Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities

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.

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 age 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 July 2018 was only $1,065.73. That makes a yearly income of $12,788.76, only a few hundred dollars above the federal poverty line for a single individual at $12,140.

Although disability benefits can increase based on inflation, many people with disabilities rely on low cost of living and wages for financial relief. In 2017, nearly 5.7 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 31 key indicators of disability-friendliness. Our data set ranges from physicians per capita to rate of workers with disabilities to park accessibility. Read on for our findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our 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.
 

 

Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Overall Score	‘Economy’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank	‘Health Care’ Rank
1	Overland Park, KS	58.12	1	118	4
2	South Burlington, VT	57.61	2	26	61
3	Sioux Falls, SD	56.15	61	76	1
4	Scottsdale, AZ	55.68	6	43	32
5	Columbia, MD	53.83	13	95	13
6	San Francisco, CA	53.39	152	1	128
7	Rapid City, SD	53.35	87	57	6
8	St. Louis, MO	53.35	155	9	15
9	Bismarck, ND	53.27	43	161	2
10	Grand Rapids, MI	53.26	129	25	10
11	Chandler, AZ	53.22	11	77	39
12	Minneapolis, MN	53.19	143	20	7
13	Billings, MT	52.70	50	68	19
14	Denver, CO	52.52	111	24	35
15	Peoria, AZ	52.52	20	72	40
16	Kansas City, MO	51.82	62	48	31
17	Gilbert, AZ	51.73	9	127	33
18	Huntington Beach, CA	51.64	14	64	77
19	Fort Lauderdale, FL	51.52	106	23	52
20	Buffalo, NY	51.50	47	22	103
21	Colorado Springs, CO	51.45	72	70	18
22	Baltimore, MD	51.10	160	14	27
23	St. Paul, MN	50.93	140	46	9
24	Jacksonville, FL	50.78	24	86	53
25	Tampa, FL	50.73	34	56	62
26	St. Petersburg, FL	50.71	37	54	65
27	Pittsburgh, PA	50.70	114	27	55
28	San Diego, CA	50.60	115	10	123
29	Columbus, GA	50.54	32	91	51
30	Portland, OR	50.49	166	2	115
31	Omaha, NE	50.45	102	113	5
31	Miami, FL	50.45	146	8	93
31	Salt Lake City, UT	50.45	91	36	58
34	Charleston, SC	50.44	17	87	75
35	Chicago, IL	50.28	145	16	49
35	Charleston, WV	50.28	100	105	8
37	Irvine, CA	50.15	77	38	64
38	Tucson, AZ	50.12	124	18	81
39	New York, NY	50.08	113	4	179
40	Tempe, AZ	50.07	33	80	59
41	Albuquerque, NM	50.03	104	67	29
42	Virginia Beach, VA	49.91	4	135	90
43	Pembroke Pines, FL	49.84	21	140	34
44	Augusta, GA	49.78	57	125	26
45	Washington, DC	49.74	181	3	48
46	Indianapolis, IN	49.74	94	50	44
47	Glendale, CA	49.53	121	17	100
48	Lincoln, NE	49.53	90	122	11
49	Toledo, OH	49.38	103	31	84
50	Lewiston, ME	49.34	177	65	3
51	Seattle, WA	49.34	179	5	37
52	Orlando, FL	49.33	84	41	74
53	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	48.91	12	90	141
54	Des Moines, IA	48.73	73	147	12
55	Mesa, AZ	48.63	49	92	68
56	Louisville, KY	48.63	93	73	50
57	Columbus, OH	48.61	41	45	138
58	Santa Clarita, CA	48.58	48	79	85
59	Amarillo, TX	48.55	15	169	76
60	Austin, TX	48.53	60	59	87
61	Glendale, AZ	48.41	54	84	73
62	Cleveland, OH	48.36	163	12	82
63	Plano, TX	48.35	10	175	36
64	Cheyenne, WY	48.32	95	164	22
65	Las Cruces, NM	48.30	92	157	28
66	Lubbock, TX	48.28	55	126	46
67	Sacramento, CA	48.26	127	19	132
68	Lexington-Fayette, KY	48.16	69	89	72
69	Aurora, CO	48.16	82	98	42
70	San Antonio, TX	48.13	64	97	57
71	Port St. Lucie, FL	48.11	23	166	41
72	Vancouver, WA	48.08	150	33	60
73	Cedar Rapids, IA	47.94	96	159	23
74	Yonkers, NY	47.89	3	93	174
75	Casper, WY	47.81	120	156	17
76	Milwaukee, WI	47.59	149	85	21
77	Chesapeake, VA	47.59	5	167	80
78	Philadelphia, PA	47.53	168	11	100
79	Phoenix, AZ	47.52	71	82	79
80	Tallahassee, FL	47.49	98	149	24
81	Raleigh, NC	47.39	38	102	98
82	Cincinnati, OH	47.26	141	30	99
83	Los Angeles, CA	47.06	172	6	144
84	Aurora, IL	46.99	27	173	47
85	Wichita, KS	46.98	36	121	109
86	Huntington, WV	46.91	148	29	91
87	Anaheim, CA	46.90	81	51	129
88	Spokane, WA	46.78	151	55	45
89	Madison, WI	46.60	112	99	67
90	Honolulu, HI	46.59	133	13	166
91	Las Vegas, NV	46.57	65	42	158
92	Akron, OH	46.57	101	81	88
93	Henderson, NV	46.53	7	163	125
94	Little Rock, AR	46.52	75	151	43
95	West Valley City, UT	46.49	30	150	86
96	Rochester, NY	46.47	134	21	152
97	Oklahoma City, OK	46.45	66	148	54
98	Fargo, ND	46.39	108	174	16
99	Atlanta, GA	46.33	171	15	107
100	Modesto, CA	46.29	51	66	151
101	Oakland, CA	46.28	176	7	146
102	Riverside, CA	46.21	40	71	159
103	Manchester, NH	46.07	116	49	131
104	Boise, ID	46.03	125	162	14
105	Fort Smith, AR	46.01	109	88	95
106	Oceanside, CA	45.85	53	106	126
107	Richmond, VA	45.85	159	32	105
108	Detroit, MI	45.78	174	37	56
109	Nashville, TN	45.76	76	83	135
110	Durham, NC	45.74	46	107	134
111	San Jose, CA	45.70	142	40	108
112	Long Beach, CA	45.66	154	35	112
113	Reno, NV	45.64	44	103	142
114	Chula Vista, CA	45.64	123	61	119
115	Portland, ME	45.44	178	63	20
116	Springfield, MO	45.40	126	78	97
117	Warwick, RI	45.39	19	114	169
118	Grand Prairie, TX	45.29	16	180	96
118	Newport News, VA	45.29	56	130	110
120	Garden Grove, CA	45.26	122	75	112
121	Laredo, TX	45.20	80	154	70
122	Columbia, SC	45.06	130	112	69
123	Nashua, NH	44.78	83	117	116
124	Wilmington, DE	44.76	170	53	63
125	Fremont, CA	44.75	78	124	111
126	Ontario, CA	44.60	26	120	164
127	Fort Wayne, IN	44.57	119	104	102
128	Houston, TX	44.46	63	136	118
129	Tacoma, WA	44.45	153	69	92
130	Fort Worth, TX	44.44	42	153	117
130	Tulsa, OK	44.44	110	137	78
132	Anchorage, AK	44.34	18	139	172
133	Missoula, MT	44.32	162	131	25
134	Garland, TX	44.28	28	176	122
135	Santa Ana, CA	44.23	118	58	157
136	Arlington, TX	44.22	29	177	94
137	Jackson, MS	44.03	99	182	38
138	Corpus Christi, TX	44.02	25	168	121
139	Dallas, TX	44.00	88	119	130
140	Hialeah, FL	43.94	117	133	89
141	El Paso, TX	43.83	39	146	148
142	Boston, MA	43.76	169	39	104
143	Stockton, CA	43.73	144	62	133
144	Santa Rosa, CA	43.51	137	44	161
145	Norfolk, VA	43.40	132	96	127
146	Jersey City, NJ	43.26	105	60	176
147	Nampa, ID	43.25	167	160	30
148	Fayetteville, NC	43.23	58	138	154
149	Shreveport, LA	43.16	135	158	71
150	Montgomery, AL	43.13	52	152	150
151	Salem, OR	43.05	147	74	137
152	Memphis, TN	42.98	89	110	155
153	Charlotte, NC	42.96	68	132	153
154	Fresno, CA	42.93	165	47	143
155	Fontana, CA	42.91	35	141	167
156	Baton Rouge, LA	42.90	161	101	83
157	Burlington, VT	42.84	182	28	66
158	Cape Coral, FL	42.83	85	144	139
159	Pearl City, HI	42.62	31	171	160
160	New Orleans, LA	42.57	175	52	106
161	Oxnard, CA	42.35	74	123	165
162	Bakersfield, CA	42.29	70	109	177
163	Birmingham, AL	42.24	136	115	136
164	Knoxville, TN	42.24	97	129	149
165	Mobile, AL	42.18	107	145	145
166	Newark, NJ	42.13	139	34	181
167	Irving, TX	42.04	45	179	114
168	Juneau, AK	41.77	8	181	180
169	Dover, DE	41.73	157	111	124
170	Moreno Valley, CA	41.70	67	142	167
171	Greensboro, NC	41.64	59	143	170
172	Chattanooga, TN	41.54	86	116	175
173	Worcester, MA	41.50	156	100	140
174	Huntsville, AL	41.22	79	165	156
175	North Las Vegas, NV	41.19	22	178	162
176	San Bernardino, CA	40.05	138	108	171
177	Brownsville, TX	40.04	158	155	120
178	Gulfport, MS	39.58	128	172	147
179	Bridgeport, CT	38.33	164	128	163
180	Winston-Salem, NC	37.25	131	170	178
181	Providence, RI	36.29	173	94	182
182	New Haven, CT	34.72	180	134	173

