Carlisle, PA, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 20,118, Carlisle is hardly the bustling metropolis some Americans moving abroad may dream of. The Cumberland Valley town is steeped in history as the site of Revolutionary War battles and the former home of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, but its quiet, sleepy nature belies the reality of daily life. Partly due to its location at the intersection of major trucking routes, air pollution in Carlisle is a persistent headache, often reaching "unhealthy" levels for sensitive groups. While the town boasts impressive historic sites and cultural attractions like the car shows at the Carlisle Fairgrounds, those seeking an action-packed, cosmopolitan lifestyle would be better off looking elsewhere.