BELOIT, Wis. (WTVO) — The City of Beloit issued an official response Thursday after being named the “worst city to live” in Wisconsin by USA Today.

The “Worst Cities to Live in Every State” report graded the city based on several factors: low median home value ($85,200 vs the state average of $169,300), high poverty rate (24.8% vs the state average of 12.3%), and high violent crime rate per 100,000 people (425 vs the state average of 320).

Beloit City Manager Lori Curtis Luther said, via a statement:

“As a community on the rise, we know our unemployment numbers are significantly lower than what was attributed in this ranking (6.5%). The most recent unemployment data has us at 4.4% (March 2019) and our unemployment rate has been declining over time (it was as low as 2.9% in September 2018). Our crime rate has been steadily decreasing and our crime clearance rates are far above comparable cities.

“Beloit has its challenges, but there is plenty to celebrate. We are a city that works together – our police department sees that every day with community members working in partnership to share information to help solve crimes in our city. We’re investing in our neighborhoods, reducing violent crime, celebrating together in our beautiful parks, and engaging in life-long learning at our robust library. We have much to be proud of here in Beloit!”  
 

East St. Louis was named the worst city in Illinois, with low median home value ($55,000 vs state average of $179,700), skyrocketing high poverty rate (43.1% vs state average of 13.5%), and astronomically high violent crime rate (2,752 vs state average of 439).

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