Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / US cities

US cities by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Brawley, CA had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 3211 cities in 2021, at 20.7%. Hobart, WI had the lowest, at 0.2%. The median was 5.1% and the figure for the United States was 5.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest20.7Brawley, CA
Lowest0.2Hobart, WI
Median5.13211 cities
United States5.5History

Top 40 cities, 2021

Brawley, CA: 20.7 %Brawley, CA20.7Lindsay, CA: 20.5 %Lindsay, CA20.5East Cleveland, OH: 19.6 %East Cleveland, OH19.6Flint, MI: 18.6 %Flint, MI18.6California City, CA: 18 %California City, CA18Exeter, CA: 18 %Exeter, CA18Natchitoches, LA: 17.7 %Natchitoches, LA17.7Calexico, CA: 17.6 %Calexico, CA17.6Crowley, LA: 17.4 %Crowley, LA17.4Lake Station, IN: 17 %Lake Station, IN17Clearlake, CA: 16.9 %Clearlake, CA16.9Riverdale, IL: 16.8 %Riverdale, IL16.8Markham, IL: 16.8 %Markham, IL16.8Boone, NC: 16.8 %Boone, NC16.8Dolton, IL: 16.2 %Dolton, IL16.2Chester, PA: 15.8 %Chester, PA15.8Richton Park, IL: 15.4 %Richton Park, IL15.4Detroit, MI: 15.3 %Detroit, MI15.3Coachella, CA: 14.9 %Coachella, CA14.9Kinston, NC: 14.8 %Kinston, NC14.8Rio Vista, CA: 14.8 %Rio Vista, CA14.8Arcata, CA: 14.6 %Arcata, CA14.6Coolidge, AZ: 14.2 %Coolidge, AZ14.2Camden, NJ: 14.2 %Camden, NJ14.2Youngstown, OH: 14.2 %Youngstown, OH14.2Hazel Crest, IL: 14.2 %Hazel Crest, IL14.2South Holland, IL: 14 %South Holland, IL14Belle Glade, FL: 14 %Belle Glade, FL14Harvey, IL: 13.9 %Harvey, IL13.9New Castle, PA: 13.8 %New Castle, PA13.8Atlantic City, NJ: 13.8 %Atlantic City, NJ13.8Avon Park, FL: 13.7 %Avon Park, FL13.7Douglas, AZ: 13.5 %Douglas, AZ13.5Chicago Heights, IL: 13.4 %Chicago Heights, IL13.4Hamtramck, MI: 13.3 %Hamtramck, MI13.3Pascagoula, MS: 13.3 %Pascagoula, MS13.3Darby, PA: 13.2 %Darby, PA13.2Palatka, FL: 13.2 %Palatka, FL13.2Nogales, AZ: 13.2 %Nogales, AZ13.2Orangeburg, SC: 13 %Orangeburg, SC13Brawley, CA: 20.7 %Brawley, CA20.7Lindsay, CA: 20.5 %Lindsay, CA20.5East Cleveland, OH: 19.6 %East Cleveland, OH19.6Flint, MI: 18.6 %Flint, MI18.6California City, CA: 18 %California City, CA18Exeter, CA: 18 %Exeter, CA18Natchitoches, LA: 17.7 %Natchitoches, LA17.7Calexico, CA: 17.6 %Calexico, CA17.6Crowley, LA: 17.4 %Crowley, LA17.4Lake Station, IN: 17 %Lake Station, IN17Clearlake, CA: 16.9 %Clearlake, CA16.9Riverdale, IL: 16.8 %Riverdale, IL16.8Markham, IL: 16.8 %Markham, IL16.8Boone, NC: 16.8 %Boone, NC16.8Dolton, IL: 16.2 %Dolton, IL16.2Chester, PA: 15.8 %Chester, PA15.8Richton Park, IL: 15.4 %Richton Park, IL15.4Detroit, MI: 15.3 %Detroit, MI15.3Coachella, CA: 14.9 %Coachella, CA14.9Kinston, NC: 14.8 %Kinston, NC14.8Rio Vista, CA: 14.8 %Rio Vista, CA14.8Arcata, CA: 14.6 %Arcata, CA14.6Coolidge, AZ: 14.2 %Coolidge, AZ14.2Camden, NJ: 14.2 %Camden, NJ14.2Youngstown, OH: 14.2 %Youngstown, OH14.2Hazel Crest, IL: 14.2 %Hazel Crest, IL14.2South Holland, IL: 14 %South Holland, IL14Belle Glade, FL: 14 %Belle Glade, FL14Harvey, IL: 13.9 %Harvey, IL13.9New Castle, PA: 13.8 %New Castle, PA13.8Atlantic City, NJ: 13.8 %Atlantic City, NJ13.8Avon Park, FL: 13.7 %Avon Park, FL13.7Douglas, AZ: 13.5 %Douglas, AZ13.5Chicago Heights, IL: 13.4 %Chicago Heights, IL13.4Hamtramck, MI: 13.3 %Hamtramck, MI13.3Pascagoula, MS: 13.3 %Pascagoula, MS13.3Darby, PA: 13.2 %Darby, PA13.2Palatka, FL: 13.2 %Palatka, FL13.2Nogales, AZ: 13.2 %Nogales, AZ13.2Orangeburg, SC: 13 %Orangeburg, SC13
