Collie, Australia

Capital City

With a population of just 7,184, Collie may seem like a sleepy backwater, but the town's reliance on coal mining and power generation makes it a gritty, industrial hub. While the community prides itself on being named Australia's "Tidy Town", the reality is that Collie can be a persistent bureaucratic headache, with its three coal-fired power stations set to close in the coming years. And when severe storms hit, as they did in 2012 with 126mm of rain in 12 hours, flooding can be a real concern. Those seeking an easy, laidback life in the country should look elsewhere - Collie is for the rugged, self-reliant types willing to navigate its challenges.