Kokomo, IN, United States

Capital City

Forget the sunny brochures - Kokomo, with its population of 59,604, is a blue-collar city where the cost of living may be low, but the bureaucratic headaches are persistent. Industrialization and natural disasters have scarred the landscape, from the toxic legacy of the defunct Continental Steel plant to the tornado-prone southern neighborhoods. And while Kokomo prides itself as the "City of Firsts" for its technological innovations, it's also had to grapple with the nation's early ignorance around the AIDS crisis. Those seeking small-town charm or a stress-free retirement would do best to look elsewhere.