3 CT Cities Among Nation's Worst Run: Report

CONNECTICUT — Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford are considered some of the worst-run cities in the country, according to a new study from Wallet Hub. Out of 150 cities, Hartford ranked 142, New Haven ranked 134, and Bridgeport ranked 104.

The worst run city in the US is Washington, D.C., according to the study. The top 10 best run cities are: Nampa, ID, Provo, UT, Boise, ID, Durham, NC, Lexington-Fayette, KY, Las Cruces, NM, Billings, MT, Virginia Beach, VA, Missoula, MT, and Fargo, ND.

Hartford, Connecticut is the ninth worst run city in the United States, though we can take some consolation that New York City was ranked fifth worst. San Francisco, possibly surprising to some, was ranked the third worst run city in the U.S.

Wallet Hub used a city’s operating efficiency to determine its ranking. The goal was to show "how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget."

"To determine the effectiveness of local leadership," the study reads, "WalletHub compared 150 of the largest U.S. cities based on their operating efficiency. For each city, WalletHub constructed a Quality of City Services score – comprising 37 key performance indicators grouped into six service categories – that was then measured against the city’s total per-capita budget."

Concerning Hartford, it was ranked the fifth worst for its high unemployment rate, just ahead of Detroit and Flint, Michigan, the report states. Hartford was also third worst in the country for its household income.

New Haven also had especially poor marks in the areas of financial stability, 143, education, 136, and economy, 139. Bridgeport ranked No. 144 in the area of financial stability and no. 144 for its economy.

Read the full story and see the rankings at WalletHub.