America’s 14 Most Ready to Riot Cities

Could a Tottenham happen here? And, if so where?

Here’s a list of 14 large American cities that may be ready to erupt. They have been identified by sorting common social, economic and demographic data including: unemployment, education, income, crime, housing and homelessness.

Other data was also included that might indicate probable “flash points” igniting unrest. These include: cities with especially high rates of reported police misconduct, high disparity between rich and poor, city budget deficits threatening social services, high incidence of hate crime, and large differences in home values between neighborhoods.

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1. Detroit, MI:

The poster child for what has gone wrong with American capitalism. {snip}

• Unemployment 21.6%

• Income per capita: $14,213

• Poverty: 36.4% of residents below the poverty line

• 56% of residents spend over 35% of their income on housing

• Percentage of single-parent households: 67.1%

• Homeless: 1,627/100,000 residents

• 3rd highest U.S. city crime score: 356.44

• High school graduation rate, public school district: 37.5%

• Deficit through FY2011: 710,000,000; per capita: $780

• 9th U.S. large city for police misconduct per capita

• 88,200 high net worth individuals

2. Miami, FL:

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• Unemployment 13.7%

• Homeless: 1,191/100,000 residents

• 54.8% of residents spend over 35% of their income on housing

• Children living in poverty: 43.8

• Increase in food stamp (SNAP) use from 2007: 45%

• Percentage of single-parent households: 44.4%

• Residents with no health care insurance: 35%

• Housing value disparity: 136% (std. dev. / median)

• Wealth Inequity Index: 0.494 (Miami Metro)

• Share of aggregate income going to top 5 percent of households: 24.9%

• 18th U.S. city for police misconduct per capita

3. Cleveland, OH

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• Poverty: 35.0% of residents below the poverty line

• Children living in poverty: 43.8%

• Income per capita: $15,583

• Percentage of single-parent households: 58.6%

• Increase in food stamp use from 2007: 25%

• Unemployment 10.7%

• Residents with no health care insurance: 18.2%

• 7th highest U.S. city crime score: 260.60

4. Memphis, TN:

“Not so long ago, Memphis, a city where a majority of the residents are black, was a symbol of a South where racial history no longer tightly constrained the choices of a rising black working and middle class. Now this city epitomizes something more grim: How rising unemployment and growing foreclosures in the recession have combined to destroy black wealth and income and erase two decades of slow progress.” Source: News One for Black America.

• Children living in poverty: 38.5%

• Unemployment: 10.9%

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 23%

• Percent of residents receiving SNAP assistance: 25%

• Percentage of single-parent households: 50.0 %

• Residents with no health care insurance: 18.9%

• 12th Highest U.S. City Crime Score: 256.32

• Housing value disparity: 152% (std. dev. / median)

• Hate crimes per 100,000 population: 5.17

5. New Orleans, LA: (Tie)

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• Number 1 in homeless: 2,582/100,000 residents

• Number 1 U.S. city for police misconduct per capita

• Percentage of single-parent households: 55.0%.

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 54%

• Unemployment 9.7%

• Residents with no health care insurance: 24.2%

• 55.0% of residents spend over 35% of their income on housing

• Housing value disparity: 157% (std. dev. / median).

5. Buffalo, NY: (Tie)

Number one in hate crimes reported and ranking in the top 20 for misconduct of police officers in forces of less than 1,000, Buffalo is skating on thin ice. {snip}

• Ranked 1st in hate crimes in large U.S. cities: 11.47 per 100,000 population

• Poverty: 28.8% of residents below the poverty line

• Children in poverty: 41.6%

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 22%

• 49.2% of residents spend over 35% of their income on housing

• Housing value disparity: 112% (std. dev. / median).

• Percentage of single-parent households: 56.3%.

• 18th U.S. city for police misconduct per capita � forces under 1,000 officers

• Unemployment 8.1%

6. Milwaukee, WI:

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• Percentage of single-parent households: 52.2%.

• High school graduation rate, public school district: 31.0%

• 45.4% of residents spend over 35% of their income on housing

• Hate crimes per 100,000 population: 2.64

• Unemployment 10.4%

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 33%

• Children living in poverty: 41.3%

• Per capita income: $18,290

• 20th U.S. city for police misconduct per capita

7. St. Louis, MO:

Another schizophrenic urban gas guzzling disaster where the work day affluent commuters boost the city’s population by 34.5% and then leave for their suburban oasis each night. {snip}

• Top national crime score for U.S. cities: 381.62

• Housing value disparity: 124% (std. dev. / median)

• Percentage of single-parent households: 57.9%

• Percent of residents receiving SNAP assistance: 36%

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 36%

• Unemployment 12.6%

8. Baltimore, MD:

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• Housing value disparity: 120% (std. dev. / median)

• Percentage of single-parent households: 59.2%

• High school graduation rate, public school district: 41.5%

• Percent of residents receiving SNAP assistance: 24%

• Residents with no health care insurance: 15.2%

• City budget deficit through FY2011: $121,000,000 per capita: $190

• 15th U.S. city for police misconduct per capita

• Unemployment 7.9%

9. Atlanta, GA:

The population of Atlanta increases by 62% every workday due to commuter influx. {snip}

• House value disparity: 218% (std. dev. / median)

• Percentage of single-parent households: 60.4%

• Homeless: 1,263/100,000 residents

• 3rd U.S. city for police misconduct per capita

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 34%

• Children in poverty: 48.1%

• Residents with no health care insurance: 20.5%

• Poverty: 27.8% of residents below the poverty line

• Unemployment 9.9%

10. Cincinnati, OH:

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• Percentage of single-parent households: 55.9%

• 17th U.S. city for police misconduct per capita

• Unemployment 9.9%

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 41.0%

• Children in poverty: 40.9%

11. Long Beach, CA:

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• Wealth Inequity Index: 0.479. (Los Angeles Metro)

• Share of aggregate income going to top 5 percent of households: 23.2 percent

• 45.9% of residents spend over 35% of their income on housing

• Unemployment 11.0%

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 25.0%

• Children in poverty: 45.2%

• Residents with no health care insurance: 18.3%

12. Newark, NJ:

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• Percentage of single-parent households: 56.9%

• Wealth Inequity Index: 0.504 (New York Metro including North New Jersey)

• Share of aggregate income going to top 5 percent of households: 24.9 percent

• 13th U.S. city for police misconduct per capita

• Increase in food stamps (SNAP) use from 2007: 18.0%

• Per capita income: $17,396

• Residents with no health care insurance: 28.5%

• Unemployment 9.6%

13. Philadelphia, PA

A Flash mob struck Center City Philadelphia Friday night, July 29, 2011 leaving two people injured and several others robbed. Police have arrested four people in connection with the crime. Mayor Nutter has decided in impose a curfew of 9:00 PM on those under the age of 18. Businesses can also register their security cameras with the police department. Don’t panic. This isn’t the real angry hopeless commoners with torches and pitch forks, just a bunch of kids.

• Children in poverty: 35.7%

• Percentage of single-parent households: 50.1%

• 46.8% of residents spend over 35% of their income on housing

• Percent of residents receiving SNAP assistance: 26%

• Unemployment 10.2%

• Over 104,000 high net worth individuals