Problems with education and crime push Baltimore onto a list of the worst-run cities in America, according to a new study by WalletHub.
According to the study, Baltimore ranks 132 on a list of 149 cities. Baltimore ranks just ahead of Riverside, California, and just behind Salt Lake City, Utah, according to the study.
The research examined several factors, including financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution. Those dimensions covered 36 metrics, each getting different weights in the evaluation.
Baltimore scored best in financial stability at number 45, according to the rankings. Baltimore’s lowest scores were at number 146 in high school graduation rates and tied for number 140 for violent crime rate.
James Davenport, Associate Dean for Social Sciences at Rose State College in Oklahoma, said in a news release that no community is immune to crime, and people want to live where they feel safe.
“Low levels of crime indicate the city is handling this issue well. However, this does not mean a city must take a âlock-them-upâ attitude. Increasingly, social science research is demonstrating that over-incarceration brings its own set of social ills,” said Davenport.
Baltimore may be facing an executive leadership crisis, according to Human Resources Director Quinton Herbert, who made the comment at a city council hearing in May. There are almost a dozen city agencies whose leaders have stepped down, including the police department, fire department, health department and transportation department.
One other Maryland city appears on the list. Frederick, Maryland, ranks 74th on the list of best-run cities in America.
The best-run city in America, according to the study, is Nampa, Idaho. The worst-run city is San Francisco, according to the study.