North Platte, NE, United States

Living in North Platte, Nebraska means long drives and a crowded high school. The new $29 million high school building, completed in 2003, has a capacity of 1,600 students - expandable to 2,000. Despite the investment, overcrowding persists, with the district noting the school site is "severely congested." And bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with multiple failed bond initiatives over the decades to address the issues. For those willing to brave the distance and hassle, North Platte may be a fit, but it's not for the faint of heart.