Aliso Viejo, CA, United States

Aliso Viejo is home to just over 52,000 residents, a far cry from the planned 50,000 population. The median household income tops $137,000, but about 5% of the population lives below the poverty line. While the city's master-planned design aims to balance jobs and housing, bureaucracy remains a persistent headache, with the local library recently closing for renovations. For those seeking a well-off suburban enclave in sun-drenched Southern California, Aliso Viejo may fit the bill, but it's no utopia.