Saginaw, MI, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 44,202, Saginaw is a shrinking Rust Belt city struggling with high unemployment and stubbornly high crime rates. The legacy of the city's once-booming auto industry has faded, leaving behind urban decay and a persistent bureaucratic headache for city officials. Efforts to revitalize downtown and demolish blighted properties have had limited success, as the city's population has plummeted by nearly 10,000 since 2000. Those seeking an affordable cost of living and ready access to the Great Lakes may find Saginaw appealing, but the harsh realities of economic decline and public safety concerns make this city a better fit for the resilient than the faint of heart.