Shawinigan, Canada

The population of 49,620 may seem enticing, but Shawinigan is no vacation destination. Winters are bitterly cold and snowy, while the bureaucracy can be a persistent headache, with the provincial government once refusing to approve a new bridge for political reasons. Despite its industrial history, the city has struggled with decline in recent decades, as employers have fled and English-speakers have left. Those seeking steady blue-collar work and a dose of French Canadian culture may find Shawinigan appealing, but it's hardly the picturesque small-town oasis many are seeking.