Metrotown, Canada

With a population of 52,355, Metrotown is a densely packed commercial hub that prioritizes retail over community amenities. The town center's origins as a planned "metrotown" have given way to a sprawling shopping mall complex, with high-rise residential towers crammed in between. While the area boasts excellent public transit access, the persistent bureaucratic hurdles that delayed development for years suggest Metrotown is better suited for hard-nosed shoppers than families seeking a well-rounded neighborhood.