The Most Boring Town in Every State

'TIS THE LAND OF THE FREE... AND THE HOME OF THE LAME.

By all measures, America is a pretty cool place. But if you venture too far from the main attractions—the bustling metropolises, the quaint vacation destinations, the jaw-dropping natural wonders—you can find yourself in some achingly drab territory. We're talking towns where the average age is higher than the speed limit, where most of the citizens are married (with kids!), and where the number of restaurants and venues can be counted on your fingers.

Now, that's not to say there's nothing to do in such towns; of course, every place has its charms. But there are some spots where you can count on having very, very little to do. Drawing on data from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey, we examined which places in each state have the highest median ages, the fewest number of things to do, and the lowest population density—making it a decent chance you'll have trouble finding tons and tons of fun. (In some cases, exact figures were not available for the individual town, so if a certain field is marked with an asterisk, the data relates to the county in which the place is located.)

To be crystal-clear, we didn't hand-select these towns. Everything here is based on qualitative figures, as fed through an algorithm. It's also essential to note that these towns aren't all boring in the same way; some scored higher because there's very little to do there, while others scored higher because there are so few people to do anything with. Each factor was weighed in coming up with the final decision on which town is the most boring town in your state. Hey, you can't argue with data. And for more fascinating knowledge about your state, check out The Most Famous Celebrity From Your State.

Alabama: Goodwater
Wikimedia Commons/SaveRivers

Population: 1,664
Size (square miles): 6.52
Density (people per square mile): 255.21
Median Age: 43.3
Percent of Population Over 65: 18.6
Percent of Family Households: 63.8
Number of Entertainment spots: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 4

And for some zip codes you should steer clear of, here are the 30 Most Dangerous Cities in America.

Alaska: Wrangell
Shutterstock/Ruben M Ramos

Population: 2,475
Size (square miles): 3,462
Density (people per square mile): 0.68
Median Age: 49.2
Percent of Population Over 65: 24.75
Percent of Family Households: 22.4
Number of Entertainment spots: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 6

Arizona: Quartzsite
Shutterstock/Laurens Hoddenbagh

Population: 3,669
Size (square miles): 36.3
Density (people per square mile): 101.07
Median Age: 70.2
Percent of Population Over 65: 71.4
Percent of Family Households: 53.8
Number of Entertainment spots: 0
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 21

Next, check out the 31 Worst American Cities for Staying Monogamous.

Arkansas: Bull Shoals
Wikimedia Commons/CoreBurn

Population: 2,312
Size (square miles): 4.98
Density (people per square mile): 464.26
Median Age: 57.7
Percent of Population Over 65: 35.6
Percent of Family Households: 59.5
Number of Entertainment spots*: 6
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 30

California: Portola Valley
Shutterstock/Elizabeth Winterbourne

Population: 4,589
Size (square miles): 9.1
Density (people per square mile): 504.29
Median Age: 54.4
Percent of Population Over 65: 30.9
Percent of Family Households: 71.8
Number of Entertainment spots: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 5

And for some top-rated, little-known U.S. destinations, check out the 15 Best Under-the-Radar American Escapes.

Colorado: Silver Cliff
Shutterstock/WTS Photo

Population: 748
Size (square miles): 15.47
Density (people per square mile): 48.35
Median Age: 43.9
Percent of Population Over 65: 21.0
Percent of Family Households: 52.5
Number of Entertainment spots: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 12

Connecticut: Essex
Shutterstock/Jeff Holcombe

Population: 2,477
Size (square miles): 5
Density (people per square mile): 516.04
Median Age: 57.3
Percent of Population Over 65: 36.4
Percent of Family Households: 62.4
Number of Entertainment spots*: 102
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 421

Delaware: Lewes
Shutterstock/Duckeesue

Population: 2,961
Size (square miles): 4.72
Density (people per square mile): 627.33
Median Age: 67.1
Percent of Population Over 65: 58.2
Percent of Family Households: 56.4
Number of Entertainment spots: 5
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 35

Florida: Wildwood
Wikimedia Commons/DanTD

Population: 6,311
Size (square miles): 40.45
Density (people per square mile): 156.02
Median Age: 54.8
Percent of Population Over 65: 37.6
Percent of Family Households: 66.8
Number of Entertainment spots: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 18

And for some amazing U.S. destinations, check out these 17 Surprising American Towns Foreigners Are Dying to Visit.

