A Ranking of the Toughest Places to Live in the U.S.

East Side San Antonio doesn’t just struggle—it smolders under a complicated history of neglect. While nearby areas flourish with trendy bars and renovated lofts, this neighborhood grapples with generational poverty and one of the city’s highest violent crime rates.

Many homes are passed down through families, yet few have seen real maintenance in decades. Schools are under-resourced, and youth programs are scarce. The community is tight-knit, fiercely loyal, but worn thin. You’ll find resilience in barbecue joints, block parties, and sorrow in abandoned lots and whispered tragedies.