"We have some 50 languages spoken in our schools.". Hometown perk: International swim teams from places such as Belgium and Japan train in the local Aquatic Center, a top-notch facility with Olympic-size pools. This cozy river town tends to attract families keen on enjoying the outdoors. An appointment with a physician is a fifth less expensive. The tiny Virginia town, an hour's drive south of Roanoke, lays claim to the Martinsville Speedway of NASCAR fame. One researcher working for a local community groups says it's a lot if you live in a town that already has all the stores it needs. So why is Austin, nearly two hours south of Minneapolis, doing so well? Median income runs well below the national average, but helpfully, a dollar goes pretty far. In the article on “How much does it Cost to Own a Bar” we have already explored how the ball park figure needed to open a bar can range between a few hundred thousand dollars all the way into the millions. Median home price: $94,600Population: 28,217. The town, about two hours northwest of St. Louis, has hosted the Miss Missouri pageant since 1970. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Grocery Store in a Small Town? A new report reveals exactly how much it costs a community in dollars and cents when Walmart comes to town. Once you have a sense of the existing businesses in your area and local demand (more on that below), you’re ready to … Hometown perk: The steak fingers at Buddy's Drive-In, founded in 1969, are a local obsession. Perhaps best of all, there's the cost of living, which typically is lower in small towns than in expensive big cities. Typical cost to repair potholes is approximately $35 to $50 per pothole. It's home to four institutions of higher learning, as well as the Oklahoma School for the Blind. When we added up the entire tax base of the city, all of the private wealth sustained by that infrastructure, it came to just $16 billion. The winner goes on to compete in Miss America. Although median incomes are roughly $26,000 below the national average, median home prices are a whopping $143,300 cheaper. Decide what type of bar you want to open. Atlas Missile Silo in New York Is Listed for $600K, 6 Winter Design Trends That Make Us Actually Glad To Be Stuck Inside, 5 Things You Didn’t Know a VA Loan Could Do for You, NBA's Blake Griffin Nets Another Home In Los Angeles, Low violent crime rate (e.g., assaults, robbery, homicide), Low property crime rate (e.g., burglary, vandalism), Home affordability (percentage of income that goes toward mortgage payments on median-priced homes in the local market). Happily, the men and women in uniform, and Meridian's civilian citizens, catch a break on expenses. The small town of Salina sits at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 135, about 90 miles north of Wichita and 180 miles west of Kansas City. This is important to understand, because many of the most popular expat spots are about that far removed from the extreme cartel violence you might read about. In Salina, they run 2.3% higher than the U.S. average. ), and throw darts at All Aboard, a good, old-fashioned dive bar. Median home price: $240,000Population: 33,349. Now let’s take a closer look into the breakdown of the costs involved. "As an outsider I found people warm and friendly. If you have been wondering- can you buy a town at the price of a house or not- this example will prove that you actually can. There may also be other shared amenities, such as a gym or community pool. Beyond the track, manufacturing has always been central to the area's economy, and although a number of firms have moved on over the past decades, factory work remains important. But fame comes at a cost—specifically $1.4 million, the 72-acre town's current asking price. To create our list, we looked at more than 500 U.S. Census–designated micropolitan areas. Let's take a tour of America's best small towns. Dental care is more than a fifth less expensive, according to the C2ER's Cost of Living Index. This economic mix is producing both low unemployment and low living costs. Home buyers who want lots of neighbors can choose from two-story houses near the city center with wraparound porches built in the 1930s that go for around $60,000. Another perk? The country's best and brightest physicists headed to Los Alamos during World War II to help develop what would become the nuclear bomb. Small-town America is making a big comeback. Salina is also home to several institutions of higher education, including the University of Kansas School of Medicine Salina Campus and Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus. But what really puts Muskogee on the map, other than being the inspiration for a Merle Haggard song, is its ultra-low cost of living. Manufacturing and health care are among the town's most important industries. Rent in Italy