Georgia: Fort Oglethorpe
Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Jameson

Population: 9,690
Size (square miles): 13.9
Density (people per square mile): 697.12
Median Age: 37.4
Percent of Population Over 65: 21
Percent of Family Households: 59.7
Number of Entertainment spots: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 50

Hawaii: Kurtistown
Flickr/DeWaine Tollefsrud

Population: 1,381
Size (square miles): 5.9
Density (people per square mile): 234.07
Median Age: 49.4
Percent of Population Over 65: 14.6
Percent of Family Households: 70.4
Number of Entertainment spots*: 69
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 430

Idaho: Council
Shutterstock/Ken Lund

Population: 903
Size (square miles): 1.08
Density (people per square mile): 836.11
Median Age: 48.3
Percent of Population Over 65: 26.4
Percent of Family Households: 62.2
Number of Entertainment spots: 5
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 14

Illinois: Golconda
Wikimedia Commons/Nyttend

Population: 822
Size (square miles): 0.5
Density (people per square mile): 1,644.00
Median Age: 47
Percent of Population Over 65: 23.6
Percent of Family Households: 47
Number of Entertainment spots: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 5

Indiana: Nashville
Wikimedia Commons/Serge Melki

Population: 1,219
Size (square miles): 1.42
Density (people per square mile): 858.45
Median Age: 55.4
Percent of Population Over 65: 32.8
Percent of Family Households: 46.5
Number of Entertainment spots*: 13
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 33

Iowa: Audubon
Shutterstock/Suzanne Tucker

Population: 2,005
Size (square miles): 1.88
Density (people per square mile): 1,066.49
Median Age: 48.6
Percent of Population Over 65: 27.1
Percent of Family Households: 61
Number of Entertainment spots*: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 6

Kansas: Mankato
Wikimedia Commons/Ammodramus

Population: 894
Size (square miles): 1.01
Density (people per square mile): 885.15
Median Age: 46.6
Percent of Population Over 65: 23.7
Percent of Family Households: 59.8
Number of Entertainment spots*: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 7

Kentucky: Eddyville
Wikimedia Commons/Nyttend

Population: 2,576
Size (square miles): 7.8
Density (people per square mile): 330.26
Median Age: 40.8
Percent of Population Over 65: 11.3
Percent of Family Households: 59.2
Number of Entertainment spots: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 12

Louisiana: Harahan
Wikimedia Commons/Infrogmation

Population: 9,367
Size (square miles): 2.49
Density (people per square mile): 3,761.85
Median Age: 44.8
Percent of Population Over 65: 19.2
Percent of Family Households: 66.4
Number of Entertainment spots: 5
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 33

Interested in all things southern? Then check out the 25 Craziest Facts About the South.

Maine: Dover-Foxcroft
Wikimedia Commons/Magicpiano

Population: 4,077
Size (square miles): 71.18
Density (people per square mile): 57.28
Median Age: 49.5
Percent of Population Over 65: 24.3
Percent of Family Households: 63.2
Number of Entertainment spots: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 8

Maryland: Easton
Shutterstock/Christian Hinkle

Population: 16,606
Size (square miles): 11.58
Density (people per square mile): 1,434.02
Median Age: 43.3
Percent of Population Over 65: 23.5
Percent of Family Households: 60.8
Number of Entertainment spots: 0
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 81

Massachusetts: Barnstable
Flickr/Kevin Rutherford

Population: 44,325
Size (square miles): 76.3
Density (people per square mile): 580.93
Median Age: 48.2
Percent of Population Over 65: 22.9
Percent of Family Households: 63.4
Number of Entertainment spots: 40
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 196

Michigan: Harrisville
Shutterstock/Ricky D

Population: 391
Size (square miles): 0.63
Density (people per square mile): 620.63
Median Age: 57.8
Percent of Population Over 65: 38.6
Percent of Family Households: 56.3
Number of Entertainment spots*: 8
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 26

Minnesota: Mendota Heights
Wikimedia Commons/Gabriel Vanslette

Population: 11,253
Size (square miles): 10.05
Density (people per square mile): 1,119.70
Median Age: 50.4
Percent of Population Over 65: 21.8
Percent of Family Households: 73.2
Number of Entertainment spots: 7
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 16

