Dear Tennessee,
We love you. A heck of a lot. Except here’s the thing: You’re not perfect and there are some bad things about Tennessee. We know it’s hard to accept, but it’s true. Take, for instance, our violent crime rate or the below-average percentage of people who graduate from college. The thing about it is, once we are aware of the worst parts of living in Tennessee we can learn to fix them. We can pull together and eliminate the bad things about the state. And then, when someone asks, "Why Tennessee is a bad place to live," we won’t have a single answer for them.
11. We're #15 in the nation with our 5.6% unemployment rate.
Ouch...
10. 27th worst state for drivers, with 1.4 crashes per 100 miles.
If you've ever driven in Nashville traffic, then you're probably not too surprised. Plus, it probably doesn’t help that Tennessee is home to the most dangerous road in America.
9. 28.4% of our state population is obese.
Too many calories, too little movement. It’s not our fault, though. Famous foods in Tennessee aren’t exactly the healthiest dishes, but they sure are good!
8. On that note: A recent study noted that less than HALF of Tennesseans exercise regularly.
That's much too little - half?! Get on a bike, guys. And that’s a real shame because there are plenty of places in the state for some fun physical activity, including this huge adventure course in Nashville.
7. CNBC awarded Tennessee 63 quality of life points - out of 300.
We were in the last ten most desirable states...
6. With 18.3% of our population below the poverty level, it makes us #8 in the nation.
How are we thinking about the needy? Does our mindset need to change? Something needs to be done because this is definitely one of the worst things about Tennessee.
5. Only 24.4% of adults over 25 have a bachelor's degree.
Unfortunately, that's even lower than the national average.
4. Our 76.3-year life expectancy is one of the lowest in the nation.
The
Southern states take the cake when it comes to lower life expectancy - places like California and Oregon break solidly into the 80s.
3. Our annual income runs at $37,558.
We're looking at $19.01 an hour - before taxes.
2. The Volunteer State was named most violent by the FBI in 2012.
It's a real problem. Of course, some cities fare better than others. Take a look at the most dangerous places in Tennessee for a more in-depth look at how the state’s cities rank.
1. Overall? We've been ranked #46 in the nation.
This breaks our sweet Tennessee hearts. Don’t get too down, though. The state has plenty to be proud of. For instance, did you know Tennessee is number one at these things?
So, do you agree – are these the worst parts of living in Tennessee? When you think of bad things about Tennessee, what comes to mind? If someone asked you, "Why is Tennessee a bad place to live," what would you say? And remember, together, we can build Tennessee up – we can be number one. Share to make a difference!
Don’t let the bad things about Tennessee give you the wrong idea, though. There are tons of perks to living in the Volunteer State. Not so sure? Here are some of the best things about Tennessee.
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