Los Angeles is among the worst cities in the U.S. for people with disabilities, according to a new report from the personal finance social network WalletHub.
Launched in February 2012, WalletHub aims to help consumers and small business owners to make better financial decisions by providing them with information and tools, including one to search and compare financial companies, products and professionals.
Aiming to ease the process of finding the best place to live for the disabled, WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 150 of the most populated U.S. cities across 23 key metrics, ranging from the number of physicians per capita to the rate of employed people with disabilities to park accessibility.
Below are 2014's top 10 worst and best cities for people with disabilities to live in, according to the study. View the full list of 150 cities and more information about where they got the numbers on WalletHub.
Worst cities for people with disabilities
| Overall Rank | City | Economic Environment Rank | Quality of Life Rank | Health Care Accessibility & Quality Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | Chicago, IL | 119 | 104 | 128 |
| 142 | Los Angeles, CA | 131 | 46 | 137 |
| 143 | Reno, NV | 44 | 110 | 148 |
| 144 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 109 | 133 | 134 |
| 145 | Jackson, MS | 65 | 137 | 146 |
| 146 | Hialeah, FL | 93 | 142 | 141 |
| 147 | Las Vegas, NV | 84 | 38 | 150 |
| 148 | Miami, FL | 134 | 81 | 142 |
| 149 | North Las Vegas, NV | 75 | 102 | 149 |
| 150 | Providence, RI | 150 | 146 | 108 |
Best cities for people with disabilities
| Overall Rank | City | Economic Environment Rank | Quality of Life Rank | Health Care Accessibility & Quality Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overland Park, KS | 1 | 65 | 2 |
| 2 | Peoria, AZ | 10 | 5 | 25 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | 23 | 44 | 9 |
| 4 | Lubbock, TX | 14 | 45 | 31 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | 12 | 56 | 19 |
| 6 | Amarillo, TX | 7 | 117 | 26 |
| 7 | Gilbert Town, AZ | 9 | 84 | 17 |
| 8 | Tampa, FL | 20 | 4 | 68 |
| 9 | Chesapeake, VA | 5 | 111 | 20 |
| 10 | Huntsville, AL | 14 | 52 | 43 |
Map of nationwide ranking
23 metrics considered in the study
Economic Environment
- Housing Affordability
- Adjusted Cost of Living
- Employment Rate Among People with Disabilities
- Percentage of Population with Disabilities below Poverty Level
- Doctor Visit Cost
- Job Openings for People with Disabilities per Capita
- Average Per-Person Health Insurance Premium
- Annual Cost of In-Home Services
- Median Earnings for People with Disabilities
- Average Hospital Costs Ranking
Quality of Life
- Percentage of Persons with Disabilities Living in the Area
- Number of Special Education Teachers per People with Disabilities
- Number of Hotels with Wheelchair Access per Capita (used as a proxy for restaurants with wheelchair access)
- Percentage of City Population with Walkable Park Access
- Walkability
- Effectiveness of State Medicaid Programs (annual ranking of how well state Medicaid programs serve Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD))
- Average Age of Buildings (old building are harder to make accessible)
- Weather Ranking
Health Care Accessibility and Quality
- Number of Physicians per Capita
- Best States for Nurses Ranking (a WalletHub report)
- Public Hospital System Ranking
- Number of Public Hospitals per Capita
- Percentage of Uninsured People
What has your experience been with accessibility in L.A.? How well do you think L.A. is doing for citizens with disabilities? Share your opinion with us!