26. Merced, California
Ranking sixth in the nation in terms of soaring unemployment rates, Merced City has 1 jobless person for every 10 of its 82,500 residents. This grim statistic is reflected by its high poverty rate, with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line.
Leisurely activities such as wining and dining are also a rarity here as the city has but half of what the average concentration of bars and restaurants is in the rest of the United States.