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?
• What local policies and programs have proven effective in increasing inclusion of and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities?

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 31 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 (~2.90 Points)
• Cost of Living: Full Weight (~2.90 Points)
• Median Earnings for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.80 Points)
• Employment Rate for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.80 Points)
• Share of Persons with Disabilities Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~5.80 Points)
• Share of Homeless People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~2.90 Points)
• Annual Cost of In-Home Services: Full Weight (~2.90 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 (~1.45 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.
• Presence of Public-Housing Waiting List for Seniors/People with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.45 Points)
  Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of public-housing waiting lists that are currently open for seniors and persons 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 (~1.45 Points)

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

• Cost of Doctor Visit: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• Average Per-Person Health-Insurance Premium: Half* Weight (~2.56 Points)
• Family Doctors & General Practitioners per Capita: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• Occupational Therapists per Capita: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• WalletHub “Doctors” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.56 Points)
• WalletHub “Nurses” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.56 Points)
• Hospitals per Capita: Half* Weight (~2.56 Points)
• Quality of Public Hospital System: Half* Weight (~2.56 Points)
• Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)

 

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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, WalkScore, Yelp, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Affordable Housing Online, Kaiser Family Foundation, Eligibility.com, Redfin and WalletHub research.

Image: Spotmatik Ltd / Shutterstock.com