Most Socially Deprived Cities

A new report evaluates the quality of life in the 100 largest U.S. cities and their suburbs.

1 minute read

June 23, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center has published "Quality of Life in the Nation's 100 Largest Cities and Their Suburbs: New and Continuing Challenges for Improving Health and Well-Being". The report and website describe changes from 1990 to 2000 in the rates of extreme and concentrated poverty, adults without high school diplomas, adults with college attendance, unemployment, violent crime and other characteristics for the largest 100 US cities. The report also ranks cities by a "Social Deprivation Index" and compares racial/ethnic diversity with "Quality of Life Indicators". In the nation’s 100 largest cities, the percentage of the population living in high poverty neighborhoods (greater than 40% living in poverty) fell from 9.8% to 6.1%. In Los Angeles it grew from 6.1% to 10.4%.

Thanks to Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 in State University Of New York

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing