There are positives and negatives about living anywhere, but you know, there are just some places where the bad really outweighs the good (yes, even here in Minnesota).

This article from NewsBreak lists the top 5 worst places to live in Minnesota, and I am here to share them with you. After collecting and analyzing crime statistics, unemployment figures, and evidence gathered, here are the 5 worst.

Of course, there is always Minneapolis and St. Paul, but because they are so heavily populated it would make sense to consider them in the list. However, today we are looking outside the large metro area.

#5: West St. Paul

Credit: Google, Google Maps
Credit: Google, Google Maps
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While it has St. Paul in the name, it is actually about 10 minutes south of the city, so therefore it counts outside the metro area. According to NewsBreak, there are many issues including:

“Among the unemployed, 6.3% live below the poverty line, and 13.4% live below the national median income. It was reported that the median income was $56,097. Nearly 2000% more crimes occur in this community than nationwide, posing a significant safety concern.”

#4: Brooklyn Center

Credit: Google, Google Maps
Credit: Google, Google Maps
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Brooklyn Center is a Minneapolis suburb and while it has a strong & nice economy, there is more behind its face. NewsBreak explains that “Crime rates are 70 percent higher in this region compared to the national average. The schools in the area are also below par, with no school achieving higher than a 5/10.” Yikes.

#3: Virginia

Credit: Google, Google Maps
Credit: Google, Google Maps
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Virginia, a city in Minnesota, may be small, but that doesn’t mean it is one of those “quaint small towns.” Virginia sits about an hour north of Duluth, near Hibbing, Minnesota. “Among the cities in the state, the city ranks 25th for crime, income levels, home values, and unemployment rates,” notes NewsBreak.

#2: Bemidji

Credit: Google, Google Maps
Credit: Google, Google Maps
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I haven’t been to Bemidji myself, but I have definitely heard a lot about it, and now I guess I will not move there. NewsBreak shares the following about Bemidji:

“According to the FBI database, the crime rate in the city is the 2nd highest per capita in the state. One in 12.7 residents in Bemidji was robbed in 2020… The town of Bemidji also faces severe unemployment (6.3%) and income problems ($32,193).”

#1: Waite Park

Credit: Google, Google Maps
Credit: Google, Google Maps
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And if you ever thought about Waite Park being a dangerous place, well you are definitely right! According to NewsBreak, Waite Park has the most crime per capita in Minnesota, even if it is a small city just southwest of St. Cloud. What really did it for them is the property crime rate. NewsBreak explains that “there were 119,000 reported thefts here in 2021, a shocking 1 in 12.9. It doesn't get much higher than that in the United States.” Fortunately, every other statistic seemed average, so I guess that’s good *nervous laughter*.

So, how do you feel about the top 5 worst places to live in Minnesota? Did any surprise you? Do you think other cities should be within the top 5 list?

All information is credited to the article from original.newsbreak.com.

Photo Tour: Duluth's St. Louis County Jail Building Redeveloped Into Boutique Apartments

Take a look through Leijona, Duluth's newest and by far most unique apartment building, which began taking tenants in January 2023.

Leijona is Finnish for lion and according to developers, it sets a new bar for urban living in Duluth. Located in the center of downtown, it offers 33 newly redeveloped boutique apartment units with brand-new fixtures in a restored historic building.

Leijona is located in the building that once served as the home of the St. Louis County jail and those historic details can still be seen throughout.

Look at how they've recreated a local landmark in downtown Duluth.

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