Minnesota is recognized for its stunning landscapes, amicable residents, and excellent standard of living. Nevertheless, not every part of Minnesota enjoys such favorable conditions.
Certain cities and towns experience elevated crime rates, limited incomes, and substandard living conditions. According to a recent study by 24/7 Wall St., one city in Minnesota emerges as the least desirable place to reside in the entire state. That city is Cambridge.
What Makes Cambridge Minnesota’s Worst Place to Live?
Cambridge, a small city in Isanti County, Minnesota, had a population of 9,454 in 2020. It is situated approximately 45 miles north of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. According to 24/7 Wall St., Cambridge exhibits certain characteristics that contribute to it being considered the least desirable place to live in Minnesota:
- An 8.4% poverty rate, slightly above the state average of 7.9%.
- A median home value of $187,500, below the state average of $246,400.
- A median household income of $57,969, lower than the state average of $74,593.
- A drug-induced death rate of 23.8 per 100,000 people, surpassing the state average of 14.5 per 100,000 people.
These statistics point to low economic opportunities, a relatively high cost of living, and a significant drug issue in Cambridge. These factors can have adverse effects on the overall quality of life and well-being of its residents.
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How Does Cambridge Compare to Other Minnesota Cities?
To gain a better understanding of Cambridge’s situation, it’s helpful to compare it to other cities in Minnesota that have similar or worse conditions.
According to the analysis by 24/7 Wall St., the second least favorable place to live in Minnesota is Bemidji, a city in Beltrami County, with a population of 15,434 as of 2020.
Bemidji has a poverty rate of 22.9%, a median home value of $159,800, a median household income of $36,364, and a drug-induced death rate of 18.9 per 100,000 people. In every aspect except for the drug-induced death rate, these figures are worse than those of Cambridge.
Another city that ranks low on the list of unfavorable places to live in Minnesota is Duluth, a city in St. Louis County, with a population of 85,618 as of 2020.
Duluth has a poverty rate of 18.9%, a median home value of $173,900, a median household income of $52,131, and a drug-induced death rate of 16.9 per 100,000 people.
Duluth also has a high crime rate, with 358 violent crimes and 4,286 property crimes per 100,000 people. These comparisons demonstrate that Cambridge is not the only city in Minnesota facing challenges and difficulties.
However, it is the city that has the most unfavorable combination of factors, making it the least desirable place to live in the state.
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What Can Be Done to Make Things Better in Cambridge?
There are ways to improve Cambridge and make it a better place to live in Minnesota. Some solutions and actions include:
- Boosting economic growth by attracting new businesses, creating more jobs, and offering additional education and training opportunities for the workforce.
- Making living and housing more affordable by providing options like subsidized housing, rent control, and improving public transportation.
- Tackling the drug issue by offering more prevention, treatment, and recovery services, and enforcing stricter laws against drug trafficking and abuse.
- Enhancing safety and security by increasing police presence, building better community relations, and implementing more crime prevention programs.
These steps can help turn Cambridge into a more desirable place for its residents.
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Final Words
Here are some potential strategies for Cambridge to address its challenges and enhance its overall quality of life. However, implementing these solutions will necessitate the collective effort and collaboration of different stakeholders, including the local government, private sector, non-profit organizations, and the residents.
Only through joint action can Cambridge aspire to transform its reputation from being the least desirable place to live in Minnesota.
