Small Cities with Big Perks

[Celerity]

The Coolest Small Cities in the U.S. Where small town charm meets the perks of urban life.

https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/best-small-cities-in-america



It’s a tale as old as time: An ambitious kid grows up in a small town or cookie-cutter suburb, counting down the days until they’re old enough to move to the Big City™ and live out all their sitcom-fueled fantasies. Armed with a truck full of boxes and a lifetime’s worth of sheltered naivety, that kid lands in the nearest concrete jungle determined to make it no matter the cost.

Fast forward a handful of years, however, and living in a cramped apartment with three roommates, their rotating cast of paramours, and a single bathroom no longer seems so glamorous. Especially when the stock market takes a deep dive and inflation drives the cost of your daily bagel and coffee up to the high heavens. That’s exactly where America’s smallest but mightiest cities come in, appealing to all those ambitious kids who now dream of slower paces, cheaper rents, and cleaner air—without sacrificing the urban amenities they’ve come to enjoy.

Across the US, you’ll find dozens of smaller cities that offer all the trappings of a small town—fresh air, tree-lined streets, plenty of opportunities to use the word “quaint”—with enough culture, bars, and restaurants to keep up with the big boys. According to the Demographic Research Unit of the Department of Finance, to qualify as a “small city,” an incorporated area must have a population of 100,000 or less—all of which, we can only assume, will welcome you to town and swiftly point you to their favorite neighborhood dive bar.

Visit any one of these shining locales and you can pack your itinerary with gorgeous hikes, award-winning brews, knock-out restaurants, quirky art shows, and fun things to do that go far beyond antiquing—whether you’re just passing through or considering another big leap. Here are the 16 coolest small cities in America.

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[markie]

1. sorry Bozeman

one of the perks is not going to Yellowstone!

I am so far out that Burlington is BIG city to me