Holiday Island, Arkansas
On Holiday Lake, this is the fastest growing area in the Arkansas Ozarks area. Residents enjoy more than 800 miles of shorelines, two golf courses, a marina and an ever-growing business community. There are low taxes and the Table Rock Lake area provides an array of outdoor recreational opportunities. The population is under 4,000, but growing as the business community expands. The average home price is only $190,000. The winter is mild with only a few inches of snow. The summers get get into the low 90s, but the morning and evening hours are cooler.
Salisbury, Maryland
Between the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, this town has seascapes and many spots with natural beauty. Salisbury has been named one of the top small towns for the arts. Day trips to Washington, DC and Baltimore are within driving distance and the town has its own regional medical facility. With a population of around 25,000 and the average home price just over $200,000 (extremely low cost of living), this is a great town in a great area on the east coast.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The Ozarks have been known as one of the most naturally beautiful areas of the country for a number of years. Eureka Springs is a hot spot for tourists year-round, but residents enjoy the Victorian-style town as their home. A month-long Festival of the Arts and an active Preservation Society highlight the area’s activities. The population is only 2,300 folks and the average house prices is around $200,000. Mild winters and average highs in the 80s for the summer make this a great outdoor town.
Salisbury, North Carolina
This town lies halfway between Charlotte and Winston-Salem, for a great location within driving distance of anything you could need. The peaceful, friendly community boasts Southern living in its truest sense. The winters are mild, with days in the 50s. The Piedmont Players are a local theater group, putting on a few productions every year in the historic downtown district.
Paris, Tennessee
Paris boasts a mild, four season climate in western Tennessee. The town has a bright future as it made the lists of “best places to retire” and “where to retire.” 50″ of rain annually and a true four seasons of climate are the weather highlights for the area. The Cost of living is currently 30% below the national average.
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Full of Victorian architecture, this was once Oklahoma’s capital back in 1889. The population is just under 10,000 and the homes values average $125,000. The cost of living is very low and you still are close to a large city – it is within 30 minutes of Oklahoma City. A 90 degree day in the summer quickly cools to the 70s following sunset for an enjoyable climate for walking and patio time. There are over 400 blocks of the town’s downtown area that have been renovated over the past 25 years, which make Guthrie a truly great town.
Silver City, New Mexico
With only 10,000 people, this small town is nestled between the Gila Wilderness and Chihuahua Desert areas. Victorian homes and antique shops grace the downtown area. Silver City was on Oprah’s “Top Spots to Live” as well as the “50 healthiest places to live.” The sun shines 84% of the time, but only gets 15″ of average rainfall. The humidity is usually 30-40%, with a sweater sometimes needed in the evenings. Jazz and Blues festivals as well as a Rodeo grace the area throughout the year. The average home price is $180,000
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
This town is rated in the top 40 places to raise a family and the second best small city in which to own a business, cited by Findyourspot.com. The population is growing, but is still under 30,000 (28,700 to be exact). It is 60 miles from Nashville and the average home price is only $117,000. The humidity is reasonable (usually under 60%) and the average high in the summer tops out in the low 80s. Hopkinsville gets 35″ of rain annually and 8″ of snow. The cost of living is 15-25% below the national average. The historic downtown area offers a small town atmosphere, while a 30-minute drive can take you to the renowned “Land between the Lakes” region, which is over 170,000 acres of prime fishing and recreational land.
Clayton, Georgia
This town features mountains, lakes, rivers and the beautiful sights of the Blue Ridge mountains. The Chattahoochie National Forest is nearby as well as the Tallulah Gorge. Clayton is located in the northeastern corner of Georgia, near both South and North Carolina. Atlanta is only 90 minutes away and the average home price is $187,000. July averages 76 degrees with the average low in the winter down to the 20s. Clayton has an existing population of 2,000 and hosts the Rabun Arts Festival Annually.
St.Helens, Oregon
On the Columbia River and the Cascades mountain range, this town averaged 43″ of rain and 5″ of snow per year. It is just 25 miles from Portland and offers a diverse community of commerce and natural beauty. The area stays green most of the year with warm summers and winters that are never too cold. The average home price is $200,000, so the cost of living is relatively low and the population is a quaint 11,000+.