Mississippi: Gloster
Wikimedia Commons/FormulaNone

Population: 1,039
Size (square miles): 1.82
Density (people per square mile): 570.88
Median Age: 38
Percent of Population Over 65: 15.4
Percent of Family Households: 61.6
Number of Entertainment spots*: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 3

Missouri: Weldon Spring
Shutterstock/WSpin

Population: 5,443
Size (square miles): 7.64
Density (people per square mile): 712.43
Median Age: 54.9
Percent of Population Over 65: 27
Percent of Family Households: 77.1
Number of Entertainment spots: 6
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 13

Montana: Philipsburg
Wikimedia Commons/Jon Roanhaus

Population: 684
Size (square miles): 0.8
Density (people per square mile): 855.00
Median Age: 49.9
Percent of Population Over 65: 34.9
Percent of Family Households: 52.5
Number of Entertainment spots*: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 16

Nebraska: Ord
Wikimedia Commons/Ammodramus

Population: 2,367
Size (square miles): 2.1
Density (people per square mile): 1,127.14
Median Age: 42.6
Percent of Population Over 65: 25.6
Percent of Family Households: 57.2
Number of Entertainment spots*: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 9

And for some startling real estate from across the country, see The Craziest Home in Every State.

Nevada: Virginia City
Shutterstock/PurpleXSU

Population: 546
Size (square miles): 0.8
Density (people per square mile): 682.50
Median Age: 51.3
Percent of Population Over 65: 31
Percent of Family Households: 55.6
Number of Entertainment spots*: 9
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 14

New Hampshire: Bartlett
Shutterstock/Albert Pego

Population: 2,788
Size (square miles): 75.3
Density (people per square mile): 37.03
Median Age: 50.1
Percent of Population Over 65: 22.7
Percent of Family Households: 58.3
Number of Entertainment spots: 6
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 31

New Jersey: Audubon Park
Wikimedia Commons

Population: 951
Size (square miles): 0.155
Density (people per square mile): 6135.48
Median Age 52
Percent of Population Over 65: 26.3
Percent of Family Households: 57.2
Number of Entertainment spots*: 38
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 998

New Mexico: Reserve
Wikimedia Commons/Peter Potrowl

Population: 571
Size (square miles): 0.50
Density (people per square mile): 1,142.00
Median Age 35
Percent of Population Over 65: 24.2
Percent of Family Households: 56.6
Number of Entertainment spots*: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 12

New York: Bayville
Shutterstock

Population: 6,752
Size (square miles): 1.5
Density (people per square mile): 4,501.33
Median Age: 47.6
Percent of Population Over 65: 21.4
Percent of Family Households: 72.6
Number of Entertainment spots: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 15

North Carolina: Leland
Wikimedia Commons/IdaWriter

Population: 18,023
Size (square miles): 19.9
Density (people per square mile): 905.68
Median Age: 41.7
Percent of Population Over 65: 22.3
Percent of Family Households: 69.9
Number of Entertainment spots: 5
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 39

North Dakota: Wishek
Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Filer

Population: 979
Size (square miles): 1.45
Density (people per square mile): 675.17
Median Age: 53.2
Percent of Population Over 65: 33.2
Percent of Family Households: 57.9
Number of Entertainment spots*: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 10

Ohio: Gates Mills
Shutterstock/Kenneth Sponsler

Population: 2,269
Size (square miles): 9.1
Density (people per square mile): 249.34
Median Age: 52
Percent of Population Over 65: 24.1
Percent of Family Households: 59.5
Number of Entertainment spots: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 22

Oklahoma: Grove
Wikimedia Commons/Melodibit

Population: 6,791
Size (square miles): 9.3
Density (people per square mile): 730.22
Median Age: 55.4
Percent of Population Over 65: 36.5
Percent of Family Households: 62.8
Number of Entertainment spots: 7
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 27

Oregon: Fossil
Wikimedia Commons/Finetooth

Population: 436
Size (square miles): 0.79
Density (people per square mile): 551.90
Median Age: 59.1
Percent of Population Over 65: 39.2
Percent of Family Households: 55.4
Number of Entertainment spots*: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 5

Pennsylvania: White Oak
Wikimedia Commons/Nyttend

Population: 7,774
Size (square miles): 6.67
Density (people per square mile): 1,165.52
Median Age: 52
Percent of Population Over 65: 24.1
Percent of Family Households: 59.5
Number of Entertainment spots: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 22

If you think you know the U.S. landscape like the back of your hand, then Can You Guess These American Cities Based on Just a Photograph?

