This City in Iowa Named Among the Most Miserable in the U.S.

If you've spent any amount of time in Iowa, you'll know it's one of the best places to live in the entire country. From affordable living to ample job opportunities, the Hawkeye State is easily one of the best places to live and raise a family in the U.S.

With that being said, one city in Iowa has been named one of the 50 Most Miserable Places to Live in the Country. And the reason behind it may surprise you.

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The website, Our Health Depot recently put together its list of the 50 Most Miserable Cities in the U.S. Overall Crime Rate, Median Household Income, and Overall Livability were some of the factors it used to determine its list.

Only one city in Iowa made the list, but it's a town that's been trying for decades to change its reputation.

The Eastern Iowa City of Waterloo landed at number 38 on the list of Most Miserable Cities in the U.S.

Waterloo is a small city of about 67,798 residents with a median household income of approximately $44,429 and where 17% of the population lives below the poverty line. Here, the income per capita is about 19% below the national average and the unemployment rate is 18% higher.

Luckily, the crime rates in Waterloo are just a bit above the national average, giving residents a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of crime. Cedar Rapids, Iowa was named the happiest city in the state—possibly due to the fact that it has been ranked #5 in the nation for the most affordable housing and above-average salaries for 18-34-year-olds.

-Our Health Depot Website

While some of these statistics are hard to ignore, it should be noted that the city of Waterloo has done a lot to improve its reputation in recent decades.

The recession of the 1980s hit the city hard and it struggled to climb its way back in the years after, but recently, things are looking up for Iowa's ninth-largest city. The city has taken great strides in revitalizing its downtown, along with adding the Lost Island Theme Park to the already popular Lost Island Water Park area on the city's outskirts.

As someone born and raised in Waterloo, I feel a great sense of pride in my hometown and can honestly say that many of the stereotypes attributed to the city are unfair. Not only is it a great place to raise a family, but it's also one of the most diverse cities in the state, and accommodating to all newcomers. It's a city that prides itself on education and a wide array of outdoor activities available to the public as well.

So, while the stats from this article might paint it in a bad light, it's important to never judge a book by its cover. Does Waterloo have problems and issues it needs to work on? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean it isn't a great place to live.

To see the full list from Our Health Depot, check out the article, here.

Story Sources: Our Health Depot Website, Livability Website, Iowa Population Website