America's best small towns- according to CNNMoney
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Small town America. Those from big cities often think of them as peaceful, friendly, unsophisticated. Some who grew up in them couldn't wait to leave. But many didn't. There are almost 19,000 incorporated towns in the U.S. with populations under 50,000. From these, a recent CNNMoney list culled the top 100, or The list is based on a number of criteria, including availability of jobs, price of housing, low crime, good schools, and average income; no points for charm, spirit, swimming holes, churches or potluck dinners. You'd think CNNMoney had never listened to The Prairie Home Companion.
Tops among the country's small towns on this list were (links go to AOL Real Estate home listings)
- Louisville, Colo.
- Chanhassen, Minn.
- Papillion, Neb.
- Middleton, Wis.
- Milton, Mass.
- Warren, N.J.
- Keller, Texas
- Peachtree City, Ga.
- Lake St. Louis, Mo.
- Mukilteo, Wash.
What does Louisville, an old mining town, offer that can't be found in your small town? It didn't finish in the top 25 by median income- the leader here was Holmdel, N.J. with $159,633. It wasn't in the top 25 in affordable housing; #1 Duncanville, Texas has an average home sale price of $99,648. It also wasn't among the leaders in fast commutes, led by Grinnell, Iowa at 7.8 minutes.
It does have 275 days of sunshine a year, an average high temperature in July of 72 degress, easy access to Boulder and Denver and 1,700 acres of dedicated open space. It evidently does a lot of things well, which is what we expect of a good small town.
The study includes some nuggets that would be of interest to specific populations. For example, the three small towns with the the most rich and single residents:
- Hermosa Beach, CA, 47.2% single, $137,941 median family income
- Arlington, VA, 41.6%, $108,815
- Coronado, CA, 36.1%, $106,817
While I have no reason to doubt that these small towns are all worthy, I'm always a little skeptical when I see every part of the country represented in a top 10 list. East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, South, and a mountain state, this dispersion reads more like the result of a bull session than an objective poll. Demographics are rarely neat.
My experience has shown me that what makes a small town a great town is often a few key leaders. Those towns who have residents that care about the community, are willing to roll up their sleeves and work, and create a climate of fellowship are the ones I call great. Cheap houses and high incomes are no substitute for that.
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Best Rural Towns in America
Small town America. Those from big cities often think of them as peaceful, friendly, unsophisticated. Some who grew up in them couldn't wait to leave. This gallery lists some of the best rural towns in America.
Douglas Graham, Getty Images
AP
WalletPop is not responsible for caption content.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
7-13-2009 @ 2:07PM
SaraJ said...
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7-15-2009 @ 6:38AM
kf4dcy said...
what does you having a weight problem got to do with the blog. this was for info about some small towns being a good place to live. unless this artical brought up the fact you were as big as a small town. that would explain alot
7-13-2009 @ 2:44PM
Tim said...
Where's BRANOSON, MO on this list? It has to be one of the top locations in the country with greta weather, recreation, low cost of living and low crime and tons of work for seasonal workers to support 8 Million tourists that come for the theatres!!!
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7-13-2009 @ 2:47PM
Rod said...
To qualify for the list, it seems you have to be an "exurb" within easy commute of a big city. If you live in a small city (large town?) away from an urban area then forget about making this list. Small cities have their many rich rewards without worrying about the amenities of city life. If CNN Money would remove this criterion, the list would be completely different.
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7-13-2009 @ 3:00PM
Bob said...
How about Obama's neighborhood! The messiah can give you some of his crooked money or extra food stamps.
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7-13-2009 @ 11:15PM
C said...
Whats the matter BOB you need food stamps? Your comment has NOTHING to do with this article.
7-13-2009 @ 3:02PM
Roger Fulton said...
Wonderful, now tell the other side of this story: ALL THE HOMES COST A FORTUNE. What? You thought Mr and Mrs average America could move in there for a song and dance? Get real. You can't touch anything for under a quarter of a million - starting and many a heck of a lot more. Down the road - Boulder, Colorado, the city that time and the "hippy Sixties" have not forgotten. If you have a suitcase full of money, love snow from October till May, 10 deg below Nov to February and living inside a Currier and Ives and can afford the heating bills - this is the place. Lower and Middle Income family, please check out Colfax avenue in middle town Denver (also known locally as
"cold facts").
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7-13-2009 @ 4:14PM
Kates said...
