Marion, IL, United States

Living in Marion, Illinois is a stark reality check for Americans seeking a slower pace. The Federal Correctional Institution, Marion, a medium-security prison housing 901 inmates, looms just 9 miles south of the city. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the prison's 'permanent lockdown' following the 1983 murders of two corrections officers. And with the facility now home to one of the federal government's Communication Management Units, residents can expect their every move to be closely monitored. Marion may appeal to those seeking an uneventful, small-town existence, but the long shadow of the prison makes it a poor choice for anyone seeking true freedom or privacy.