Here We Go Again; Chicago Still Among Forbes' "Most Miserable Cities"
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's becoming an annual tradition, and one Chicago residents can't be proud of. Forbes Magazine again listed Chicago among its 10 Most Miserable Cities in America.
Not only that, but Chicago has been steadily climbing -- or dropping, more appropriately -- the list the past few years, hitting #4 this year. It ranked 6th on the list last year, 7th in 2011, and 10th in 2010. It's not Chicago's worst listing, though. In 2009, Chicago was ranked 3rd most miserable.
The Windy City has been on Forbes' list of 10 Most Miserable Cities since at least 2008.
Chicago's got some company from its neighbors in Illinois. Rockford made #3 on this year's list, and Lake County made it at #9.
"A three decade decline in the manufacturing base has hurt Rockford's economy and kept unemployment high. Job fairs like the above are busy servicing the city's 11.2% unemployed, which is one of the highest rates in the U.S. Another burden: high property tax rates," Forbes said.
As for Lake County, Forbes wrote: "The Chicago suburb is one of the richest counties in the U.S., as measured by per capita income. But home prices are down 29% over the past 5 years. Other drawbacks: long commutes and lousy weather."
This year's list is topped, so to speak, by Detroit. Like Chicago, Detroit is a regular on the list, as are Cleveland; Miami; Memphis; Flint, Mich.; and Stockton, Calif.
