Columbia Among Least Needy Cities Based On Report

COLUMBIA, MD — In a holiday season during which many of our hearts turn to giving, a new report reminds us of the harsh reality many of those around us are facing and of things to be grateful for at home. Baltimore was ranked No. 18 on a list of more than 180 cities according to which was the neediest in the United States. Columbia was No. 182, the least in need of the American cities that were ranked.

Detroit was No. 1 on the list, followed by Cleveland, Ohio; Newark, New Jersey; Memphis, Tennessee; and Jackson, Mississippi. Baltimore came in ahead of Toledo, Ohio, and behind Shreveport, Louisiana.

Personal finance website WalletHub compiled the list, weighing 25 factors to determine where Americans are most economically disadvantaged.

The rankings are based on two primary dimensions: economic well-being and health and safety.

Under economic well-being, cities were scored based on adult and child poverty rates, unemployment and underemployment rates, homelessness, and foreclosure and consumer bankruptcy rates, among other factors.

When it comes to economic well-being, with 1 being the worst, Columbia was No. 173.

Columbia was noted for its low homelessness rate and low food insecurity rate. The cities with the lowest homelessness rates were as follows, according to WalletHub:

• Nashua, New Hampshire
• Aurora, Illinois
• Cape Coral, Florida
• Columbia, Maryland
• Overland Park, Kansas

Under health and safety, the site factored in suicide and crime rates, the number of over-crowded homes and the number of inadequate kitchens and plumbing in homes, among other factors.

Columbia joined these cities in being ranked among those with the lowest food insecurity rate:

• El Paxo, Texas
• Yonkers, New York
• Columbia, Maryland
• Aurora, Illinois
• Laredo, Texas
• Bismarck, North Dakota

See Also: Forbes Richest Counties In U.S. Includes Howard County

Photo of Columbia condominium courtesy of realtor.com.