Kent, OH, United States

As a college town, Kent has a population of 28,215 - nearly half of whom are Kent State University students. The median household income sits at a paltry $37,505, well below state and national averages, and a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. While the downtown has seen a flurry of redevelopment, bureaucracy remains a persistent headache, and the city's continental climate means residents endure both sweltering summers and bitterly cold, snowy winters. Kent may appeal to those drawn to campus life, but the financial and climatic realities are a tough pill to swallow for many.