2021's Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities

Adam McCann, Financial WriterSep 28, 2021

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Sep 28, 2021

When searching for a new home, people with disabilities often have a longer and more complicated list of considerations compared with other individuals. In addition to common wish-list items, such as reliable public transportation and diverse entertainment options, people with disabilities also must think about things like the accessibility of facilities or even the cleanliness of the air. In 2021, they’ll also need to consider how well the city is handling COVID-19, since they can be more at risk for serious symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four U.S. adults, or 61 million total, have a disability that impacts their major activities. And among Americans aged 65 and older, that number rises to two in five. Keeping up with the costs of a disability can be very expensive. The average monthly Social Security disability benefit as of August 2020 was only $1,151.79. That makes a yearly income of $13,821.48, only slightly above the federal poverty line for a single individual at $12,880.

Although disability benefits can increase based on inflation, many people with disabilities rely on low cost of living and wages for financial relief. In 2020, over 5.3 million people with disabilities were employed. Naturally, though, a far lower share of people with disabilities is able to work compared to the share of people with no major health issues.

With the physical and economic challenges of managing a disability in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 most populated cities across 34 key indicators of disability-friendliness. Our data set ranges from physicians per capita to rate of workers with disabilities to park accessibility.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask The Experts Methodology

Main Findings

In the overall ranking below, readers who are particularly interested in the best places to live on disability income should focus on the “Economy” category. Likewise, those who place a higher premium on quality of medical care should focus on the “Health Care” category.

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Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities

