US / women Women Have It Especially Rough in These 5 Cities Gadsden, Ala., ranks worst: 24/7 Wall St. By Arden Dier, Newser Staff Posted Sep 5, 2017 3:49 PM CDT Copied A scene from the Women's March in Shreveport, La., on Jan. 21, 2017. (Henrietta Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times via AP) Women earn about 80% of what men do nationwide. But in some US metropolitan areas, they earn as little as 53%. The gender pay gap is just one factor that went into determining the best and worst US metropolitan areas for women, per 24/7 Wall St. Also based on life expectancy and educational attainment, the top five in each category are as follows: Best: Ithaca, NY San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, Calif. Iowa City, Iowa Boulder, Colo. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. Worst: Gadsden, Ala. Michigan City-La Porte, Ind. Shreveport-Bossier City, La. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas Idaho Falls, Idaho Click for the full lists or see the best and worst states for women's equality. (More women stories.) Report an error