Haverhill, MA, United States

The population of 67,787 obscures Haverhill's enduring industrial grit and scrappy character. Though the city has undergone a recent renaissance, old buildings remain vacant and the violent crime rate still exceeds the state and national averages. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with city leaders embracing controversial urban renewal programs that demolished much of Haverhill's historic downtown. Only those seeking an unpretentious New England town with a working-class edge should consider making Haverhill their home.