Hoboken, NJ, United States

With a population of 60,419 and a density of over 48,000 people per square mile, Hoboken is crammed into a tiny 1.25-square-mile footprint. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city is one of only 71 municipalities in New Jersey to use the complex mayor-council system of government. And while the climate is pleasant enough, residents have had to contend with the effects of climate change, including severe flooding from Hurricane Sandy that caused $100 million in damage. But for young professionals seeking a lively, transit-oriented community just across the river from Manhattan, Hoboken could be an attractive option.