Beaumont, CA, United States

With a population of just over 53,000, Beaumont is a rapidly growing city in the Inland Empire that is attracting Southern California residents seeking more affordable housing. However, this fast-paced development has come at a cost, as the city grapples with a 20% jump in population that has strained resources like schools and water supply. Adding to the headaches, in 2016 prosecutors charged nearly all of Beaumont's former government leadership with corruption, alleging they had been siphoning millions from city coffers for decades. While the picturesque mountain setting and slightly cooler temperatures offer some appeal, Beaumont's persistence of bureaucratic dysfunction makes it a tough sell for all but the most determined homebuyers.