We often have an idealized picture of small town life. Perhaps we can thank the Hollywood industry for painting a charming image of quaint small towns where you warmly greet your neighbors and every holiday is a festive celebration. While not all towns are exactly what you see on TV, there might be a bit of truth to it. Small town living offers a break from the noise and hurried pace of the city, complete with farmer’s markets and seasonal festivals. If this sounds like your ideal, you may want to check out our list of the best small towns in every state.
A small town is often considered to have a population of 10,000 or less. Additionally, a suburb of a larger city can be considered a small town if its population is less than 10,000. According to theCensus Bureau, three-fourths of incorporated places (or places considered a city or town) have a population of 5,000 or less. (Check out these50 Affordable Cities to Buy a Home.)
To compile a list taking you on a road trip through the best small towns in every state, Moms Who Think consulted Niche.com and narrowed down the top-rated towns in America. After researching each state’s best towns, we looked for places that had a population of less than 10,000. Included in the list are the rankings for best places to live in America and each town’s grade rating. If small town living is for you, perhaps you might find your next home in one of these towns.
Meadowbrook, Alabama
©Gustavo Frazao/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #248
- Best Suburbs to Buy a House in the State: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Housing
- Population: 9,338
Sitka, Alaska
©Roman Tigal/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #6,983
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #19
- GradeA Ranking For: Diversity
- Population: 8,462
Corona de Tucson, Arizona
©Jesseofthedesert/iStock via Getty Images
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #3,242
- Best Suburbs to Buy a House in the State: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Housing
- Population: 8,742
Cave Springs, Arkansas
©"Cave Springs City Hall, Arkansas" by Wawan eko yulianto is licensed under BY-SA 3.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #225
- Best Places to Raise a Family in State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, and Families
- Population: 5,521
Los Altos Hills, California
©iStock.com/Sundry Photography
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #986
- Best Places to Raise a Family in Area Ranking: #6
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools and Families
- Population: 8,441
Holly Hills, Colorado
©"Holly Hills, Colorado" by Jeffrey Beall is licensed under BY 3.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #75
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 2,801
Weatogue, Connecticut
©"Weatogue Post Office, May 2023" by Artsistra is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #942
- Best Places to Buy a House in Suburbs Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, and Families
- Population: 2,671
Pike Creek, Delaware
©SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #506
- Best Suburbs to Buy a House in State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Diversity
- Population: 6,975
Heathrow, Florida
©"The Symantec '1001' building in Heathrow Florida" by Jim Moore is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #300
- Best Suburbs to Live in the Area Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, Nightlife, and Diversity
- Population: 7,084
Tyrone, Georgia
©Katherine Welles/Shutterstock.com
- Best Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #668
- Best Places to Live in the County Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Diversity
- Population: 7,710
Maunawili, Hawaii
©"View on trail to Maunawili falls" by delphinus18 is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #5,096
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Families and Diversity
- Population: 2,067
Rigby, Idaho
©"#1356 Rigby Idaho" by Rexburg Historical Society is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #6,579
- Best Places to Buy a House in State Ranking: #3
- GradeA Ranking For: Housing
- Population: 5,097
Clarendon, Illinois
©"20140323 15 Clarendon Hills, Illinois" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #29
- Best Places to Raise a Family in America Ranking: #3
- GradeA Ranking For: Families, Public Schools, and Crime and Safety
- Population: 8,658
Winona Lake, Indiana
©"Warsaw and Winona Lake, IN" by WorldIslandInfo.com is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #628
- Best Places to Live in the County Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 5,077
University Heights, Iowa
©"File:University Heights IA Melrose triangle.jpg" by American007 is licensed under BY-SA 3.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #674
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 1,353
Westwood, Kansas
©"20160710 03 50th St. Westwood Terrace @ 50th St. , Kansas City, Missouri" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #740
- Best Suburbs to Live in the State Ranking: #4
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, and Families
- Population: 1,829
Park Hills, Kentucky
©Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #624
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #2
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 3,159
Inniswold, Louisiana
©Katherine Welles/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #2,250
- Best Suburbs to Live in the State Ranking: #2
- GradeA Ranking For: Housing, Families, Nightlife, and Diversity
- Population: 6,236
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
©"Maine-00472 - Cape Elizabeth East" by archer10 (Dennis) is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #1,160
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, Crime and Safety, and Nightlife
- Population: 9,519
South Kensington, Maryland
©Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #59
- Best Places to Raise a Family in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 8,371
Williamstown, Massachusetts
©"Williamstown, Massachusetts" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #399
- Best Places to Live in the County Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 7,630
Huntington Woods, Michigan
©Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #155
- Best Places to Raise a Family in the Detroit Area Ranking: #2
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Crime and Safety
- Population: 6,365
Falcon Heights, Minnesota
©"Falcon Heights, Minnesota, City Hall" by LittleT889 is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #138
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, Diversity, and Nightlife
- Population: 5,232
Pass Christian, Mississippi
©Ingo70/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #2,661
- Best Places to Live in the County Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Diversity
