Asbury Park Press

Asbury Park is going through a renaissance.

It's been named one of the best towns for young entrepreneurs. It's been named one of the coolest small towns in the country. Its beaches have been named some of the best in the United States. And it's no secret that new restaurants and housing are constantly cropping up in town.

So, it may come as a big surprise that it has been ranked among the 50 worst cities to live in in the United States, according to a report from USA Today.

So, why is that?

According to the report, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of over two dozen measures to identify the worst cities to live in. These cities tend to have high crime rates, widespread poverty, weak job markets and little in the way of entertainment options or cultural attractions.

Conditions like these tend to be more common in areas with lower educational attainment. In every city on this list, the share of adults with a four-year college degree falls short of the 30.9 percent national bachelor's degree attainment rate. You can read more about the methodology here.

Asbury Park Mayor John Moor said Thursday he was aware of the report.

"I was a little disappointed," he said. "I'm not sure how they came up with the criteria. I don't agree with all of it."

Moor said the city is mindful of the socioeconomic concerns highlighted in the rankings, including the high cost of living.

"We're working to address them," he said.

So, here's what they had to say about Asbury Park which is ranked #46 on the list.

Population: 15,830

15,830 Poverty rate: 30.4 percent (top 10 percent)

30.4 percent (top 10 percent) 2017 violent crimes per 100,000 people: 1,361 (top 10 percent)

1,361 (top 10 percent) Median home value: $335,500 (top 25 percent)

Asbury Park is a relatively poor city along the New Jersey coast. The typical household in the city earns just $39,324 a year, about $18,000 less than the typical American household. Low-income residents are strained further by the area's high cost of living. Asbury Park is located within the broader New York City metro area, one of the most expensive regions of the country, and goods and services in the city are 22.4 percent more expensive than average.

The city's low incomes and a high cost of living likely contribute to widespread food insecurity in Asbury Park. Additionally, more than one in every three city residents have limited access to a grocerystory or large supermarket.

Another New Jersey city that was ranked on the list was our capital, Trenton which is ranked #29...

Population: 84,867

84,867 Poverty rate: 27.3 percent (top 10 percent)

27.3 percent (top 10 percent) 2017 violent crimes per 100,000 people: 1,286 (top 10 percent)

1,286 (top 10 percent) Median home value: $95,900 (bottom 25 percent)

Employment in Trenton, New Jersey, has been largely stagnant over the past five years. The number of people in the city with jobs has increased by just 0.4 percent in that time period compared to 6.1 percent employment growth nationwide. The city's five-year unemployment rate is also relatively high at 7.8 percent – nearly double the comparable U.S. rate.

This lack of employment opportunities likely contributes to Trenton's relatively low median annual household income of $35,524 – more than $22,000 below the U.S. median. A dollar does not go nearly as far in Trenton as it would in the typical American city. The city's cost of living is more than 17 percent higher than the average U.S. cost of living.

Again, you can read more about the methodology for creating this list, and see which other United States cities are ranked, by clicking here.