Upon entering Danville, you could be forgiven for being taken in by its historic buildings and quiet southern neighborhoods. But dig deeper and you’ll discover it’s a community fraught with economic stagnation, racial tensions (the Confederate flag remained on the city seal until 2020), and high crime rates. The city was once supported by the tobacco and textile industries, but today its economic struggles have made it a dreary place to call home.
4. Compton, California
In the late 80s and early 90s, Compton gained a lot of pop culture attention as the “hood” where rappers rose to fame and drive-by shootings were the norm. Violent crime remains an issue, although it has declined in recent years due to rapid gentrification. These days luxury apartments are sprouting up alongside the tiny window-barred houses and sketchy liquor stores. Longtime residents are worrying that this small corner of LA that they helped build is becoming too expensive for them to stay.
