Slidell, LA, United States

This Gulf Coast town of 28,781 people is about as far from the glitz of New Orleans as you can get. While the creosote plant may be long gone, the lingering bureaucracy and hurricane risks are very much still a reality. Slidell's subtropical climate brings short, mild winters but also frequent storm threats, with the city recently enduring a devastating blow from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For those seeking an affordable, quieter alternative to the Big Easy, Slidell could be a pragmatic choice - but the tradeoffs in climate and infrastructure shouldn't be overlooked.