Overall Rank	City	Overall Score	Economy	Quality of Life	Health Care
1	Overland Park, KS	58.59	2	163	1
2	Scottsdale, AZ	58.05	6	45	25
3	St. Louis, MO	57.92	135	4	11
4	Minneapolis, MN	57.28	172	9	2
5	Denver, CO	56.78	120	16	10
6	Rochester, NY	56.50	132	2	41
7	Yonkers, NY	55.95	34	42	28
8	Huntington Beach, CA	55.88	47	35	32
9	San Francisco, CA	55.67	155	10	15
10	Tucson, AZ	55.60	136	6	43
11	Pittsburgh, PA	55.47	108	22	18
12	New York, NY	55.18	130	8	62
13	Madison, WI	55.08	87	51	13
14	Columbus, OH	55.03	18	28	109
15	Columbia, MD	54.82	22	124	8
16	Chandler, AZ	54.79	10	94	31
17	Tempe, AZ	54.60	33	63	37
18	St. Paul, MN	54.53	164	41	3
19	Kansas City, MO	54.47	52	73	21
20	Portland, ME	54.31	134	65	5
21	Plano, TX	53.81	3	146	40
22	Seattle, WA	53.70	159	13	24
23	Buffalo, NY	53.63	86	25	76
24	Virginia Beach, VA	53.51	1	86	158
25	Lincoln, NE	53.42	53	87	26
26	Omaha, NE	53.40	64	52	60
27	Miami, FL	53.33	156	3	99
28	Fremont, CA	53.31	37	107	17
29	Portland, OR	53.30	170	1	115
30	Gilbert, AZ	53.30	21	118	23
31	Jersey City, NJ	53.19	131	19	58
32	St. Petersburg, FL	53.16	30	60	90
33	Grand Rapids, MI	53.15	100	27	68
34	Fort Lauderdale, FL	53.09	85	18	111
35	Irvine, CA	53.04	109	47	30
36	Des Moines, IA	52.99	72	116	7
37	Philadelphia, PA	52.97	168	7	66
38	Milwaukee, WI	52.95	116	69	16
39	Glendale, CA	52.77	153	17	53
40	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	52.63	12	64	137
41	Oakland, CA	52.61	174	11	29
42	Colorado Springs, CO	52.49	69	68	57
43	Orlando, FL	52.43	55	39	121
44	Peoria, AZ	52.42	36	117	27
45	Indianapolis, IN	52.37	101	93	12
46	San Antonio, TX	52.31	38	96	50
47	Chicago, IL	52.20	154	12	75
48	South Burlington, VT	52.16	95	31	89
49	Austin, TX	52.12	27	84	94
50	Lewiston, ME	52.09	122	128	4
51	Sioux Falls, SD	52.08	81	89	34
52	Riverside, CA	52.08	31	36	147
53	Jacksonville, FL	52.06	44	100	48
54	Cleveland, OH	52.04	149	15	83
55	Billings, MT	52.03	54	164	9
56	Lexington-Fayette, KY	52.01	76	83	49
57	Springfield, MO	51.93	107	59	55
58	Glendale, AZ	51.89	57	90	52
59	Fargo, ND	51.88	50	149	19
60	Mesa, AZ	51.80	67	85	51
61	San Jose, CA	51.79	133	50	36
62	Salt Lake City, UT	51.79	110	14	135
63	Missoula, MT	51.78	163	92	6
64	Vancouver, WA	51.71	106	21	125
65	Anaheim, CA	51.35	124	53	61
66	Spokane, WA	51.31	114	48	74
67	Cincinnati, OH	51.29	111	26	122
68	Toledo, OH	51.04	98	67	69
69	San Diego, CA	50.99	102	44	100
70	Albuquerque, NM	50.95	119	80	42
71	Baltimore, MD	50.90	165	23	65
72	Washington, DC	50.74	179	5	63
73	Tampa, FL	50.73	90	49	112
74	Oceanside, CA	50.68	63	76	106
75	Fort Smith, AR	50.64	94	71	86
76	Louisville, KY	50.62	74	66	107
77	Reno, NV	50.53	66	58	130
78	Aurora, CO	50.51	104	115	20
79	Tacoma, WA	50.48	99	70	85
80	Sacramento, CA	50.34	126	37	110
81	Henderson, NV	50.33	8	147	114
82	Akron, OH	50.32	56	102	84
83	Las Vegas, NV	50.19	91	43	133
84	Lubbock, TX	50.18	19	130	108
85	Santa Clarita, CA	50.03	92	112	45
86	Phoenix, AZ	49.89	83	111	59
87	Long Beach, CA	49.87	169	30	67
88	Cedar Rapids, IA	49.85	97	150	22
89	Nashua, NH	49.84	138	81	46
90	Nashville, TN	49.79	41	103	117
91	Las Cruces, NM	49.63	144	138	14
92	Garden Grove, CA	49.63	152	75	44
