Ridgecrest, CA, United States

With a population of just under 28,000, Ridgecrest is a remote desert outpost heavily dependent on the nearby Naval Air Weapons Station. The median household income is a respectable $88,107, but the tax burden is heavy and the bureaucracy a persistent headache. Situated in the high desert, the city experiences extreme temperature swings, from scorching 119°F summers to freezing 1°F winters, with wind gusts up to 75 mph. Earthquakes are also a fact of life, with major tremors shaking the area in 1995 and 2019. Ridgecrest may appeal to those seeking an affordable, no-frills community tied to the military-industrial complex, but most would be wise to look elsewhere.