- Population: 5,802
Brentwood, Missouri
©"File:Former Missouri College building, 1405 S Hanley Rd, Brentwood, MO 2.jpg" by LittleT889 is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #17
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 8,173
Whitefish, Montana
©rarrarorro/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #5,949
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #2
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 8,098
Chadron, Nebraska
©"Pine Ridge Region Near Chadron, Nebraska" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #2,639
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #2
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 5,255
Incline Village, Nevada
©JMichl / iStock via Getty Images
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #3,318
- Best Suburbs to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Families, Public Schools, and Nightlife
- Population: 9,163
Brookline, New Hampshire
©"Brookline, New Hampshire" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #2,283
- Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Crime and Safety
- Population: 5,659
Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey
©"2020-09-08 13 50 18 View north along New Jersey State Route 17 at the exit for Hollywood Avenue (Ho-Ho-Kus) in Ho-Ho-Kus, Bergen County, New Jersey" by Famartin is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #49
- Best Suburbs to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Families, Diversity, and Nightlife
- Population: 4,234
White Rock, New Mexico
©abyt10/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #713
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #2
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, and Families
- Population: 5,592
Great Neck Plaza, New York
©"Great Neck NY Post Office-1" by DanTD is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #45
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, Nightlife, and Diversity
- Population: 7,443
Rolesville, North Carolina
©GJones Creative/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #456
- Best Places to Buy a House in the Area Ranking: #2
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Diversity
- Population: 9,696
Valley City, North Dakota
©"Valley City, North Dakota" by afiler is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #7,366
- Best Places to Retire in the State Ranking: #3
- GradeA Ranking For: Nightlife
- Population: 6,558
Mariemont, Ohio
©"20160628 26 Mariemont, Ohio" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #67
- Best Places to Raise a Family in the State Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, Crime and Safety, and Nightlife
- Population: 3,493
Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
©"2015 Flood - Fort Gibson, Oklahoma" by usacetulsa is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #1,860
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #3
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Diversity
- Population: 3,810
Cedar Hills, Oregon
©"Commonwealth Lake - Cedar Hills, Oregon" by Steve Morgan is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #1,444
- Best Suburbs to Live in the State Ranking: #3
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, Nightlife, and Diversity
- Population: 9,076
Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #3
- Best Places to Raise a Family in America Ranking: #1
- GradeA Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, Nightlife, and Diversity
- Population: 5,428
Kingston, Rhode Island
©"Kingston, Rhode Island" by Dougtone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #2,479
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #4
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 6,560
Pendleton, South Carolina
©photo.ua/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #846
- Best Places to Live in the Area Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Diversity
- Population: 3,498
Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
©"Missouri River Rising at Dakota Dunes, South Dakota" by USACE HQ is licensed under PDM 1.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #2,740
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Housing and Families
- Population: 2,895
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
©"Signal Mountain, Tennessee" by Sam Poss is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #1,777
- Best Places to Retire in the State Ranking: #2
- A Ranking For: Housing, Families, and Crime and Safety
- Population: 8,833
Alamo Heights, Texas
©"File:Alamo Heights SA.JPG" by Nightryder84 is licensed under BY-SA 3.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #89
- Best Places to Live in the Surrounding Area Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 7,417
Park City, Utah
©"Main Street, Park City, Utah" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #2,356
- Best Places to Live in the County Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 8,379
Norwich, Vermont
©"Upper Connecticut River valley, with railroad bridge,, Norwich, Vermont, 2020" by print57 is licensed under BY-ND 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #1,235
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, Crime and Safety
- Population: 3,620
Innsbrook, Virginia
©SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #21
- Best Suburb to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, Nightlife, and Diversity
- Population: 8,699
Yarrow Point, Washington
©"Yarrow Point" by rutlo is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #557
- Best Places to Raise a Family in the State Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Families, and Crime and Safety
- Population: 1,280
Star City, West Virginia
©LesPalenik/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #510
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, and Nightlife
- Population: 2,167
Kohler, Wisconsin
©Michele M Vogel/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #63
- Best Places to Live in the State Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Public Schools, Housing, Families, Crime and Safety, and Nightlife
- Population: 2,142
Kemmerer, Wyoming
©Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock.com
- Best Places to Live in America Ranking: #6,280
- Best Places to Buy a House in the State Ranking: #1
- A Ranking For: Housing and Crime and Safety
- Population: 2,640
In Conclusion
©Atlantagreg/iStock via Getty Images
The top-rated small towns on this list are perfect to visit. Take a stroll down a quiet street, sip some delicious coffee in a quiet coffee shop, and get to know the small-town families in these towns. Who knows, you may decide to pick up and move to one of these top-rated towns. (Check out these 22 Historic Neighborhoods Where Houses are Less Than 100,000.)
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Roman Tigal/Shutterstock.com.