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2021 (%)
1Brawley, CA20.7
2Lindsay, CA20.5
3East Cleveland, OH19.6
4Flint, MI18.6
5California City, CA18
6Exeter, CA18
7Natchitoches, LA17.7
8Calexico, CA17.6
9Crowley, LA17.4
10Lake Station, IN17
11Clearlake, CA16.9
12Riverdale, IL16.8
13Markham, IL16.8
14Boone, NC16.8
15Dolton, IL16.2
16Chester, PA15.8
17Richton Park, IL15.4
18Detroit, MI15.3
19Coachella, CA14.9
20Kinston, NC14.8
21Rio Vista, CA14.8
22Arcata, CA14.6
23Coolidge, AZ14.2
24Camden, NJ14.2
24Youngstown, OH14.2
26Hazel Crest, IL14.2
27South Holland, IL14
28Belle Glade, FL14
29Harvey, IL13.9
30New Castle, PA13.8
31Atlantic City, NJ13.8
32Avon Park, FL13.7
33Douglas, AZ13.5
34Chicago Heights, IL13.4
35Hamtramck, MI13.3
36Pascagoula, MS13.3
37Darby, PA13.2
37Palatka, FL13.2
39Nogales, AZ13.2
40Orangeburg, SC13
41Blytheville, AR13
42Bessemer, AL12.8
43Centralia, IL12.8
44Avenal, CA12.8
44Statesboro, GA12.8
46Gary, IN12.8
47East St. Louis, IL12.8
48Sunnyside, WA12.7
49Melvindale, MI12.5
50West Memphis, AR12.4
51Porterville, CA12.4
51Reedley, CA12.4
53El Centro, CA12.4
54Cleveland, OH12.4
54Gaffney, SC12.4
56Johnson City, NY12.4
57Blue Island, IL12.2
58Laurinburg, NC12.2
59Petersburg, VA12.2
60Bogalusa, LA12.1
61Galena Park, TX12.1
62Adelanto, CA12.1
63Cheney, WA12
64Talladega, AL12
65Calumet City, IL12
66Madera, CA11.9
67Macomb, IL11.9
68Merced, CA11.9
69Reading, PA11.9
70East Orange, NJ11.9
70Fulton, MO11.9
72College Park, GA11.8
73Robstown, TX11.8
74Pleasantville, NJ11.8
75Sebring, FL11.8
76Mendota, CA11.8
77Passaic, NJ11.7
78Atwater, CA11.7
78Country Club Hills, IL11.7
80Port Wentworth, GA11.7
80Selma, AL11.7
82Gulfport, MS11.6
83York, PA11.6
84South River, NJ11.6
85Farmersville, CA11.5
85Pine Bluff, AR11.5
87Hartford, CT11.5
88Port Townsend, WA11.5
89New Carrollton, MD11.5
90Ashtabula, OH11.5
91Ozark, AL11.5
92Arvin, CA11.4
92Saginaw, MI11.4
94Binghamton, NY11.4
95DeKalb, IL11.3
96Inkster, MI11.3
97Columbus, MS11.3
97Crossville, TN11.3
99Campbellsville, KY11.3
99Lawrenceburg, TN11.3
101Newark, NJ11.3
102Barstow, CA11.2
103Eastpointe, MI11.2
103Kent, OH11.2
103Wayne, MI11.2
106Corcoran, CA11.1
107Portsmouth, OH11.1
108Delano, CA11.1
109Florida City, FL11.1
109Gautier, MS11.1
111Lincoln Park, NJ11
112Conneaut, OH11
112Lansing, IL11
114Kerman, CA11
115Coalinga, CA11
116Newman, CA11
117Rio Grande City, TX10.9
118Greenville, MS10.9
119Hinesville, GA10.9
120Clarksdale, MS10.8
120Somerset, KY10.8
122Ceres, CA10.8
122Oxford, OH10.8
124Jackson, MS10.7
124Morgantown, WV10.7
124Oswego, NY10.7
127Pontiac, MI10.7
128Killeen, TX10.6
128Lexington, NC10.6
130Hemet, CA10.6
130Salisbury, MD10.6
132Victorville, CA10.6
133Beach Park, IL10.6
134Conway, SC10.6
134Warrensville Heights, OH10.6
136Whitehall, OH10.6
137Moultrie, GA10.5
138Bay St. Louis, MS10.5
139Carbondale, IL10.5
140Martinsburg, WV10.5
141Albany, GA10.5
142Center Point, AL10.5
143Butler, PA10.4
144Ellensburg, WA10.4
145Jackson, MI10.4
145Sault Ste. Marie, MI10.4
147Baytown, TX10.4
147Lebanon, PA10.4
147West Chicago, IL10.4
150Worth, IL10.3
150Zebulon, NC10.3
152Muskegon, MI10.3
153Dayton, OH10.3
