence

At Park Street, Collaroy, New South Wales, Australia (StreetScore 88.20) resident leebeilby says"

"We are about to move in, and I couldn't be more excited. My partner loves the beach, and a short stroll down the road is a spectacular beach which never seems busy. I love trees, and we have half an acre of rainforest and a national reserve behind our block.

Yet we are in Sydney and can get to theatre or live music fairly easily. We can walk to the closest cinema and cafe. I never thought we would get the two combined. I love country, and gardens, he loves city, and nightlife."

At Peerless Avenue, Mermaid Beach, Queensland, Australia (StreetScore 72.52) visitor mrated says:

"We recently returned from a trip to the Gold Coast where we stayed at Montego Sands on Peerless Ave in Mermaid Beach. The street was very quiet even though it is bracketed the Gold Coast Highway to the West and Hedges Ave (a busy one-way street heading north up the coast).

As with most of the streets on the Gold Coast it's a very quick walk up to the beach (2 minutes at most) but you also have the advantage of the shops along the Gold Coast Highway (IGA supermarket, bottle shops etc.) and just over the Highway is Pacific Fair."

At Bluewater Lane, Huntington Beach, California, United States (StreetScore 88.20) resident calibeachbum says:

"I have lived the past 25 years in the city of Huntington Beach but unlike the magnot of craziness near the pier and downtown areas, North Huntington Beach also known as Sunset Beach, is the beach town that was left alone to epitomize the lavishes of the Southern California beach lifestyle. Our quaint and quiet street, Bluewater Lane, is literally 300 yards from the beautiful sandy beaches of Sunset Beach. Far enough back from Pacific Coast Highway where there is absolutely no noise from any traffic that travels the highway and serene enough to hear the sea birds frolicking in the Huntington Harbour.

Bluewater Lane is one half block from the Bolsa Chica Wetland Reserve, one of the largest (thousands of acres) undisturbed wetland sanctuaries in the entire country where you are able to walk amongst and enjoy a multi diverse wild life zone right in your own backyard. The actual beach that runs along Pacific Coast Highway is one of the cleanest and quietest of all So. Cal. beaches. Wide open, light brown sandy beaches stretch as far as the eye can see and are virtually empty for most of the year with the exception of summer months where the beach is more of a family escape for those who live inland. Surfing, shorefishing, boating/kayaking and wind/kite surfing are just some of the ocean activities right across the street.

Our Bluewater Lane neighborhood is occupied with some of the nicest and caring neighbors you could ever find. Everyone knows one another and we all feel like extended family. The area is extremely safe with very low crime to the point you can walk or exercise late into the nightime hours outside in the ocean air and feel no anxiety whatsoever.

The schools in the area are all top notch and are highly regarded in California. Of course home prices tend to draw top dollar for the rewards of living in paradise. In fact several Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes choose to call our community home but don't let the secret out. Most live here incognito to escape the hustle bustle of the rat race that Southern California mostly is. I honestly couldn't see living in a better beach community anywhere in the world and believe me, I have visited, stayed or lived in most of the communities being a lifetime resident of California."

Laura Beach by mrlins on Flickr - Creative Commons licence

At Hackney Street, Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia (StreetScore 73.14) sandnsurf says

"Kalbarri is a great town, perched on a peninsula overlooking the ocean and river inlet. Fantastic people, extremely friendly and accommodating. Great neighbors. Everything is close to everything. Kalbarri caters well for tourists, so the locals gain great pubs and restaurants. I love this street, the atmosphere and the sound of a million children playing."

How is the beach near you? If you used to live close to the beach and now live far inland, do you miss it? Log into StreetAdvisor.com and tell us about your favorite beaches and the nearby streets.

Enjoying the outdoors

Elzey Brown Loop Road, Sharptown, Maryland, United States (StreetScore 82.81) is being reported on extensively by community member pc25754, who clearly loves the outdoors and high-action pursuits. He's posted some excellent pictures of Sharptown recreational activities.

Boating and fishing at Phillips Landing

Riding ATVs is fun

Alligators in the lake

Life is also far from boring, though for different reasons, at SR-520, Cocoa, Florida, United States  (Overall StreetScore 19.59), where resident Kathypat says "You have to keep an eye on your kids when they play outside, because there are some gators in the lake".

I don't think alligators venture as far north as Maryland, but if they did, I think they'd be wary of the adventurous people in Sharptown!

Choosing a home - where are the good schools?

Choosing a school for your children is a difficult task, and one that determines a lot of other things, like where to live. Renting a home in the wrong school district can be fixed by moving, but buying in the wrong district can make life tough for many years. Public schools can be of very mixed quality, and private schools can be expensive and may not have places available.

Many StreetAdvisor community members comment on the local schools in their street reviews, and this information is extremely valuable. Here are some of the comments about schools.

At SW Terrace Drive, Portland, Oregon, United States (StreetScore 88.20) reesereese says:

"Terrace drive is a dead end, located just off of Vista Avenue, which transports one straight up the hill from the downtown core area or trendy NW into lush Portland Heights. Homeowners take pride in their neighborhood. There are medium range homes and homes that sell for several million...all are well maintained...some grand and gorgeous and others quaint and charming. The school district is A-Rated!!! (says a lot about the community as well).

There are miles and miles of trails for hiking, a central boutique grocery and a homey neighborhood cafe and bar. Drop down the hill and in five minutes you are surrounded by fabulous shops, clubs, bars and restaurants located on 23rd and in the very hip and trendy Pearl District."

