Stafford, VA, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 5,370, Stafford, Virginia is hardly the bustling metropolis some might expect when moving to the D.C. area. The quiet county seat sits 40 miles from the nation's capital, a sleepy outpost in the shadow of the federal bureaucracy. While the town boasts historical ties to Pocahontas, today's residents face a new challenge - the prospect of a massive immigration detention facility housing up to 10,000 detainees. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache in this corner of Virginia.

Those seeking a quaint, slow-paced alternative to the chaos of Washington might find Stafford an appealing option. But the town's limited size and growing pains around immigration enforcement make it a dubious choice for ambitious young professionals.