10 Best Places To Live That Combine City Lifestyles With Small Town Prices

One of the big lifestyle choices is whether you prefer to live in the city or rural areas. Busy cities get you traffic, towering buildings and plenty of restaurant choices, while rural areas can offer you calm farmlands and homely sensibilities. If you prefer the advantages of urban living, that doesn’t mean you have to be a fan of the more expensive cost of living that comes with the city.

This is where a third option presents itself – the suburbs. They lack the hustle and bustle of the big city yet still offer many of the same opportunities, like a more ideal proximity to things like emergency services, ATMs, stores and cell towers. Here are 10 cities that are on the affordable side that will still provide you with a fulfilling sense of the city feel.

Our first location is Forest Park, Illinois. This suburban locale features easy access to the Chicago “L” transit system, a vibrant, sometimes festive, downtown and a much lower median sale price for homes than Chicago. It is certainly noted for its urban feel, with plenty of food and beverage places, as well as parks.

Next up is Red Bank, New Jersey. This suburb of New York City has a great mixed urban-suburban feel, with lots to see and do, minus the hefty real estate values. Red Bank is known for its “rich history and architectural heritage,” with maintained 19th-century buildings and a strong communal sense. The downtown area also offers festivals, arts and performances, plus many unique boutiques to shop at.

Petaluma, California is a significantly more affordable place to live that’s within commuting distance of San Francisco. Located in Sonoma County, Petaluma benefits from city features like antique stores and community events while offering some country feel like vineyards and ranches.

Located very close to Denver, Littleton, Colorado, offers a more comfortable cost of living while having a communal, historic downtown filled with plenty of venues year-round. You still get the opportunities of the big city, though you can also take advantage of outdoor experiences like hiking or golf.

Near Austin, Round Rock, Texas, has a vibrant downtown area filled with everything from art galleries to sports bars. It also has a resort with the nation’s largest indoor waterpark, courtesy of Spa Kalahari and Salon. Baseball fans will also get a kick out of Round Rock, with The Dell Diamond. All of this and more comes with a lower residential cost than Austin.

East Point, Georgia, is a prime relocation destination out of Atlanta, with cheaper homes and lower cost of living. You still get access to fine dining, malls and marketplaces, a historic downtown setting and easy access to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and MARTA bus and rail routes.

Alexandria, Virginia, is a more affordable spot within the DMV. Home to the Old Town, the Potomac waterfront features one of the longest-running, year-round farmer’s markets and over 100 boutiques, plus the ease of transportation access through Metro and its water taxis – all along the preserved architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Edmonds, Washington, is less expensive to live in than Seattle, and serves as a friendly, urban waterfront town that benefits from several aquatic activities, like kayaking and diving. It maintains the allure of the city without all of the bustle.

Those looking at Culver City, California, will find a more affordable place to live than Los Angeles – one with a famous art district, several museums, fine dining and the Sony Pictures Studios Tour. The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is also a massive park complete with hiking trails and panoramic vistas.

Finally, Covington, Kentucky, boasts a lower cost of living than its close neighbor, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Artist’s Enterprise Center and the Northern Kentucky Convention Center lie in it. Its Mainstrasse Village is a popular, culture-rich historic district with unique boutiques and a self-guided bourbon tour.