There are lots of people who throw the term ‘ghetto’ around. But which of Washington’s largest cities are the most ghetto of all?
How do you decide if a place is ghetto or not? You ask the internet. According to the Urban Dictionary, a ghetto is defined as:
“urban; of or relating to (inner) city life” and “poor; of or relating to the poor life.”
Using that criteria, it’s not hard to scrape the internet, run some scientific data on where ghettos might exist in a state and then put out a list.
After analyzing all cities with 10,000 people or more, we came up with this list as the most ghetto places in Washington:
- Lakewood (Photos)
- Tacoma (Photos)
- White Center
- Tukwila (Photos)
- Everett (Photos)
- Federal Way (Photos)
- Bryn Mawr-Skyway
- Sunnyside (Photos)
- Aberdeen (Photos)
- Burien (Photos)
Read on below to see where your hometown ranked and why.
Note: We’re aware that there are more ‘ghetto’ cities that are smaller than 10,000. We wanted to rank only the largest cities here for a more clear indication of which major city centers are ghettos. Therefore, it’s assumed that the cities above (and their suburbs) are more ghetto than the larger cities not listed here.
For more Washington reading, check out:
What ghetto criteria did we use?
In order to rank the most ghetto places in Washington, we had to determine what criteria defines a ghetto city or neighborhood.
Since a ghetto is defined as a poor area, we used income levels, crime and education levels as a guide to determine where the most broke citizens of a state live.
Additionally, the staples of inner city life include cheap and discounted retail outlets.
We started by making a list of every place in Washington with more than 10,000 people based on the 2013 American Community Survey. That left us with more than 200 places in the Evergreen State.
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using Yelp and Area Vibes, this is the criteria we used:
- Household income levels
- High school graduation rates
- Number of convenience stores
- Number of drug stores
- Number of discount stores
- Crime
Note: For the sake of getting reliable numbers, we counted places within a city’s border, as well as within a short driving distance.
All of these results are listed in a per capita basis. Meaning number of stores per person in a state. Additionally, high school graduation rates are determined by looking at the total number of people who live in a city, not the current graduation rate of an area’s high schools.
1. Lakewood
Income: $38,055
Drop out rate: 19%
Crime: 10th highest
Lakewood is a pretty decent sized city on the south end of Tacoma. Here, residents are the 10th poorest in the state – and nearly a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line under the age of 18.
It’s also the 10th most dangerous place in Washington. According to the FBI, you have a 1 in 30 chance of being the victim of a property crime for every year you spend within Lakewood city limits.
According to internet chatter, most of the worse areas in the Tacoma area are in Lakewood and Spanaway. Drugs, prostitution, etc. And when COPS filmed in Tacoma, they spent lots of time in Lakewood.
2. Tacoma
Income: $47,583
Drop out rate: 17%
Crime: 3rd worst
They don’t call it “Tacompton” for nothing.
Like most major cities, there are some really big discrepancies between the haves and the have nots in Tacoma, which can cause a large crime problem, especially with theft.
But overall, Tacoma is the 3rd most dangerous place you can live in Washington. 10 murders in 2013 is a lot for Washington. And there were more than 13,000 robberies, arsons and burglaries in Tacoma that same year.
East Tacoma might just have one of the highest percentage of low income and subsidized housing areas in the entire state.
Twitter blew up about Tacoma ghetto mentions. Example: “I love my white friends but y’all gotta stop saying ‘Tacompton’ or ‘Tacoma is ghetto’.
3. White Center
Income: $37,296
Crime: 25th worst
High school dropout rate: 30%
White Center is a CDP – a place not a city – on the south side of Seattle. This is pretty much the area that you hear people talking about when they say the ‘south side’ is bad.
White Center extends from SW 128th Street to SW Roxbury Street. While it isn’t the most dangerous place in the state, income levels are very low, and 3 in 10 people is without a high school degree.
Quite a few people on Twitter agreed. “Why does white center have to be so ghetto n ratchet.”
4. Tukwila
Income: $38,011
Drop out rate: 21%
Crime: 3rd worst
Tukwila is a suburban city on the south side of Seattle. This is another ‘south side’ area that you hear about as being ghetto from people in the Seattle area.
Crime is just about as bad as you can get here. Fort Lewis, Washington is the only other city that’s more dangerous, statistically, than Tukwila.
Tukwila also has one of the highest concentrations of discount and drug stores in the state. Sociologists have indicated that these types of shopping experiences are a staple of inner-city life.
5. Everett
Income: $40,942
Drop out rate: 20%
Crime: 4th highest
We’re aware that Everett has its nice parts. But South Everett is a completely other story. Most of the crime and poverty that exists in Everett is on its south side.
