6 Small towns you'd actually want to move to

Mar 25, 2014

Jana Randall is a busy mother, loving wife, and active career woman from Arizona. In her free time, Jana writes to cover topics on home, living, and pets, while also working full time and blogging. As interests, Jana enjoys reading, wr...

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Small-town USA

Ever feel like ditching the big city life for the comforts of a small town? One of these six towns may be just what you're looking for. Filled with just as much excitement and recreation as your metropolis, these small towns have a lot to offer with less than half the population of a city.

Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Voted one of the best places to live by CNN Money and NJ Monthly, the town of Berkeley Heights has a population of 13,345. Self-proclaimed as "a great place to live," the town has an excellent school system, and over 40 percent of households have children under the age of 18. Thriving economically, the median family income is $150,105, according to the 2010 census. Offering a variety of recreational programs, Berkeley Heights has three swimming clubs and holds many special events at the beautiful Memorial Park. A very close-knit community, this pretty town even has a beautification committee.

For more information on this town, visit the Berkeley Heights website >>

Sharon, Massachusetts

The Sharon, Massachusetts, welcome sign states that it is "a nice place to live because it's naturally beautiful," and this could not be any truer of a statement. Looking as if it were cut straight from a magazine, this gorgeous small town is lined with trees and beaches. Among this family-friendly community's population of nearly 18,000, 30 percent are children under 19, and nearly 50 percent of households have children living in them. It also has an impressive school system — 96 percent of Sharon's high school graduates go on to higher-learning institutions. An economically strong and busy commuter town 22 miles south of Boston, Sharon has an average household income of $139,019. Sharon has numerous outdoor trails and special events for the entire community to enjoy.

For more information on this town, visit Sharon's website >>

Bristol, Rhode Island

Famous for the longest running Fourth of July celebration in the U.S., Bristol is a great town to not only live in, but to visit as well. Located on a peninsula, this town has activities to suit a resident by land or sea. With a population of nearly 23,000, more than half of Bristol's residents are made up of families. There are more than enough activities to participate in outdoors, on the water or off, and this strong-knit community thrives on family-friendly events, including plays, parades and more. The median household income is $58,214, and this town thrives because of its history and its future, as well.

Visit Explore Bristol for more information >>

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Lovingly referred to as "the Cape Cod of the Midwest," Sturgeon Bay is located in the lovely Door County. Both a tourist hot spot and an amazing place to live, this town has a population of nearly 28,000 and is busy year round.

With a wide range of sports and music and an elaborate selection of dining establishments, living in this town is truly like being on vacation all year long. Right off of the water, this town is busiest in the summer and famous for its cherries. With a median family income of $44,000 and only 26 percent of households including children under 19, this seems to be a town where younger people go to work hard and play even harder.

For more information, visit Door County's website >>

Mason, Ohio

Although known as a city, Mason has a total population of 30,712 people, and a little less than half are families with children under 19. The median household income is $103,459 for families, and the economically thriving Mason is in close proximity to large companies and employers. A part of Warren County, which is referred to as "Ohio's largest playground," Mason offers a large amusement park, golf center, museum, community center and more. Great for families, this city has many interactive and family-bonding events and festivals.

Learn more about this small city by heading over to Imagine Mason >>

Florence, Oregon

The smallest town on our list, Florence is a cohesive community where everybody knows your name. This very small town of 8,466 has good weather and is only an hour away from the excitement of Portland. Offering something for everyone, Florence is surrounded by beaches, tree-filled forests, lakes and rivers. A beautiful place to live or visit, this thriving little place has an amazing culture with an abundance of outdoor recreation activities, love of the arts and more. With a median income of $30,505, this town's citizens support each other in every aspect.