These Towns Offer More Than
Just a Slower Lifestyle
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+.
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