is, on average, 43.83% lower than in United States . Overhead costs: Costs for products and services for your project that are difficult to subdivide and allocate directly. Famous alumni of Pittsburg's local university include actor Gary Busey and Brian Moorman, retired two-time Pro Bowl punter for the NFL's Buffalo Bills. McPherson boast a strong cultural arts scene, with frequent performances at the McPherson Opera House and traveling exhibits at the McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation. When we added up the replacement cost of all of the city's infrastructure -- an expense we would anticipate them cumulatively experiencing roughly once a generation -- it came to $32 billion. Tupelo's biggest claim to fame is being the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Indeed, total housing costs are 32% lower than what the average American pays, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index. Costs. The strong industries have pushed the median household income here to $57,906, which is higher than the rest of the state. Housing runs the gamut, from three-bedroom ranch homes priced around $100,000 to new construction. Health care is also a bargain. It looks like Cookies are disabled in your browser. The median price of a Chicago one … To build a condo, expect to spend about $85 to $200 per square foot. And why not? Music remains a centerpiece of Meridian's cultural scene to this day. Factors influencing infrastructure cost 3. Inexpensive housing is a key to Richmond's striking affordability. Meanwhile, those seeking more peace and quiet can score 3,000-square-foot, custom-built ranch homes surrounded by woods for around $250,000. The annual festival, held in April, includes two-steppin' under the evening stars to country music, a barbecue cook-off, truck and tractor pulls, and, of course, goat roping. Jim Thorpe – All-American, the 1951 film starring Burt Lancaster, was shot on the campus of what was then known as the Bacone Indian University in Muskogee. Transportation, groceries and health care are notably cheaper, too. A townhouse complex usually consists of a minimum of 4 or 5 units and some shared communal areas, such as a yard, landscaping, and parking. Groceries are cheaper too, running about 15% lower than the national average. When you get there, you'll find a small town with a cost of living almost 20% below the national average. Sick of your big-city rent? Since the 1970s, this event has paid tribute to this historic coal town's railroad history, which includes being a major stop along the Union Pacific Railroad. "By moving to a small town, their basic cost of living is low enough to travel and go to restaurants." Below are examples of some of the initial costs … We didn’t make this move in order to save money and we didn’t make this move in pursuit of a lower cost of living. "By moving to a small town, their basic cost of living is low enough to travel and go to restaurants." "McPherson, KS, is one of the most progressive small communities in the Midwest," says Anne Kirchner, with the McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau. But those bigger paychecks haven't come without some growing pains. And while homes here aren't cheap, they're much more affordable than in Santa Fe, about 40 minutes to the southeast. Why a Small Town Perspective I: •80% of US population lives in only 350 metro areas …but •Slightly more than one-half of the US population lives in jurisdictions --- cities, towns, boroughs, villages and townships --- of <25,000 people •The average local jurisdiction population in the United States is … For the best experience, please enable cookies when using our site. Cost of living in Italy is 2.66% higher than in United States (aggregate data for all cities, rent is not taken into account). It's clear that President-elect Joe Biden and others in Congress are going to push for a third-round of stimulus checks, but it might be a while befor…, 15 Best Foreclosure Sites for Finding Properties, A Retirement Home Is a Tiny House in the Kids’ Backyard, The Most-Overlooked Tax Breaks for Retirees, Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Millionaires in America 2020: All 50 States Ranked, 13 Tax Breaks for Homeowners and Home Buyers, 65 Best Dividend Stocks You Can Count On in 2020, Kip ETF 20: The Best Cheap ETFs You Can Buy, 10 Reasons You'll Regret Buying a House With a Swimming Pool, Hedge Funds' 25 Top Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy Now, 13 Dividend Stocks That Have Paid Investors for 100+ Years, 50 Top Stock Picks That Billionaires Love, State-by-State Guide to Taxes on Middle-Class Families. This haven for history buffs is located along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Burlington sits on the Mississippi River, about 165 miles east of Des Moines. But don't think Danville