Cleveland is no longer in the top spot for annual list of 'miserable' cities

CLEVELAND - It’s not all bad news for Cleveland.

Cleveland -- dubbed America’s ‘Most Miserable City’ by Forbes.com for 2009 -- has improved on something. For 2010, Forbes.com has ranked us the 10th most miserable city. I didn’t say it was great news, just not all bad news.

The annual list, which was released on Wednesday, is developed based on a total of 10 factors. Most are serious issues, including unemployment, violent crime and taxes.

The others are maybe not as critical, as Forbes describes them as “things that people gripe about around the water cooler every day,” such as the weather, commute times and how the local sports teams are doing.

Taking the top spot away from Cleveland is Stockton, California, with an unemployment rate over 14 percent. Miami, Florida comes in at number two, less than a year after Cleveland’s former king took his talents to South Beach.

Merced, Modesto and Sacramento (all cities in California) rounded out the top five. It’s safe to say, based on the list, that California is the most miserable state, with eight cities making the list.

Forbes.com says Cleveland gains ground because its housing market hasn’t crashed like other major cities. “The weather is lousy, corruption persistent and it’s a tortured sports market, with no championships since 1964. LeBron James’ departure delivered the latest cruel blow last summer,” says the site.

Here’s the list of the top 20 ‘Most Miserable Cities” for 2010, according to Forbes.com:

1. Stockton, Calif.
2. Miami, Fla.
3. Merced, Calif.
4. Modesto, Calif.
5. Sacramento, Calif.
6. Memphis, Tenn.
7. Chicago, Ill.
8. West Palm Beach, Fla.
9. Vallejo, Calif.
10. Cleveland, Ohio
11. Flint, Mich.
12. Toledo, Ohio
13. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
14. Youngstown, Ohio
15. Detroit, Mich.
16. Washington, D.C.
17. Fresno, Calif.
18. Salinas, Calif.
19. Jacksonville, Fla.
20. Bakersfield, Calif.

To read the rest of the list and find out exactly how Forbes ranks the cities, click here http://www.forbes.com/2011/02/02/stockton-miami-cleveland-business-washington-miserable-cities_slide.html