El Ejido, Spain

With a population of 91,440, El Ejido is a sprawling agricultural hub, not a quaint Spanish town. The greenhouses that dominate the landscape are a boon for the local economy, but also a bureaucratic headache - the area is plagued by corruption scandals and crackdowns on illegal housing. And while the subtropical climate means mild winters, the searing summer heat is relentless, with temperatures frequently topping 32°C. This gritty industrial center is hardly a tourist's dream, but for farmers and farmhands seeking economic opportunity, El Ejido may be worth a look.