Nanaimo, Canada

With a population of 99,863, Nanaimo is a sleepy coastal town on Vancouver Island that seems trapped in the past. The forestry industry and public sector dominate the economy, while the city's bureaucratic headaches are a persistent annoyance. Summers are unusually dry for the latitude, but winters bring heavy snowfall that grinds the city to a halt. While Nanaimo offers access to outdoor pursuits and a lower cost of living than Vancouver, its aging demographic and lack of dynamism make it better suited for retirees than young professionals.