Columbia, Missouri is the home of the University of Missouri and rapidly becoming a popular retirement community. The population has grown to just over 126,000 people (2020). Columbia is nicknamed “College Town” or “The Athens of Missouri” because it has so many colleges in one town. Columbia was listed as one of the “Top 10 Value Towns” of 2007 for…...

Polson is a resort town on Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana, north of Missoula. Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the western U.S. The population was 4,497 in 2011. It is on the Flathead Indian Reservation. This charming lakeshore community is the center of one of most fertile farming areas in Montana. This prime cherry growing region is…...

Manchester, a small city of about 116,000, in 2020, is the largest city in New Hampshire. It is home to several small colleges as well as being the economic center of this part of New Hampshire and Vermont.  The city has been named 2nd tax friendliest city, best place to live and start a business, and one of America's Cheapest…...

This town in northern Georgia is old gold mining center; in fact it had a mint that produced U.S. coins. It has the Dosta Playhouse and the largest cultural arts center in the region.. Valdosta State University is also a center of local culture. See our article: Road Trip: The Mountain Towns of North Georgia, for more ideas....