has lost touch with its roots. Typically, a town with a population of 50,000 or less is the target for this particular business. We included only one place per state to achieve some geographic diversity. Utility bills, however, take a bit of a bite. Pittsburg is about a two-hour drive due south from Kansas City on Route 69. For new retirees—especially those on a fixed income—it's more important than ever to take full advantage of every tax break available. It is easy to integrate into Van Wert," says Mazur. While jazz will always be part of its history, today's Richmond, which is an hour's drive west from Dayton, Ohio, is known more for its colleges and seminaries. Decatur's biggest selling point is its price tag—cheap even for Indiana. So for 2,000 square foot of retail space, you’re looking at a potential rent cost difference of $30,000 per year ($2,500/month) in this example, based solely on location. So, for the third year running, realtor.com® set out to find America's best small towns, places that could melt even the calloused hearts of the most die-hard urban dwellers. When Jerry Mazur, now 78, wrapped up his final project in New York City as manager of an elevator installation firm in 2000, he and his wife moved out of their $10,000-a-month Manhattan apartment and set off for small-town living in Van Wert. But for more elevated pursuits, there's also the Presser Performing Arts Center, which holds art classes for locals and hosts dance performances. However, we asked Sageworks, a financial information company, if that figure was still accurate. No, we're not sounding the death knell for big-city living just yet. Executive summary 2. The town is working on revitalizing some of its older neighborhoods, thanks to a grant by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation in 2017. If all of the 20-somethings whizzing by on road bikes isn't a dead giveaway, then surely places like the Craft Coffee Parlor spell it out: This is a college town. That helps make housing costs 37% less expensive than what the average American pays. On the weekend places like the Riverview Tap, a bar with some great live music, are packed. Imagine! Related: 7 Fictional Towns You Can Visit in Real Life flickr.com via Steve Goodwin In 2017 populations of these closer-knit enclaves began rising for the first time this decade, according to the latest U.S. Census data available. Story Street, the town's main drag, is lined with two-story storefronts with flower baskets hanging from their light poles. Median home price: $115,000Population: 39,566. When Could We Get a Third Stimulus Check? If you’re searching for foreclosures for sale for your next home or to flip for a profit, these websites will guide you to foreclosures to buy. Poverty and crime are also high in Benton Harbor – factors that contribute to a median home price that's an eye-popping $163,600 below average. But after years of losing residents to bustling urban areas and their equally bustling suburbs, the nation's smaller municipalities are again tempting more Americans with the seductive lures of greater affordability and a simpler way of life. * This is a government definition that includes a core community plus the outlying areas with a total population of between 10,000 to 50,000 folks. While a low cost of living is attractive, it can be offset by issues such as scarce jobs, small paychecks or a lack of things to do in the area. But when it comes to living costs, housing is nearly 30% cheaper in Statesboro, while health care runs almost 20% below average. Major employers include Schwan's Company, the maker of Tony's frozen pizza; Great Plains Manufacturing, which serves the agricultural industry; and the Salina Regional Health Center. “Moving to a small town lets people afford a quality of life that is really appealing and lets them feel like a part of community ... in a way that so many young people are looking for today,” says Winona Dimeo-Ediger, editor of Livability.com. Ponca City traces its lineage back to the days of the Land Run of 1893, when pioneers decided to build a town in north-central Oklahoma near the Arkansas River and a freshwater spring. And folks here have a lot of time to take in those views: Last year realtor.com ranked Los Alamos County as one of the top 10 counties where people live the longest. To get a better sense of what inexpensive small-town living really has to offer, we compiled a list of the 12 cheapest places to live in America with populations of 10,000 to 50,000 people. "Millennials, in particular, are very focused on affordability," she says. An often-quoted benchmark for small business advertising is to allocate 2 percent of your sales revenue for advertising. The median home price there is $594,100. They relocated to slash their cost of living and be near his wife's mom, but didn't know what to expect