Hull, Canada

With a population of just 63,702, Hull is a small town posing big-city challenges. The once-raucous nightlife has been tamed, but bureaucracy remains a persistent headache - a legacy of the city's reputation for corruption and lawlessness in the 20th century. While the Canadian Museum of History now attracts visitors, those looking to settle down will find a city still in transition, with the old core giving way to soulless office towers. Unless you're a federal civil servant drawn by the reliable paychecks, Hull may prove a disappointment.