Stockton voted most miserable city in U.S.

With low home prices across most of the U.S., many may be looking to buy a home in a new location. However, moving to Stockton, California may be a miserable choice for prospective homebuyers, according to Forbes.

The magazine ranked Stockton the most miserable city in the U.S. for the second time in three years. The ranking was based primarily on Stockton's economic difficulties as a result of the recession and its high rates of violent crime.

The city saw a sharp increase in its median home price that peaked at $431,000 in 2005. Now that home prices are back on the decline, foreclosures are high, affecting 6.9 percent of homes in the city last year. Unemployment also skyrocketed in the area and is still projected to increase to 18.1 percent this year, economy.com says.

Not only is Stockton an unhappy place to live, but eight other cities in California placed in the top 20 spots on the list.

The ranking also takes a number of other factors into consideration. Outside of simple economic success and crime rates, things such as the weather and commute can also affect the quality of life in cities nationwide, Forbes states.  

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