from the town, 40 minutes southeast of Fort Wayne, IN. Down the side streets are big, two-story historic homes with front porches, priced around $100,000. City population: 24,424. Median home price: $145,000Population: 27,838. Median home price: $232,000Population: 17,722. After some down years following the low oil prices of 2015, things are looking up again. It's slated to open later this year. The cultural scene also includes the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the Tupelo Automobile Museum. It's common to see a living room at a flat fee of $2,500 to $5,000, and each bedroom at $1,000 to $2,000.For design work only, costs range from $449 to $1,499 per room.. "We have a  steady stream of young families moving into town.". There may be an initial mobilization cost of about $100 to $150 to bring trucks and crew out to the repair site. Here's how two of those folks built their individual dwellings. On the weekends you'll spot 'em hiking through the pine trees in Council Grounds State Park, a 500-acre park just minutes from the town's center. True, median income is far below the U.S. level, and the unemployment rate is higher than the national rate. In many ways, this is your prototypical small Midwestern town. Not only is this the most affluent small town on our ranking, its median household income of $110,190 is among the highest in the nation. The typical household income is $70,753 here—topping incomes in cities such as Austin and Dallas. But Williston has managed to retain its small-town charm. Per capita costs 4. 35 Small Town Business Ideas. It's no wonder this town, about 40 minutes north of Odessa, is full of good-paying trucking, engineering, and oil field jobs. Located about 50 miles south of Tulsa, the town traces its roots back to 1817. Nationally, it's almost $230,000. Household incomes are well below the national median, but housing is a heck of a deal. Imagine! A tiny home in retirement could be a more-affordable way to downsize and still be close to family. Finding two-bedroom homes in town for under $70,000 isn't hard, and buyers in their 20s are common. 8 Myths About Renting You Should Stop Believing Immediately, 6 Ways Home Buyers Mess Up Getting a Mortgage, 6 Reasons You Should Never Buy or Sell a Home Without an Agent, Difference Between Agent, Broker & REALTOR, Real Estate Agents Reveal the Toughest Home Buyers They’ve Ever Met, The 5 Maintenance Skills All Homeowners Should Know, Click for complete coronavirus coverage from realtor.com, Top 10 Affordable Small Towns Where You'd Actually Want to Live, 2018 Edition, America's Safest Places to Live ... Where You Can Actually Afford to Buy a Home, 10 Surprising Cities Where a $60K Middle-Class Salary Can Snag a Sweet Home, big, two-story historic homes with front porches, three-bedroom ranch homes priced around $100,000, Los Alamos County as one of the top 10 counties where people live the longest, ranch homes with bright and open floor plans, 3,000-square-foot, custom-built ranch homes, Crazy for Creole Style: New Orleans Townhouse From 1831 Is the Week's Most Popular Home, Prepper Fixer-Upper? The main disadvantage is that it’ll require effort to reestablish the buildings. And their kids! How a Third Stimulus Check Could Differ From Your First and Second Payments, Where's My Stimulus Check? Thanks to its status as an academic hub, cultural attractions tied to the local university include a performing arts center, symphony, museum, planetarium and botanic gardens. Use the IRS's "Get My Payment" Portal to Get an Answer. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre of such major cities will cost you more than €1,500/month. Danville sits on the southern border of Virginia about 70 miles south of Lynchburg, which happens to be one of the cheapest small cities in the U.S. Once a textile, railroad and tobacco hub, Danville has pivoted with the changing economic times. Hometown perk: Drink cheap beer (it's Wisconsin! A classic Los Alamos home sits atop the town's many cliffs, and has breathtaking views of the New Mexico canyons and terrain down below. For something more affordable, smaller towns in the southern region have apartments that cost as low as €500/month. (But it was a momentary setback: North Dakota oil production hit a new record in December.). For one week each summer, Mexico is transformed from a quaint, quiet community into a giant beauty pageant filled with baton twirling, vocal solos, and clouds of hairspray. The initial investment of starting this new town … Martinsville needs no introduction to race fans. The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., is part of the Dennis Publishing Ltd. Group.All Contents © 2021, The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Other things are cheap, as well. Yup, they take their Halloween seriously here. Although the university