Here & There – Top Ten Best Small Towns to Live in 2020
Every year the rankings are released for Best Cities to Work, Best Cities to Attract Millennials, Best Cities to Raise Families, Best College Towns…you get the idea, the lists go on and on. This year Thrillist (the epitome of list makers) came up with a new one – Best Small Towns to Move To (Before They Get Too Popular.)
Thrillist asked writers from across the country to find small American cities with maximum populations around 70,000 where they would put down roots. They asked for up-and-coming “hotspots” on the verge of greatness, like Asheville, North Carolina 20 years ago. Places where you can raise kids, wave to your neighbors from the front porch, find a nice place to wind down from work and live a comfortable life.
Most of the top ten towns are home to craft breweries, scenic outdoor activities and are located away from crowded metropolitan cities, but still close enough to commute for work.
The Top Ten Best Small Towns are: Hood River, Oregon/Bisbee, Arizona/Port Chester, New York/Greenville, South Carolina/Estes Park, Colorado/Eau Claire, Wisconsin/Portland, Maine/Missoula, Montana/San Marcos, Texas and Burlington, Iowa at number ten. We used the average figures of all ten towns in each category for comparison purposes with Decatur.
Vital Statistics Decatur, IL 2020 Top Ten (average)
Population: 72,174 67,690
Median HH Income: $43,225 $49,981
Median Home Value: $80,100 $275,775
Cost of Living Index: 82.8 99.1
Crime Rate: 305.8 269.4
6591 Daybrook Dr.
Price: $279,900
Square Feet: 2190
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 3
Year Built: 2006
Garage: 3-car attached
Property Taxes (2019): $5,580
1/2 acre lot with trees & pond, open concept, hardwood, outdoor kitchen.
60 Belfort St.
Price: $275,000
Square Feet: 1545
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2
Year Built: 1959
Garage: 1-car detached
Property Taxes (2019): $4135
Cape Cod on large double lot, fireplace, fenced yard, great views.
Here & There is sponsored by the City of Decatur Economic & Community Development. Community information provided by Thrillist.com. Home information provided by Realtor.com.
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2020 issue of Decatur Magazine. It may not be reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the publisher’s consent.
© Copyright 2020 Decatur Magazine – First String Productions. All rights reserved.
