Most miserable cities

Urban life certainly has its advantages. A wider range of job opportunities. Better restaurants. A more vibrant arts scene. Professional sports franchises.

Of course, there are drawbacks, too. Living in a big city means crowding, traffic, higher costs of living, and usually more crime.

In a perfect world, the advantages dwarf the drawbacks. Here on Earth, that’s not always the case.

Forbes recently compiled its list of America’s most miserable cities, surveying the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. (Population 378,000 and up.) Communities were rated on nine factors: Commute times, corruption, pro sports teams, Superfund sites, taxes (both income and sales), unemployment, violent crime and weather.

Who fared the worst?

Here’s the list:

1. Stockton, Calif.

2. Memphis, Tenn.

3. Chicago, Ill.

4. Cleveland, Ohio

5. Modesto, Calif.

6. Flint, Mich.

7. Detroit, Mich.

8. Buffalo, N.Y.

9. Miami, Fla.

10. St. Louis, Mo.

What makes these towns such challenging places to live and work? Visit Forbes to get the skinny.

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