Rhode Island: Coventry
Wikimedia Commons/Magicpiano

Population: 35,014
Size (square miles): 62.3
Density (people per square mile): 562.02
Median Age: 44.2
Percent of Population Over 65: 15.8
Percent of Family Households: 71.4
Number of Entertainment spots: 8
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 60

South Carolina: Hollywood
Shutterstock/Chinnasut Nhurod

Population: 4,714
Size (square miles): 24.5
Density (people per square mile): 192.41
Median Age: 56.8
Percent of Population Over 65: 28.8
Percent of Family Households: 72.5
Number of Entertainment spots: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 4

South Dakota: Custer
Shutterstock/EQ Roy

Population: 2,124
Size (square miles): 2.54
Density (people per square mile): 836.22
Median Age: 54.5
Percent of Population Over 65: 28.3
Percent of Family Households: 56
Number of Entertainment spots*: 10
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 54

Tennessee: Forest Hills
Wikimedia Commons/Skye Marthaler

Population: 4,812
Size (square miles): 9.3
Density (people per square mile): 517.42
Median Age: 47.7
Percent of Population Over 65: 21.4
Percent of Family Households: 85.3
Number of Entertainment spots: 5
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 1,714 (Forest Hills is in the same county as Nashville)

Texas: Bandera
Flickr/Bill Staney

Population: 785
Size (square miles): 1.2
Density (people per square mile): 654.17
Median Age: 50.8
Percent of Population Over 65: 28.7
Percent of Family Households: 55.1
Number of Entertainment spots: 5
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 32

Utah: Circleville
Wikimedia Commons/Barbara Whitney

Population: 505
Size (square miles): 9.1
Density (people per square mile): 55.49
Median Age*: 48.3
Percent of Population Over 65: 21
Percent of Family Households: 77.8
Number of Entertainment spots*: 1
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 5

And for more oddly named U.S. places, check out The 50 Weirdest Town Names in America.

Vermont: Canaan
Shutterstock/P199

Population: 1,030
Size (square miles): 675
Density (people per square mile): 30.83
Median Age: 49.2
Percent of Population Over 65: 20.5
Percent of Family Households: 67
Number of Entertainment spots*: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 13

Virginia: Wytheville
Shutterstock/Kristi Blokhin

Population: 8,211
Size (square miles): 14.3
Density (people per square mile): 574.20
Median Age: 50
Percent of Population Over 65: 26.3
Percent of Family Households: 56.6
Number of Entertainment spots: 6
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 59

Washington: Port Townsend
Shutterstock/CDrin

Population: 9,315
Size (square miles): 9.46
Density (people per square mile): 984.67
Median Age: 55
Percent of Population Over 65: 30.4
Percent of Family Households: 51.1
Number of Entertainment spots: 8
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 74

West Virginia: Franklin
Wikimedia Commons/Famartin

Population: 721
Size (square miles): 0.56
Density (people per square mile): 1,287.50
Median Age: 38.7
Percent of Population Over 65: 18.5
Percent of Family Households: 66.2
Number of Entertainment spots: 2
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 28

Wisconsin: Hurley
Wikimedia Commons/RoyalBroil

Population: 1,487
Size (square miles): 3.58
Density (people per square mile): 415.36
Median Age: 51.5
Percent of Population Over 65: 28
Percent of Family Households: 46.7
Number of Entertainment spots*: 3
Number of Hotels/Restaurants*: 54

Which famous celebrity calls Wisconsin home? Check out The Most Famous Celebrity from Your State.

Wyoming: Evansville
Wikimedia Commons/Nate

Population: 2,544
Size (square miles): 3.58
Density (people per square mile): 718.6
Median Age: 32.9
Percent of Population Over 65: 8.8
Percent of Family Households: 65.9
Number of Entertainment spots: 0
Number of Hotels/Restaurants: 12

While these cities might not exactly be go-to destinations, there's still plenty left to explore in the United States. For some cities you might want to consider visiting, check out the 30 American Cities You Had No Idea Were Amazing Getaways.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of hotels and restaurants in Bayville, New York. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 15 hotels and restaurants, and not zero. We regret the error.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with a new "most boring" town for the state of New Jersey. It is now Audubon Park, and not Ocean City.

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