93	Santa Ana, CA	49.60	143	62	73
94	Los Angeles, CA	49.51	175	20	80
95	El Paso, TX	49.39	16	154	105
96	Raleigh, NC	49.32	29	105	136
97	Santa Rosa, CA	49.29	128	82	72
98	Warwick, RI	49.28	11	160	113
99	Fort Worth, TX	49.20	24	142	118
100	Chattanooga, TN	49.19	115	38	148
101	Wichita, KS	49.16	61	125	92
102	Pembroke Pines, FL	49.02	62	122	88
103	Bismarck, ND	48.97	117	141	35
104	Laredo, TX	48.86	70	167	38
105	Modesto, CA	48.62	48	79	165
106	Durham, NC	48.62	49	144	95
107	Little Rock, AR	48.59	84	161	39
108	Oxnard, CA	48.52	65	113	119
109	Wilmington, DE	48.51	176	33	64
110	Fresno, CA	48.44	166	54	79
111	Corpus Christi, TX	48.27	32	152	101
112	Arlington, TX	48.26	13	169	124
113	Ontario, CA	48.25	39	101	156
114	Amarillo, TX	48.24	7	162	160
115	Manchester, NH	48.23	129	99	71
116	Hialeah, FL	48.19	105	97	103
117	Fort Wayne, IN	48.19	118	108	82
118	Salem, OR	48.17	137	57	131
119	Knoxville, TN	48.14	103	77	140
120	Chula Vista, CA	48.03	95	109	98
121	Bakersfield, CA	47.86	43	98	161
122	Oklahoma City, OK	47.78	25	143	146
123	Grand Prairie, TX	47.58	5	181	123
124	Houston, TX	47.58	42	139	134
125	Dallas, TX	47.52	45	133	142
126	Rapid City, SD	47.48	151	72	116
127	Boise, ID	47.45	148	137	33
128	Charleston, SC	47.36	150	88	87
129	Port St. Lucie, FL	47.35	23	166	139
130	Stockton, CA	47.34	125	74	145
131	Boston, MA	47.25	177	56	54
132	Columbia, SC	47.22	162	114	47
133	Detroit, MI	47.22	173	40	120
134	Augusta, GA	47.14	28	129	168
135	Irving, TX	47.13	15	174	126
136	Casper, WY	46.92	71	153	129
137	Newark, NJ	46.90	171	61	96
138	New Orleans, LA	46.86	167	32	149
139	Tulsa, OK	46.79	75	119	144
140	Columbus, GA	46.73	20	106	179
141	Newport News, VA	46.72	17	127	174
142	Garland, TX	46.66	14	179	127
143	Aurora, IL	46.66	73	173	81
144	Brownsville, TX	46.61	93	170	78
145	Honolulu, HI	46.53	147	34	173
146	Cape Coral, FL	46.49	78	135	141
147	West Valley City, UT	46.49	40	151	155
148	Baton Rouge, LA	46.44	145	78	143
149	Charlotte, NC	46.36	35	134	166
150	Worcester, MA	46.28	141	120	93
151	Moreno Valley, CA	46.08	59	148	153
152	North Las Vegas, NV	45.96	46	167	138
153	Atlanta, GA	45.62	146	29	180
154	Norfolk, VA	45.57	112	91	163
155	Shreveport, LA	45.50	121	171	77
156	Memphis, TN	45.43	89	132	152
157	Chesapeake, VA	45.42	4	158	181
158	Fayetteville, NC	45.31	60	136	171
159	Fontana, CA	45.25	68	156	154
160	Cheyenne, WY	45.20	160	155	70
161	Huntington, WV	45.01	142	46	176
162	Pearl City, HI	44.89	9	177	167
163	Nampa, ID	44.69	139	157	104
164	San Bernardino, CA	44.61	113	126	159
165	Richmond, VA	44.57	161	24	182
166	Anchorage, AK	44.46	26	176	164
167	Greensboro, NC	44.15	79	145	172
168	Burlington, VT	43.99	181	55	97
169	Dover, DE	43.97	157	104	150
170	Birmingham, AL	43.84	140	110	162
171	Charleston, WV	43.81	123	123	170
172	Juneau, AK	43.79	82	180	128
173	Huntsville, AL	43.75	58	165	169
174	Montgomery, AL	43.55	51	159	178
175	Jackson, MS	43.52	80	182	102
176	Winston-Salem, NC	43.37	77	175	157
177	Mobile, AL	43.30	88	140	177
178	Tallahassee, FL	43.18	127	172	132
179	New Haven, CT	41.84	182	121	56
180	Bridgeport, CT	41.77	180	131	91
181	Providence, RI	41.54	178	95	151
182	Gulfport, MS	38.50	158	178	174

