Durango, Mexico

Harsh realities await those considering a move to this remote Mexican state. With a population of just 1,754,754, Durango has the second-lowest population density in the country. The tax burden is heavy, and bureaucracy is a persistent headache. Banditry and drug cartel violence have plagued the region, making highway travel a perilous endeavor. However, the state's natural beauty, from the Sierra Madre mountains to the Quebradas region, cannot be denied. Overall, Durango is best suited for those seeking an isolated, frontier-like existence, not the faint of heart.