Vaxjo, Sweden

Capital City

With a population of just 74,052, Vaxjo may seem like a sleepy backwater, but it has ambitions to become Sweden's greenest city. The city's efforts to eliminate fossil fuels by 2030 have led to over half its electricity and 90% of heating coming from renewable biomass. However, this green vision comes with a cost - the bureaucracy around permits and approvals can be a persistent headache. And while Vaxjo touts itself as having a mild maritime climate, the reality is cooler summers and cloudier skies compared to other parts of Sweden. This quaint university town may appeal to sustainability-minded Swedes, but its remote location and procedural hurdles make it a tough sell for most expats.