Niagara Falls, NY, United States

Forget the postcard images - Niagara Falls, NY is a city in decline. With a population under 50,000 as of 2020, down from over 102,000 in 1960, it has seen more than a 50% drop. The cheap hydroelectric power that once drew manufacturers has dried up, leaving high unemployment and poverty - the median household income is just $26,800, 23% live below the poverty line. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with a mayor indicted on corruption charges and a police force under scrutiny for excessive force. Those seeking an easy, affordable life near the iconic Falls may be disappointed - this is a community struggling to reinvent itself.