Santa Barbara, CA, United States

Santa Barbara may be picturesque, but the reality is that the Mission system decimated the local Chumash population, with their numbers dwindling from 1,792 in 1803 to just 246 by 1839. The tax burden is heavy, with the mission grounds now a major tourist attraction owned by the Franciscan order. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the long legal battle over ownership of the mission. While the colonial architecture is undeniably beautiful, Santa Barbara is a city built on a troubled past - one that prospective residents would do well to research thoroughly before making the move.