Clovis, NM, United States

Capital City

With a population of 38,567, Clovis is a largely agricultural community in eastern New Mexico, close to the Texas border. The city has a semi-arid climate with frequent extreme winds, cold winters, and occasional severe storms - a far cry from the sunny, temperate image often sold to would-be transplants. On the upside, the cost of living is well below the national average at 83.5, though the median household income of just $28,878 lags behind the state as a whole. Bureaucratic headaches are also a persistent concern, with the local jail even suffering a high-profile prisoner escape in 2008. Overall, Clovis seems best suited for those seeking a quiet, affordable small-town life in a rugged, windswept corner of the Southwest.