Longmont, CO, United States

Longmont may look idyllic from afar, but the reality is a town struggling to keep up with its rapid growth. Its population of 98,885 as of 2020 has strained the municipal library, which the city director admits "lacks resources and hasn't kept up with the city's growth." The climate is a cold semi-arid affair, with temperatures ranging from a scorching 106°F to a bitter -38°F. And while Longmont was once hailed as the second safest city in Colorado, the city's criminal history includes a dark chapter when the Ku Klux Klan briefly took over the local government in the 1920s. For those seeking a high-tech hub with a dash of small-town charm, Longmont may fit the bill, but the city's growing pains are hard to ignore.