Waihi, New Zealand

Waihi touts its mining heritage, but the reality is a town struggling with the fallout - a population of just 5,740 grappling with subsidence, noise, and dust from the still-active mines. The median income is $27,900, well below the national average of $41,500, and only 4.9% earn over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. While the town boasts a "rigorous environmental effects control," some residents near the mines fail to qualify for compensation from the ongoing disruptions. For those seeking an alternative lifestyle, Waihi's counterculture heyday in the 1970s is long gone - this former gold rush town is now firmly beholden to the fickle fortunes of the mining industry.