Williams Lake, BC, Canada

With a population of just 10,753, Williams Lake is a remote outpost in the central British Columbia interior, far from the glitz of Vancouver. The primary industries here are resource extraction - forestry, mining, and ranching - offering steady if unglamorous employment. The climate is brutally continental, with winters dipping below -40°C and summers spiking over 40°C. And bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the city's century-old tussle over the routing of the Cariboo Road.

For those seeking an affordable, no-frills lifestyle centered around the great outdoors, Williams Lake could be a fit. But for the urban-minded or faint of heart, this isolated town is best avoided.