At Cascade Drive NW, Marietta, Georgia, United States (StreetScore 75.44) cubby60b says that it is a:

"Nice quiet street just off the Marietta square. Great place to raise a family with many family-friendly features such as sidewalks, great schools and local parks."

At Sanborn Road, Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, United States (StreetScore 73.42) Olslj says:

"We have a few comfortable houses along a quiet street through the forest cover. Cyclists let out gasps of wonder as they head down the hill towards the bridge crossing the Taylor River. Fall color and natural beauty abound. Walkers and joggers on the street talk happily together and greet each other when they meet. Fitness and family are priorities.

Peace and quiet are prime features, but commuting access is very good (10 minutes to a highway/20 minutes to the bus station/15 minutes to the Amtrak Station/25 minutes to the commuter rail) and shopping is diverse and plentiful in any one of at least 10 shopping hubs within 10 to 40 minutes drive time.

Arts and culture opportunities in addition to those in Boston are sprinkled throughout the area for those who take the time to find them. Schools are strong. Grocery shopping has quality, variety, and pricing as good or better than we've found anywhere in our travels in the US."

At Chadwick Road, Marietta, Cobb, Georgia, United States (StreetScore 83.25) bamama says:

"This is a great street with fantastic neighbors. The area is very quiet, clean and homeowners are house proud. There is mature landscaping with primarily 4br residences. The schools are fantastic, top rated schools. There is ease in getting to schools, parks, recreation, retail establishments, etc. Fantastic - and I've been known to be VERY picky."

At Fewster Road, Hampton, Victoria, Australia (StreetScore 83.81) jlr says:

"Great street with easy access to Nepean Hwy for commuters. Close to two train lines (Sandringham and Frankston Lines). Amazing schools (both private and public) and a good range of Day Care facilities within walking distance. The parks in the street and neighboring street are great for kids of all ages.

There are sports clubs (cricket/netball/football etc) although these activities can make weekend on street parking a little bit of a headache. Hampton Street has great shopping and a wonderful village vibe. Good coffee, nice boutiques, everything you need. Southland Shopping Centre is a 15 minute drive away."

All these are good news stories, and we're glad that many people are able to find good schools for their kids. However, not everyone is so fortunate.

At SR-520, Cocoa, Florida, United States (StreetScore 19.59) Kathypat says:

"I had to place my children in private school, because at the public school they went to, they all got bullied by their classmates that were in gangs. The schools in this area are rated as one of the worst in Brevard County."

At Greenwich Lane, Dallas, Texas, United States (StreetScore 83.46) joe says:

"Most of the children attend private or parochial schools. The local public schools are unfortunately mediocre. The French/international school is only blocks away and the best private schools in the city are nearby."

What advice about local schools do you have for the people about to move into that vacant place next door? Log into StreetAdvisor.com and tell us what it is like to live on your street.

How do Australia's states rate?

There is a strong rivalry in Australia between the states. Everything from which football code is supreme to the price of real estate is a topic of intense debate. Lifestyle, beach quality, health systems, law and order and many other social issues are regularly raised as points of difference between residents of different states.

Although StreetAdvisor is primarily interested in life at the street level, we've built the site so that it can provide useful information at suburb, city and state levels as well. When looking at all the reviews at the state level, we calculate a StateScore based on the ratings of all the suburbs and towns within each state.

Comparing the StateScores reveals a hierarchy of states in terms of their street reviews. Here's the ranking of the states and territories from highest to lowest.

The best states

First - Western Australia - StateScore 72.24 - Perth

Second - Northern Territory - StateScore 71.46 - Darwin

Third - Victoria - StateScore 70.81 - Melbourne

Fourth - Queensland - StateScore 70.64 - Brisbane

Fifth - South Australia - StateScore 67.68 - Adelaide

Sixth - Tasmania - StateScore 65.56 - Hobart

Seventh - New South Wales - StateScore 64.97 - Sydney

Eighth - Australian Capital Territory - StateScore 62.89 - Canberra

Analysis

Some aspects of this are obvious: Sydney in NSW has the highest average house prices of any capital city, and ACT prices are artificially inflated due to the large public sector workforce transitioning through Canberra.

Perth in WA is growing rapidly with high wages and low unemployment due to the resources boom.

Other rankings were not expected. The Northern Territory is a surprise, but this may be the result of a small sample and positive sample bias. Perhaps it is a case that happiness increases along with distance from the political hub of Canberra, which also explains the relative ratings of all the states!

What do you think of these results? They will change over time as new reviews continue to be added to StreetAdvisor. You can change these results by logging into StreetAdvisor.com and writing reviews of the streets you know, love and hate. Whether you think that these ratings are right or wrong, you can influence the results next time we compare the numbers.

Alaska on StreetAdvisor

Part of my job as the Community Manager at StreetAdvisor.com is to be aware of what contributors are writing. I like to browse through the site and stumble on curious posts. I particularly like to look up places I've never been to, and read about what makes them special.

Some time ago I looked up Alaska and it had no reviews, but recently we recieved our first review of a street in Alaska thanks to realtor EvaLoken6896476, who also provided these fantastic photos. This is great, because we like to receive contributions from everywhere.

Hiland Road, Eagle River, Alaska, United States (StreetScore 69.01) is all alone in our map, as you can see below. If you live in Alaska or have visited, log into StreetAdvisor.com and tell us about it!