When Marge learns Springfield Elementary is the worst school in the state, she and Homer rent an apartment in the upscale Waverly Hills neighborhood so Bart and Lisa can attend a better school. When Lisa is ostracized by the popular girls at Waverly Hills, Bart uses his newly established bad boy image to impress the other students and increase Lisa's popularity by telling everyone she is best friends with the pop star Alaska Nebraska. However, when Alaska Nebraska comes to town, Lisa is left wishing Bart had never opened his big mouth. Meanwhile, Homer moves into the new Waverly Hills apartment to make it look like someone is living there, and he quickly gets used to the bachelor lifestyle.

When nearby Ogdenville's economy crumbles due to tainted barley discovered in Krusty's veggie burgers, the unemployed workers of Ogdenville flock to Springfield. After Mayor Quimby closes Springfield's borders and enlists private citizens to help patrol them, Homer organizes a border patrol group.