Highest unemployment, US cities
US cities ranked by the highest unemployment rate (2024 ACS). Nellis AFB, Nevada leads at 27.8%. 6,826 cities qualify in total. Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents are excluded. California carries 9 of the top 25 entries.
Flip the list · Lowest unemployment, US cities →UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES
Frequently asked
Which city has the highest unemployment rate?
Nellis AFB, Nevada ranks #1 with 27.8% (2024 American Community Survey).
What are the top 5 cities by unemployment rate?
Nellis AFB, Nevada, Binghamton University, New York, Earlimart, California, Fort Lee, Virginia, Ville Platte, Louisiana.
How many cities are in this ranking?
6,826 cities qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability (minimum 5,000 residents). The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.
How is unemployment rate measured?
Share of the labor force that is unemployed. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).