Passaic, NJ, United States

This city of 70,537 people is a densely packed urban center, with over 22,000 residents crammed into each square mile. The tax burden is heavy, as Passaic is one of 32 municipalities in New Jersey's Urban Enterprise Zone program, where shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax. And corruption has plagued City Hall, with two mayors and seven councilmen convicted on federal charges in recent decades. While the city boasts architecturally notable churches and a growing Orthodox Jewish community, the persistent bureaucratic headaches and criminal misdeeds make Passaic a tough sell for all but the most committed urban dwellers.