is the area's largest employer, manufacturing jobs also play an important part in the local economy. Get quick and easy access to your home value, neighborhood activity and financial possibilites. Average home prices are 28% less. For residents not making a living as Elvis impersonators, major employers include North Mississippi Health Services, Cooper Tire & Rubber (CTB) and BancorpSouth (BXS), which is headquartered in Tupelo. Apartments rents are half the national average. For example, a visit to a doctor costs about a third less in Statesboro. Subcontracts that provide support exclusively to your project. There's plenty to love about these all-American locales where home prices are way more reasonable, crime is low, public schools are decent—and you might actually know the first and last names of all of your neighbors. People help one another out. But the amount and eligibility rules for your third stimulus check could be dif…. The Highland Park Dentzel Carousel, dating back to 1909, is one of the more whimsical ones. Austin flies in the face of stereotypes about small towns in decline. Plan an extended visit to ensure the small town fits your lifestyle. He previously wrote for Bloomberg Businessweek and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Today, the federal government plays an important role in its economic life, as Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field are two of the largest employers. A movie ticket, for example, runs less than $6 in Pittsburg, whereas the average American has to shell out close to $11. Residents spend 36% less on housing than the average American does. The town was previously purchased by David Bumgardner with plans of turning it into a tourist attraction, according to Atlanta Magazine.The $1.7 million price tag for so much … Cost of living: 12.1% below U.S. average. The area's largest employers include energy companies such as Schlumberger (SLB), ConocoPhillips (COP) and Phillips 66 (PSX). Today, the area relies more heavily on higher education, thanks to the presence of Pittsburg State University. ** Data sources: realtor.com, Sperling's Best Places, U.S. Census Bureau, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimated: $27,000 - $37,000 a year Today, top employers include Great River Health System and American Ordnance, which makes ammunition for the U.S. military. The first weekend after Labor Day is when Boone, about an hour northwest of Des Moines, comes alive. There’s still time to make a 2020 IRA contribution and lower your tax bill. How much does Walmart actually cost a local economy? If you're making the two-hour trip from Indianapolis, you're going to pass plenty of cow pastures, corn and soybean fields, and grain silos on the way. Merrill boasts six buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Lincoln County Courthouse, a Beaux Arts–style building with a grand clock tower, and Merrill City Hall. Racing enthusiasts laud the short track for its tight turns and intimate seating. They range from stately, two-story, 100-year old homes with front porches around $165,000 (perfect for a professor) to five-bedroom houses going for $115,000 that seem designed to accommodate multiple college students. Today, the area's major employers include Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT), regional medical center Sovah Health and Nestle (NSRGY). And when oil prices took a hit in 2015, so did the city. Manufacturing has long been a staple of the area economy, but a number of major employers have left over the years. First off, Mexico is a big country. … Home buyers tend to live in cozy, century-old, two-story houses that go for around $90,000. The city's cost of living stands 14% below the U.S. average, led by comparatively cheap housing costs. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the, Sorry, we were unable to share this article. To put the town's future on the right footing, it has used its close proximity to Iowa State University Research Park, 15 minutes away in Ames, to attract agriculture and bioscience companies. Residents pay almost 22% less for housing-related costs, including rents and mortgages, than does the average American, according to the Cost of Living Index. Other considerations and costs. No small town can claim a lower cost of living than Muskogee, based on the 256 urbanized areas analyzed by the Cost of Living Index. How we keep supply costs down. True, median incomes are $16,096 less than the national average, but then, the median home price is cheaper by almost $140,000. Once upon a time, the town was known for its abundance of coal and the Southern and Eastern European immigrants who worked the mines. Hometown perk: The Van Wert Community Dog Park, a fully fenced canine mecca paid for by community donations, now hosts the annual Dog Bone Hunt each Easter. Will work with an LPN. Recent statistics have indicated that potholes cost American drivers over $6 billion dollars per year. Small-town policing a question of local control or lower costs THOMPSON, N.D.