Here’s what one resident on City Data had to say:
“South Everett is downright terrifying.. I generally feel safe enough in Seattle packing a 9mm, but in South Everett, I bring along my AR-15 rifle and wear a heavy grade bullet proof vest.. South Everett is rough. But I will be damned before I lose my fix of good authentic Mexican food which you can find on that street.”
6. Federal Way
Income: $48,797
Drop out rate: 15%
Crime: 20th
We’re definitely seeing a pattern here. All of these areas are either Tacoma or Seattle suburbs.
Federal Way, north of Tacoma, has some issues with crime, but it’s not over the top horrible. Unless you count 6 murders in 2013. That’s one of the highest in the state.
You also have a 1 in 17 chance of being robbed if you live in Federal Way for a year. Does that sound like fun?
Federal Way actually led the way in terms of ghetto mentions on Twitter, believe it or not. There were lots of comments like this: “Federal Way is kinda really ghetto.”
7. Bryn Mawr-Skyway
Income: $44,988
Drop out rate: 21%
This CDP (an area, not a city), is located north of Renton and Tukwila, both cities that have really high crime. While the crime in this area isn’t as bad as those two cities, it’s certainly not safe there, either.
Anything west of the Renton airport to I-5 is Bryn Mawr-Skyway. Apparently, things are improving here, at least according to internet chatter.
8. Sunnyside
Income: $37,024
Drop out rate: 54%
You’d be hard pressed to find a population that’s less educated than those in Sunnyside. That alone doesn’t make a ghetto, but having the 7th lowest income levels, where almost half of the population lives at or below the poverty line, does.
Sunnyside is south of Yakima, and one of two cities outside of the Seattle-Tacoma metro area to make this list.
Apparently, there is a strong gang presence here as well. Gangs take advantage of the isolation to transport drugs and guns outside of the eye of law enforcement, according to the Seattle Times.
9. Aberdeen
Income: $45,309
Drop out rate: 27%
Crime: 16th worst
Aberdeen has one of the highest number of people who are uneducated in Washington, and 30% of the kids here live in poverty. Numbers aside, we heard from lots of people online who said Aberdeen is a true ghetto in many areas.
“i was born and bred in aberdeen. all i got in aberdeen was hassle…drugs,prostitution and assault was something i heard about or witnessed daily.”
10. Burien
Income: $40,948
Drop out rate: 20%
Crime: 5th worst
While Burien isn’t the most dangerous place in the state by any stretch when it comes to violent crimes, the number of robberies and thefts here is one of the highest in Washington. And part of the definition of a ghetto is where poor, uneducated people steal.
That’s certainly happening in Burien in large numbers.
Burien was 8th for #ghetto Tweets. Here’s a Twitter example: “Burien is ghetto as hell, people really got their cars broken into and stolen last night at the game? smh”
There You Have It
If you’re measuring the locations in Washington where there are a high number of poor and uneducated residents, and where there are a high number of discounted shopping stores, this is an accurate list.
Additionally, here are the least ghetto places in Washington:
- West Richland
- Maple Valley
- Cottage Lake
- Bainbridge Island
- Lake Stevens
For a happier experience, check this out: If you’re from Seattle, this short video will be the absolute best thing you see all day. Guaranteed.
Desktop users, below is a ghetto ranking chart of all large cities in Washington, along with their crime numbers:
They must of never seen pasco WA.
must *have
My son lives across the bridge into Pasco from Kennewick and I have been down to Lowe’s and Walmart it does not like like a ghetto at all, his neighborhood is very nice clean as well as the area around him.
Does this guy actually live in Washington state? All of the crime in Everett is on its south side? What?
Silverlake much? Mill Creek? What the hell are you smoking?
The AR-15 bit is hysterical, especially when you consider that Everett has a lower homicide rate than the national average…
Nowhere in Everett is dangerous. Property crime is high, but that is it. It is also high in Seattle, but does that make Seattle “ghetto?”
Just calling anywhere in Washington State “Ghetto” shows how ignorant this guy is.
Really I live in north Everett and its pretty horrible its ghetto for sure. No doubt about it!
Hahahaha. Go to detroit, east st louis, baltimore, etc and then come back to me with ghetto.
everyone thinks his town is ghetto until he sees what a real ghetto looks like.
Yeah, this guy is no Washington native. I used to live in Everett—moved 2 years ago—and it is not ghetto. lol. The guy who made the Mexican food comment is clearly making satire. The city has its issues with property crime but it is not dangerous. just dont leave stuff visible in your car if you dont want it stolen. Same thing with Seattle. otherwise Everett is a wonderful city.
