11 Troubling Facts About Southern California You Would Be Better Off Not Knowing

Southern California is a beautiful place full of wonderful people...but it’s not all roses here. If you look past the warm ocean waters, sandy beaches and gorgeous weather, you’ll find a few statistics that you might be better off not knowing. Here are 11 troubling facts about southern California.

1. Los Angeles County has the highest rate of sexually-transmitted diseases in the country.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the rate of chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea combined in Los Angeles country are the highest in the nation.

2. Southern California has the highest rate of motorcycle deaths in the country.

Southern California has tons of great motorcycle roads and amazing weather, so it’s no surprise that we also have the highest number of motorcycles per capita. However, motorcycle injuries and fatalities have also increased dramatically since 2004. For instance, 3,509 motorcycle accidents with injuries or death occurred in 2013 in Los Angeles County.

3. San Diego residents pay the highest electric bills in the state.

A recent report released by the San Diego Chamber of Commerce states that San Diegans pay the highest rate for electricity (18 cents per kilowatt hour) of all five major cities in California. Luckily, the report also showed that San Diego had the lowest sales tax rate (8 percent).

4. The Los Angeles Metro Area is the poorest of all major cities in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Los Angeles has the highest rates of poverty compared to all other major U.S.cities. 17.6 percent of residents in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area live under the poverty line.

5. Southern California has a high rate of homelessness.

Two southern California counties - Los Angeles and San Diego - rank in the top four cities in the nation for homelessness. Los Angeles is second on the list (behind New York City), with 41,174 homeless people in 2015 (70 percent of those people are unsheltered). San Diego ranked number four in the nation with 8,742 homeless people - 16% of which are veterans, making it the highest in the nation for homeless veterans.

6. San Diego County has the highest rate of C-Sections births in the state.

One in three babies in San Diego County is born via C-section. Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties come in 2nd and 3rd in the state. C-section births are concerning because they have a much higher risk of complications.

7. Orange County has the highest rate of autism in California.

Approximately 19 percent of children in Orange County ages 3-22 who are currently enrolled in special education have been diagnosed with autism.

8. The Los Angeles Metro Area has the lowest rate of homeownership in the country.

The U.S. Census Bureau states that a mere 48.5 percent of residents in Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim are home owners.

9. Ventura County has the highest rate of breast cancer in the state.

The risk of being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer is 10-20 percent higher in Ventura County than anywhere else in California, according to the Public Health Institute.

10. San Bernadino is the most dangerous city in California.

A recent study completed by Graham Donath (using FBI data, police reports and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data), stated that San Bernadino is the most dangerous city in California. The study used three factors, including crime rate, community factors and police presence.

What do you think about these statistics? How can we work to change some of them for the better? We love to hear your feedback and ideas!