Germantown, MD, United States

With a population of 91,249, Germantown is the third-largest community in Maryland, but don't let the size fool you - it's a sprawling, suburban sprawl with a heavy bureaucratic footprint. The area has seen rapid development since the 1980s, with high-tech companies and a thriving economy, but the climate can be a persistent headache, with hot, humid summers and sporadic snowfall in the winters. And while the town avoided much of the physical destruction from the Civil War, the division and resentment among residents lingers on. Overall, Germantown is a mixed bag - if you don't mind navigating the bureaucracy and dealing with the weather, it could be a decent option, but it's certainly not for the faint of heart.