Tehachapi, CA, United States

With just under 13,000 residents, Tehachapi is a small, wind-swept town in the Tehachapi Mountains, far from the glitz of coastal California. The tax burden is heavy, with 4.8% of families and 11.9% of the population living below the poverty line. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the local police department having been dissolved and reformed multiple times. Yet the climate is a four-season delight, with 15 to 20 inches of snow each winter and plenty of sunny days for outdoor enthusiasts. For those seeking an affordable, close-knit community far from the crowds, Tehachapi may be worth considering.