USA Today ranks Little Rock, Fort Smith among worst cities to live in the U.S.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR. -  A jogger crosses the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge in Little Rock Wednesday, May 16, braving warm temperatures that reached into the 90s in central Arkansas.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR. - A jogger crosses the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge in Little Rock Wednesday, May 16, braving warm temperatures that reached into the 90s in central Arkansas.

USA Today has ranked two Arkansas cities as being among the worst to live in the U.S.

Sitting at No. 19, Little Rock is just above Gary, Ind., and below No. 20 Compton, Calif., according to the newspaper’s latest quality-of-life rankings. Fort Smith is No. 50, just above Salt Lake City.

“One of the most dangerous cities in the country, Little Rock’s violent crime rate of 1,533 incidents per 100,000 residents is nearly quadruple the national violent crime rate of 386 per 100,000,” USA Today said.

Such a crime rate "may discourage some from relocating or starting a family in the city," the ranking states.

In its analysis of Fort Smith, USA Today cited that only 20 percent of adults have a bachelor's degree. Other determining factors were said to be economic opportunity, crime and public health.

The worst city to live in the nation, according to the newspaper: Detroit, Mich.

Among the factors considered in the ranking are affordability, safety, job market strength, quality of education, infrastructure and presence of cultural attractions.

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