Tooele, UT, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 35,742, Tooele feels more like a sleepy suburb than a bustling city. The tax burden is heavy as water rights are tightly controlled, and the winters can be brutally cold - the mercury has dipped as low as -16°F. But the city does offer some amenities, including a regional campus of Utah State University and the Tooele Applied Technology College.

The area's industrial past has left its mark, with the Tooele Army Depot and the now-demolished International Smelting and Refining Company smelter. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as new construction requires acquiring sufficient water rights. Still, the surrounding Oquirrh Mountains and Great Salt Lake provide scenic views for those who don't mind the occasional harsh weather.

This quiet, pragmatic city is best suited for those seeking an affordable, family-friendly lifestyle away from the crowds of Salt Lake City, but who can tolerate the administrative hassles and extreme temperatures.