154Yucca Valley, CA10.2
155Mount Pleasant, MI10.2
156Roma, TX10.2
157Eureka, CA10.2
157Liberty Hill, TX10.2
159Burlington, NJ10.2
160Rancho Mirage, CA10.2
161Livingston, CA10.1
162Sharon, PA10.1
162Sylacauga, AL10.1
164Apple Valley, CA10.1
164Lawrence, MA10.1
166Bay City, TX10.1
166Elmira, NY10.1
166Millville, NJ10.1
169Dinuba, CA10.1
169Rialto, CA10.1
171Hesperia, CA10.1
171Plainfield, NJ10.1
173Monroe, GA10.1
173Trenton, NJ10.1
175Clarkston, GA10.1
176Amherst Town, MA10.1
176Sumter, SC10.1
178Canton, OH10
179Portales, NM10
180Bristol, TN10
180Raymondville, TX10
182Huntington Park, CA10
183New Iberia, LA10
184Schenectady, NY10
185Pasadena, TX10
186Weirton, WV9.9
187Calabasas, CA9.9
187Lantana, FL9.9
187Morgan City, LA9.9
190La Grande, OR9.9
191Lemoore, CA9.9
191San Luis, AZ9.9
193Alamo, TX9.9
193Decatur, IL9.9
195Corinth, MS9.9
196Alton, TX9.9
197Opelousas, LA9.8
198Bridgeport, CT9.8
199Morro Bay, CA9.8
200Prichard, AL9.8
201Desert Hot Springs, CA9.8
202Garfield Heights, OH9.7
202Matteson, IL9.7
204Perth Amboy, NJ9.7
205Wildwood, FL9.7
206Jacksonville, NC9.7
207Ansonia, CT9.7
208Woodbury, NJ9.7
209Allentown, PA9.7
209Conyers, GA9.7
209Gadsden, AL9.7
212Kinnelon, NJ9.6
212Opa-locka, FL9.6
214Pine Hill, NJ9.6
214West Park, FL9.6
216Rockford, IL9.6
216Springfield, MA9.6
218Lodi, CA9.6
218Lynwood, CA9.6
218Merrillville, IN9.6
221Chula Vista, CA9.5
221Wilson, NC9.5
223Los Banos, CA9.5
224Lathrop, CA9.5
224Wasilla, AK9.5
226Wasco, CA9.5
227Rocky Mount, NC9.5
228Baton Rouge, LA9.4
228Cedartown, GA9.4
230Springfield, OH9.4
230Syracuse, NY9.4
232Mineral Wells, TX9.4
233Picayune, MS9.4
233Red Bluff, CA9.4
233Washington, PA9.4
236Glassboro, NJ9.4
236New Britain, CT9.4
238Mattoon, IL9.4
238Pottsville, PA9.4
238Romulus, MI9.4
241Clute, TX9.4
242Oakdale, CA9.4
243Fresno, CA9.3
243Mansfield, OH9.3
245Reidsville, NC9.3
246Marion, OH9.3
246North Plainfield, NJ9.3
246Paterson, NJ9.3
249Natchez, MS9.3
250Central Falls, RI9.3

Showing the top 250 of 3211. The Excel download has every row.

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. 8 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2021 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (US cities by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), US cities by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/us-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). US cities by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/us-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), US cities by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/us-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_cities_by_unemployment_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): US cities by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/us-cities?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): US cities by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/us-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/us-cities?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Brawley, CA, with 20.7% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Hobart, WI, with 0.2% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12. 8 cities have no value for 2021 and are not ranked.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

US cities: more rankings