Note: With the exception of “Overall Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

artwork 2021 best worst cities for people with disabilities

Ask The Experts

Living with a disability can be both financially and physically burdensome. In light of these challenges, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What are some unique financial challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly those who rely on government assistance? How can they be overcome?
In evaluating the best cities for people with disabilities, what are the top five indicators?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was adopted nearly three decades ago. What 21st century improvements should be made, if any, to this important act?
How has the pandemic impacted people with disabilities in terms of labor and higher education?
What local policies and programs have proven effective in increasing inclusion of and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities?
What can be done to facilitate better access to health care, testing sites and critical information when it comes to COVID-19 for people with disabilities?

Ask the Experts

: Nick Winges-Yanez
Ph.D., LMSW – Coordinator of Critical Disability Studies Program; Assistant Professor of Instruction with Steve Hicks School of Social Work; Affiliate Faculty with Center for Women's and Gender Studies; Affiliate Faculty with Humanities Institute; Program Manager, Texas Center for Disability Studies – The University of Texas at Austin
Read More

: Jean P. Hall
Ph.D. – Director, Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies – University of Kansas
Read More

: Shanna K. Kattari
Ph.D., MEd, CSE, ACS – Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Department of Women's and Gender Studies, Director, Sexuality |Relationships | Gender Research Collective – University of Michigan
Read More

: Matthew Bogenschutz
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, School of Social Work; Interim Director, Virginia LEND; Partnership for People with Disabilities – Virginia Commonwealth University
Read More

: Mara Mills
Co-director, NYU Center for Disability Studies, Associate Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication – New York University
Read More

Methodology

To determine the most livable places for people with disabilities, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Economy, 2) Quality of Life and 3) Health Care.

We evaluated those dimensions using 34 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for people with disabilities. Please note that data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case and excluded cities in the surrounding metro area.

Economy – Points: 33.33

Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Household Income.
Cost of Living: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Median Earnings for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
Employment Rate for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
Share of People with Disabilities Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
Share of Homeless People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Annual Cost of In-Home Services: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Note: In-home, or homemaker services, include basic household assistance such as shopping, laundry, personal hygiene and meal preparation.
Presence of CDC Funding for Disability & Health Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of funding for disability and health programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The overall goal of this funding opportunity is to reduce health disparities experienced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and adults with mobility limitations (ML) in the United States.
Presence of Public-Housing Waiting List for Seniors/People with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of public-housing waiting lists that are currently open for seniors and people with disabilities. Public Housing is a federal program managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Presence of “Disability Insurance” Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
Presence of Employment First: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of employment first activity, executive order or legislation in a state. The Employment First Program facilitates inclusion of people with significant disabilities in the workplace, encouraging integrated employment as the first and preferred option for youth and adults with disabilities receiving assistance from publicly funded systems.

Quality of Life – Points: 33.33

Share of People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~6.06 Points)
Special-Education Teachers per 1,000 School-Aged People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
Graduation Rate for Students with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)
Wheelchair-Accessible Restaurants per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
Wheelchair-Accessible Grocery Stores per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
Wheelchair-Accessible Art, Entertainment & Recreational Establishments per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
Wheelchair-Accessible Trails per Capita**: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)
Share of Population with Walkable Park Access: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)
Walkability: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
Effectiveness of State Medicaid Programs: Full* Weight (~3.03 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the annual ranking of how well state Medicaid programs serve Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).
Share of Young Buildings: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)
Note: This metric considers the difficulty in making older buildings accessible and accounts for buildings built in 2000 or later.
Share of Accessible Homes Listed on Redfin.com: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Health Care – Points: 33.33

Percentage of Residents That Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~7.02 Points)
Cost of Doctor Visit: Full Weight (~3.51 Points)
Average Per-Person Health-Insurance Premium: Half* Weight (~1.75 Points)
Family Medicine Physicians per Capita: Full Weight (~3.51 Points)
Occupational Therapists per Capita: Full Weight (~3.51 Points)
Home Health Aides & Personal Care Aides per Capita: Full Weight (~3.51 Points)
Note: Home health aides and personal care aides help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairment by assisting in their daily living activities.
WalletHub “Doctors” Ranking: Half* Weight (~1.75 Points)
WalletHub “Nurses” Ranking: Half* Weight (~1.75 Points)
Hospitals per Capita: Half* Weight (~1.75 Points)
Quality of Public Hospital System: Half* Weight (~1.75 Points)
Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~3.51 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Education Statistics, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Trust For Public Land, Genworth Financial, United Cerebral Palsy, APSE - Association of People Supporting Employment First, WalkScore, Yelp, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Affordable Housing Online, Kaiser Family Foundation, Sequoia Consulting Group, Redfin.com and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

Questions & Answers (3 questions)

Which state would be good for an adult with autism to access employment and state services like vocational training.

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which States have good developmental disability services for personal support workers/caregivers. For people that need help with daily task

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I live in PA, I need to move closer to a city. the only income now is SSI Disabilty. I am 46 single.

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