The Most Boring Town in Every State

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

photo of store in Goodwater, Alabama, one of the most boring towns in America

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

Wrangell, Alaska, USA - July 24, 2017: The Stikine Drug, a souvenirs and clothes store at the Front St in the Wrangell downtown. - Image

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

USA, AZ, QUARTZSITE - JAN 19, 2018 - Interstate 10 at the city of Quartzsite - Image

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

Visitors center overlooking Bull Shoals State Park, Arkansas.

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

Clouds Hang Low over the Rolling Hills of Portola Valley outside of Silicon Valley, California, USA - Image

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

ESSEX, CONNECTICUT, USA - June 19, 2018: American flags and a white picket fence line Main Street in Essex, an all-American village. - Image

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

LEWES, DELAWARE - AUGUST 29, 2017: Tour boats and fishing boats are moored in the harbor at sunset in Lewes, Delaware, a United States eastern shore town rich in Civil War history. - Image

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

The Wildwood Travel Center, a franchise of Travel Centers of America along Interstate 75 off of Florida State Road 44 in Wildwood, Florida. This section of SR 44 is loaded with truck stops, tourist centers, hotels, and what not, not only because of the interchange with I-75, but because of the close proximity of the northern terminus of Florida's Turnpike.

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

Adams County Courthouse in Council, Adams County, Idaho

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

Front of the Golconda city hall, located at 118 Monroe Street in Golconda, Illinois, United States. According to the plaque, it was built by the National Youth Administration in 1940.

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

Brown County - Nashville Indiana. Train takes you on a tour around town.

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

A 158 year old cottonwood tree grows in the middle of an intersection in rural Audubon County, Iowa - Image

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

First National Bank building (left) and Ute Theater (right), located at northwest corner of Jefferson and Commercial Streets in Mankato, Kansas; seen from the southeast.

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

Overview from the east of the Kentucky State Penitentiary complex in Eddyville, Kentucky, United States. Photo looks west from Kentucky Route 730.

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

tion Harahan, Louisiana. Welcome sign on Jefferson Highway at upriver boundry with River Ridge.

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

American Woolen Company Foxcroft Mill, Dover-Foxroft, Maine.

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

Downtown Easton during high Autumn Color in Maryland - Image

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

Craigville Beach, Barnstable, Massachusetts

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

Interstate 35E Bridge in 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

Rocky Bluff over Missouri River at Klondike Park in Weldon Springs Missouri - Image

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

Downtown Ord, Nebraska: north side of L Street, looking northwest from about 15th Street.

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

Virginia City, Nevada - Sep 17, 2017: The downtown overhang main street in the morning - Image

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

Bartlett, NH, USA - October 12, 2012: Halloween Decoration in Front of the Covered Bridge Gift Shoppe. The historic Bartlett Covered Bridge is one of 53 covered bridges left in New Hampshire. - Image

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

The Catron County Courthouse in Reserve (New Mexico, USA).

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

Welcome to the Town of Leland, North Carolina

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

The Chagrin River in Gates Mills, Ohio, flowing through brilliant autumn color - Image

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

Corey House/Hotel, N. Main at 2nd St. 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

English: Main Street in Fossil, Oregon, looking south from the high school parking lot

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

Houses on the western side of Oliver Drive north of Pennsylvania Route 48 in White Oak, Pennsylvania, United States.

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

South Main Street Historic District, Coventry, Rhode Island.

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

Oaks Avenue at Dixie Plantation, Hollywood, South Carolina USA - Image

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

CUSTER, SD -7 NOV 2015- The Gold Rush town of Custer in the Black Hills of South Dakota in Sioux territory is next to the Crazy Horse Memorial currently in construction. - Image

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

Bandera, Texas, United States This photo is in 1 album Longhorns of Bandera Texas Hill Country 42 items Tags Bandera Texas outdoor

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

English: Unused farmland covered in wildflowers span across the photo. In the background, snow dusted mountains raise proudly into the clouds.

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

Description Canaan, Vermont, United States

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

Wytheville, USA - April 19, 2018: Small town village signs for stores, shops, boutiques in southern south Virginia, historic brick buildings - Image

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

Port Townsend, Washington waterfront view of old Victorian era architecture on a clear sunny day with blue sky. Tourist destination on the Olympic Peninsula in the northwest USA. - Image

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

English: View north along U.S. Route 220 (Main Street) south of Spruce Street in Franklin, Pendleton County, West Virginia

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

The sign for w:Hurley, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 77.

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

Demolition car at American Pride Dog and Car Wash in Evansville, Wyoming.

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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The Most Boring Town in Every State

'Tis the land of the free... and the home of the lame.

Alabama: Goodwater

Alaska: Wrangell

Arizona: Quartzsite

Arkansas: Bull Shoals

California: Portola Valley

Colorado: Silver Cliff

Connecticut: Essex

Delaware: Lewes

Florida: Wildwood

Georgia: Fort Oglethorpe

Hawaii: Kurtistown

Idaho: Council

Illinois: Golconda

Indiana: Nashville

Iowa: Audubon

Kansas: Mankato

Kentucky: Eddyville

Louisiana: Harahan

Maine: Dover-Foxcroft

Maryland: Easton

Massachusetts: Barnstable

Michigan: Harrisville

Minnesota: Mendota Heights

Mississippi: Gloster

Missouri: Weldon Spring

Montana: Philipsburg

Nebraska: Ord

Nevada: Virginia City

New Hampshire: Bartlett

New Jersey: Audubon Park

New Mexico: Reserve

New York: Bayville

North Carolina: Leland

North Dakota: Wishek

Ohio: Gates Mills

Oklahoma: Grove

Oregon: Fossil

Pennsylvania: White Oak

Rhode Island: Coventry

South Carolina: Hollywood

South Dakota: Custer

Tennessee: Forest Hills

Texas: Bandera

Utah: Circleville

Vermont: Canaan

Virginia: Wytheville

Washington: Port Townsend

West Virginia: Franklin

Wisconsin: Hurley

Wyoming: Evansville

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