I would argue there are no “ghetto” places in Washington state. just some more depressed areas. Washington is full of spoiled rich kids that call some cities “ghetto” especially when they are from Bellevue or other ritzy areas.
If you haven’t lived here in the last 2 years then you doubt know what its been like. I have lived here for my whole life and the last couple years its gotten horrible. Its very very bad! I live in n. Everett and ain’t no rich kid not even close. Its horrible here
I have lived here for the past 8 years I can tell you it has improved a bunch in the past few years. Calling it ghetto is insulting to people in real ghettos. It is a small city with its issues but nothing unusual with this drug epidemic going on in the states right now. the north has a beautiful port and great bars, and the south has some wonderful areas like silverlake, as well as some sketchy areas like casino, but calling it ghetto is a stretch.
i didn’t look at the date on the post. yeah 6 years ago Everett was not what it is now.
maybe she’s a time traveler. lol.
lol @ washingtonians calling places ghetto. u have no ghetto places in washington. been all around there. u guys have property crime. thats it. enjoy your money and resources but your worst towns are better than our best.
Nah bro, wa has its places but not on this list. lmao everett foh. nah bro but fr fr southside seattle and eastside olympia are grimey as hell
Damn right. Stay away.
Check out Yakima, it’s horrible. They don’t call it “Crackima” for nothing, town is full of druggies, methheads, and tweekers on every corner as well as prostitutes. This town is ghetto!
Everett has issues but has changed so much. It is clearly not ghetto. lol. It has lower homicide rates than the national average, and lower violent crime than seattle. Keep your valuables out of sight in your car and you are fine… like everywhere else. The guy who wrote this article is an idiot.
Lakewood sucks.
You call these ghetto?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I will take your top worst over our best.
I live in Everett and this is way off the mark. The city is not dangerous at all. Your biggest concern is auto theft at worse. Just stay away from Casino. The city has one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the state, a huge marina, and some great communities (Silver Lake, Grand, Lowell Road). This article is garbage, period. Why isn’t Seattle on the list? It has the same property crime rates and a higher murder rate than Everett… Oh yeah, because Seattle is the gem of the state and we are all in denial of its issues. I forgot.
This list is inaccurate. That Tukwila is next to Everett should say enough. I would maybe put everett in the number 10 spot or leave it off of the list – Tukwila should be 1 or 2. Look at the crime rate in Area Vibes and you’ll see what I mean. Tukwila is terrible by Washington standards, and bad by most standards (I’m from there).
ghet·to
ˈɡedō/
noun
1.
a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.
verb
1.
put in or restrict to an isolated or segregated area or group.
Nothing in Washington meets this criteria, some places come close, but seems like you pinched anot her blogs study, changed a word and some cities but that’s ☕
is it any wonder why they’re the most Ghetto in the state… most all being in and around seattle….
I was commuting to work to and from downtown Everett daily for at least 4 years. The Everett transit center (also a train station) near downtown is very grim, there is high drug crime there for sure day and night. In the evening, I saw fights broke up at the train station which made me fear for my safety. However, I can say I never got mugged or attacked over there, even when I was commuting at late some days (past 8 pm). Perhaps I looked too poorly dressed to be robbed.
I also commuted from Seattle for a few months in the evenings, and downtown Seattle was as bad or worst (around 2nd Ave and Pike, and around King street station).
I’ve had the same experience in Tacoma…grim transit centers, lots of people wondering around up to no good in downtown, homelessness. I even saw prostitution going on at the Tacoma dome transit center more than once. However, same as Everett, never got mugged or attacked there…never hanged around more than necessary at those places either.
I don’t look forward to commuting from transit centers, downtown areas or train stations from any of those 3 cities in the evening or even too early in the morning.
There are beautiful places in most of these cities. This is a trashy article and we don’t even come close to areas like east ST Louis. LAKEWOOD has Pierce College and Clover Park Tech plus several beautiful Lake areas plus a good International district for diversity and great food
Yakima is still the worst.
I wish the city of Tacoma would fix the potholes that are present throughout the entire city. Not only does it look bad bud it damages your car over time. The city counsel can’t find the money to address this problem???
I realize that all cities have them to some to degree but Tacoma is ridiculous!
Only thing I saw in my trips to WA that was even close to “ghetto” were parts of Tacoma, Seattle and Renton…although that was about 12 years ago. All in all you guys got it easy. I grew up splitting my time between the Bay Area and Chicago….the worst “ghetto” in WA is nicer than 90% of most Northern CA neighborhoods. As far as the Chi goes, I bet hella Washingtonians crying “ghetto” would run from the borderline/average neighborhoods. 13 murders a year? Not a contest but I grew up in SF which has a similar population count to Seattle and we average about 100. 200 in the era I grew up in.