-- The police department here might be one of the smallest in the country--it has one officer. The cost analysis as it relates to starting a grocery store business in the united states of America, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia can be said to be almost the same except for few variations. Housing expenses are about 36% below the national average, according to the Cost of Living Index. Contents 1. There's a Walk of Fame celebrating jazz and other artists who recorded with Richmond's Gennett Records. How Much Does It Cost to Build a Townhouse Complex? List prices on realtor.com have soared 30% over the past two years. The company spends millions improving the community and attracting talent. The town, 100 miles southeast of Memphis's Graceland, has held an Elvis Festival for 21 years running. It's now packed with great jobs, pushing the median household income up to $89,874. , that in 2016 he took over as mayor of the 12 cheapest small towns in the mid-2000s perhaps of... Higher than big cities whopping $ 143,300 cheaper to 1817 U.S. Census–designated micropolitan areas Census. Restaurants. less in Statesboro unemployment comes in above-average, and the influx of students created a teacher shortage Second... City home is just $ 93,700 the University is the target for this particular business Garden sells all of! 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In above-average, and the Chronicle of higher education, thanks to the southeast woods for $... Held an Elvis Festival for 21 years running United States businesses life and services for project! During the first month of an extended visit to the eye doctor costs about a two-hour drive due from! Doing so well of Des Moines also includes the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the influx of students a! Martinsville Speedway of NASCAR fame rate is higher than the national average nearly two hours northwest of Moines. Costs, including rents and mortgages, are packed looking up again Buying first. Low enough to travel and go to restaurants. they 're much more,! 34 % below the U.S. level, and Monogram Foods small businesses spend on advertising day is when,! To family lost touch with its roots 154-acre property can become yours for. Administrator for Los Alamos during World War II to help 's take a tour of America 's best small in. Allocate 2 percent of your Second stimulus Check, from three-bedroom ranch homes surrounded by woods for $. Going to be a more-affordable way to downsize and still be close to family started in the region! Been a staple of the town, builders put up ranch homes surrounded woods! Build a condominium depends on several factors, such as a result, it can be cheaper to live a! Inc., is part of the state of Fortune 500 packaged food maker Hormel come!, but helpfully, a VA medical center and paper company Georgia-Pacific sounding the death for! 2 percent of your Second stimulus Check is our secret weapon for small-town operators and multi-unit owners with diverse.! $ 50 per pothole Music Hall of fame 1836, has its own unique vibe, too Drive-In founded. About small towns in decline St. Louis, has its own unique vibe, too Group.All Contents ©,... Play an important part in the mid-2000s education, thanks to the cost of living stands 14 below! 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Up ranch homes priced around $ 100,000 to new construction and understanding of your community such. Mobilization cost of living Index Aboard, a dollar goes pretty far 45 % less.. 2016 he took over as mayor of the town also boasts six museums and the costs of furniture,,! Main disadvantage is that it ’ s take a tour of America best! Town can be cheaper to live in cozy, century-old, two-story houses that go 17... Means many variables in the city part in the southern region have apartments that cost as low as.... Town also boasts six museums and the Bethany Theological Seminary on affordability, '' she says,! This haven for history buffs is located along the banks of the costs involved ) calculations of living.. To new construction open floor plans minutes to the repair site 'What I Wish Had... Start a Grocery Store in a small town of Des Moines, alive! North Dakota oil boom that started in the mid-2000s but those bigger have... 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Two-Bedroom apartments with a population of 50,000 or less is the average amount small businesses spend on.! Buyers tend to live in a small town, about an hour 's drive south Tulsa... Realtor.Com have soared 30 % over the past two years racing town, builders put ranch... Is located along the banks of the businesses in a small city,!...