Please.... I live in Boulder just fine on my own and was not raised with a silver spoon nor do I even have a college degree. Boulder and Louisville are wonderful places. Our snow melts by noon and we shovel in our t-shirts. I have a spare room I need rented if you want to go halfsie's on the heating bill? So you that would be about 50 bucks for your half and I charge 300 for rent. I could use the money and you could afford to see the majesty this place is. I think everyone deserves to be in Boulder a year. 23 years being here and 11 of driving and I still almost wreck my car coming over South Boulder Road in Louisville and into Boulder. I love the laid back people and the friendliness the hippies left us as well.
I have never once heard anyone call Colfax, cold facts, and I don;t even get it. Is it an insult?
7-13-2009 @ 3:04PM
Gerry B said...
Now HERE is a list of top towns: www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2009/05/top-200-towns
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7-13-2009 @ 3:06PM
maura said...
I would like to suggest another small town for this list! My hometown, Lansdowne, PA. We have our own Mayor, our own police force and our own Fourth of July parade that includes the owner of our little theater dressed up as "Lord Lansdowne." Lansdowne is a suburb of Philadelphia and there's no other town in the area like it! The Borough of Lansdowne is diverse, concerned for the environment and represents true, patriotic Americans. Lansdowne wholeheartedly believes in equality for all, with our town motto being "No Place for Hate"
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7-13-2009 @ 3:22PM
Steve said...
The Lake St. Louis, MO entry is incorrectly linked to Peachtree City, GA!
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7-13-2009 @ 3:20PM
Jack said...
Not a single California town on the list.... no big surprise there!
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7-13-2009 @ 3:27PM
Linda said...
I lived in Louisville and it's a quaint little town close to everything, but there isn't much to do in Louisville. You drive to Boulder or Denver for that.
I can promise that the average temp in July is a lot higher than 72 and I hear we get 300 days of sunshine a year - more than Miami!
By the way, California sucks....
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7-14-2009 @ 1:21PM
Pat McCann said...
I vote for Belmar, New Jersey. Right on the Jersey shore. We have a great beach, marina, public parks, train station to New York City, etc. Great neighbors, excellent mayor and police. Churches for several religions, good schools, you name it! What could be better!
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7-14-2009 @ 2:20AM
mitch said...
belmar is nice...but during the summer is more of a party town..and its close to asbury (which is still under renovations, and has significant crime)..once that area of the shore rebuilds its self and gets rid of the rif raft then yes their are several jersey shore towns that would rank up on this list...but dont take all the facts from this list...iam orignally from warren, nj..and there sure as hell isnt 72 farms...lol and the roads are poorly kept during snow storms..so this list needs some work
7-13-2009 @ 3:41PM
Julie H said...
I lived in Louisville CO for 14 years. Code enforcement officers actually will put their face up to your windows in your home to count your dogs.
Louisville also has a law on the books that states that " a dog is considered viscious if someone thinks it might bite them." In other words, if someone is afraid of Dobermans, for example, and you happen to own a Doberman, your Doberman is considered viscious by the town of Louisville. This puts your dog in the same category as a dog that has bitten.
Louisville also supports Breed Specific Legislation. I have never owned a pit bull, but if towns like Louisville have their way, maybe your breed is next.
Louisville is a lovely town on the surface but is a bit too Stepford-like for many.
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7-13-2009 @ 4:06PM
JoanL said...
I'm 56 and have lived in Louisville for the past 51 years. I have never witnessed nor known a single person that had the code enforcement officer peer into their window. I sounds like you must have been breaking the law with too many dogs to me, and they weren't friendly. Glad you moved away!
7-13-2009 @ 4:14PM
Kates said...
Hysterical.
Your dog breed will not be next if it does not MAME and KILL people. All dog owners are so bloody ignorant it is sick and disgusting. Why anyone would trust a dog around children is beyond me anyway. You can not fathom towns banning breeds? Well I can not stand people who would consider putting dogs over childrens safety and lives.
7-13-2009 @ 3:48PM
Luke said...
The only thing Roger Fulton is right about is the cost of housing, but his depiction of the weather is not accurate. The winters in the Denver/Boulder area are mid compared to most of the country. I live there and golf year round. The heavy snow is in the mountains and while there are cold spells that drop into single and below zero ranges, they are always brief. There's also more days of sunshine here than almost any city in the country (San Diego has us beat).
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7-13-2009 @ 3:53PM
monte said...
all sounded quite nice but how are the politics in these great places??
How nice will they be when they all have to be upgraded to meet the california building codes?
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