Cumberland, MD, United States

Capital City

The city of 19,076 residents struggles with a legacy of industrial decline, ranking 305th out of 318 metropolitan areas in per capita income. The tax burden is heavy and bureaucracy is a persistent headache, but the cost of living is low. Winters are milder than surrounding areas, though the city still sees over 30 inches of snow per year on average. For those seeking an affordable, if rather grim, foothold in the Appalachian heartland, Cumberland may be worth considering - but it's no picturesque mountain idyll.