In 2017, small-town America gained residents for the first time in decades, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
“Moving to a small town lets people afford a quality of life that is really appealing and lets them feel like a part of a community … in a way that so many young people are looking for today,” says Winona Dimeo-Ediger, editor of Livability.com.
For the third year, realtor.com® identified America’s best small towns by analyzing more than 500 census-designated micropolitan areas. They factored in the median list price, housing affordability, two-year home price appreciation, and unemployment and crime rates for each area. Here are the small towns that topped realtor.com®’s list for 2019 (along with their median home price):
1. Boone, Iowa
- Median home price: $134,500
2. Van Wert, Ohio
- Median home price: $94,600
3. Decatur, Ind.
- Median home price: $117,500
4. McPherson, Kan.
- Median home price: $158,800
5. Los Alamos, N.M.
- Median home price: $375,800
6. Austin, Minn.
- Median home price: $115,000
7. Williston, N.D.
- Median home price: $240,000
Source: “Top 10 Affordable Small Towns Where You’d Actually Want to Live, 2019 Edition,” realtor.com® (March 4, 2019)
