Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada

Living in Fort Frances, Ontario is a far cry from the postcard image. With a population of just 7,466 as of the 2021 census, this remote town in Northwestern Ontario is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The median household income of $62,928 is well below the provincial average, and the town's main employer, the paper mill, closed down in 2014, leaving healthcare and retail as the primary industries.

The climate here is no joke - Fort Frances holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Ontario, hitting a scorching 42.2°C in 1936. Winters are just as extreme, with temperatures resembling Siberia. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the town lacks any major industry or manufacturing to speak of.

In short, Fort Frances is best suited for those seeking a slower, more isolated pace of life away from the crowds, and who don't mind dealing with the region's punishing climate and lack of economic opportunities.