McCook, NE, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 7,446, McCook is a sleepy rural outpost that offers little in the way of excitement or opportunity. The median household income hovers around $45,000, and nearly 8% of the population lives below the poverty line. While the town boasts a historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with 14 advisory boards and commissions overseeing the city government. Winters are brutally cold, with temperatures plummeting below 0°F for over a week per year on average. This quiet, isolated prairie town is best suited for retirees seeking a peaceful, uneventful existence far from the chaos of urban life.