This South Carolina City is the Worst Place to Live in the U.S.

This South Carolina city is among the worst places to live in the country. And I might add it pains me to name this South Carolina city. I live in the Palmetto State and pretty near this city and we love the area.

The folks at NeighborhoodScout.com did some research on the 100 most dangerous cities in America. And they focused their studies on cities with populations over 25,000. They primarily took a look at violent crimes per 1,000 residents. They say the report shines a spotlight on safety patterns in America.

According to our source ,noradarealestate.com, 1 South Carolina city is among the worst places to live in the country. Spartanburg, South Carolina came in #19 on the list of the 20 worst places. Now hold on just a minute, I live in Clover, South Carolina and that isn't far from Sparkle City. We experience lovely neighbors, gorgeous property, and newly built schools. But then Clover is much smaller than Spartanburg.

According to data gleaned from research, you have a 1 in 65 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Their analysis includes armed robbery, rape, or aggravated assault as violent crimes. There are many lovely things about Spartanburg. Get details here.

Bessemer, Alabama is listed as the worst place to live in the country. This report says you have a 1 in 30 chances of being a victim of a violent crime there. Bessemer replaces Monroe, LA for the dubious title of worst place to live in the country.

According to noradarealestate.com, "Bessemer has experienced varying crime rates over the years. While efforts have been made to improve safety, it's advisable to stay vigilant, especially in certain neighborhoods. Living in Bessemer requires awareness and community involvement. While there are challenges, proactive measures contribute to a safer living environment".

There are some things you can do to avoid crimes or at least to be aware. Keep your "head on a swivel" and be aware of your surroundings. And when walking, don't keep checking your phone. That makes it easy for someone to sneak up on you and catch you unaware. Safety experts say being aware goes a long way.

Do you know the riskiest North Carolina cities for homeowners? Purchasing a home is a big investment. And not just financially through the purchase price- though that cannot be understated. You also are investing time, you're committing your family to the area, and you're setting yourself up for every surprise that home may bring you. It's inevitable that there will be some big unforeseen expenses with any home you purchase. It's if not when. But that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't do anything and everything to mitigate that risk. That's why the experts at ClaimGuide.org created a list of the riskiest cities in the nation to be a homeowner.

Let's face it. The last thing you want after you've made a significant financial commitment to purchase a home is to find out it's in danger of flooding. Or perhaps that it's not up to fire code, or the area is full of crime. Nationally the top 5 riskiest cities for homeownership were:

Nationally Cary, NC the southwest Wake County suburb of Raleigh, ranked 160th out of 170th when it comes to risk. So if you're looking to purchase a home, this is just another benefit to attribute to the city. It also has low crime, fantastic schools, lots of businesses, and is just a great place to live (or stay when visiting the Triangle).

Homes with Flood Risk: 12%

Homes with Wildfire Risk: 60%

Homes with Heat Risk: 89%

Natural Disasters: 23

Avg. Age of Homes: 22

Percent of Vacant Homes: 8.3%

Fire Stations Per 100K: 5.0

Property Crime Per 100K: 1,102

Staying in the same area next on the list is our state's capital. Raleigh North Carolina ranked 143rd nationally on the list. Making it one of the least risky cities nationwide to purchase a home. It is a great place to live with all the amenities of city life including professional sports- The Carolina Hurricanes, multiple universities, a thriving downtown, and more.

Homes with Flood Risk: 13%

Homes with Wildfire Risk: 59%

Homes with Heat Risk: 82%

Natural Disasters: 23

Avg. Age of Homes: 24

Percent of Vacant Homes: 13.3%

Fire Stations Per 100K: 5.9

Property Crime Per 100K: 2,304

The third least risky spot to buy a home in North Carolina? Greensboro. It's a city that probably (ok certainly) doesn't get enough recognition. The city is thriving and growing, with tons to offer. The Greensboro Coliseum hosts national acts, and often the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament. I've also heard great things at the developing food and drink scene. It ranked 120th nationally.

Homes with Flood Risk: 10%

Homes with Wildfire Risk: 35%

Homes with Heat Risk: 100%

Natural Disasters: 25

Avg. Age of Homes: 37

Percent of Vacant Homes: 7.8%

Fire Stations Per 100K: 8.6

Property Crime Per 100K: 3,755

The triangle certainly takes the title of the least risky area of the state to purchase a home in. Durham ranked 113th nationally. Downtown Durham is full of breweries, restaurants, the DPAC for performing arts and concerts, and a minor league baseball stadium home to the Durham Bulls. It also tends to be a little more affordable than other cities/suburbs in the Triangle.

Homes with Flood Risk: 9%

Homes with Wildfire Risk: 73%

Homes with Heat Risk: 97%

Natural Disasters: 21

Avg. Age of Homes: 26

Percent of Vacant Homes: 7.4%

Fire Stations Per 100K: 6.5

Property Crime Per 100K: 3,254

Purchasing a home in Charlotte isn't without risk. The Queen City ranks with the third highest risk in the state. Though it still ranks in the bottom half nationally at 101st. So make of that what you will. All I can say from experience is that it seems like you'll get a good return on your investment as I watched home prices nearly double in the past 4 years. Which is great for homeowners, but terrible for those looking to purchase.

Homes with Flood Risk: 10%

Homes with Wildfire Risk: 58%

Homes with Heat Risk: 96%

Natural Disasters: 14

Avg. Age of Homes: 27

Percent of Vacant Homes: 6.9%

Fire Stations Per 100K: 4.8

Property Crime Per 100K: 3,592

Fayetteville tends to get the short end of the stick when it comes to a lot of this list. I've only visited once, and while yes, there isn't as much to offer as some of the larger cities it's not a bad place from what I can tell. Fayetteville ranked 60th nationally and as the 2nd riskiest city in North Carolina. Being closer to the coast than any other city on this list probably factors in for metrics like natural disasters and flood risks.

Homes with Flood Risk: 16%

Homes with Wildfire Risk: 91%

Homes with Heat Risk: 100%

Natural Disasters: 20

Avg. Age of Homes: 39

Percent of Vacant Homes: 8.0%

Fire Stations Per 100K: 8.1

Property Crime Per 100K: 3,458

And the riskiest city for homeownership in North Carolina? It's Winston-Salem. Though for the city's credit it still only ranks 56th nationally. So overall the state stands pretty well.

Homes with Flood Risk: 9%

Homes with Wildfire Risk: 57%

Homes with Heat Risk: 100%

Natural Disasters: 21

Avg. Age of Homes: 40

Percent of Vacant Homes: 12.2%

Fire Stations Per 100K: 7.6

Property Crime Per 100K: 3,893