It’s the Goldilocks Effect. Lots of movers want to escape the hustle and bustle of massive metropolises but still want a solid social scene. Others are tired of small town, suburban and small city life, but living in the New York's and Los Angeles's sounds exhausting to their wallets and social batteries. These are the cities Goldilocks would say are “just right.”

This one's juuuust right

Mid-Sized Cities

Suburbia has historically been viewed as a piece of The American Dream. Your own front lawn, your own backyard, good public schools, and the feeling of a small, tight-knit community. Then suburban sprawl happened and it was less attractive. Post-pandemic, it’s making a bit of a comeback in a slightly different way.

If you don’t mind trading the hustle for a commute, these locations are solid options for you.


If you crave a Pale Ale on a porch or at least a two-car garage and a yoga class that you don’t have to book in advance, you might be a candidate for suburban life.

Out of reach of the city without the city being out of reach.

Leafy Suburbs 

Rural

No longer confined to the cities or 'burbs around the office? Many others have been in your shoes before and lessons learned. A change of scenery may well be in order. Look here.

Retirement Havens

Move over Silicon Valley, NYC and Atlanta, these days there are hundreds of cities emerging as Tech Hubs in the United States. Many places in all corners of the country are brimming with tech. 

Check out these hubs for your new hub.


Tech Hubs

Kids playing baseball on sandlots, baked apple pies resting on window sills, Chevy pickups in front of homey diners. They can be found here.

Some cities evoke the Norman Rockwell scenes of Grandpa and the Grandkids fishing in the pond, or kids in overalls waving the flag at the fire trucks at the 4th of July parade. If you’re hankering for a classic Americana, take a look at these towns.

Down on Main Street

Mainstreet USA Cities 

All the trappings of suburban splendor with enough indy food joints, breweries, cold brew, yoga and spin classes and general bustle to keep you from feeling that you’ve given up. 

Suburbs'' like Evanston (Chicago) and Brookline (Boston) are converting even the most ardent anti-suburbanites into believers. Active social scenes, significant commercial shopping districts, diverse populations and public transportation around the metro areas make these burbs feel less like Mayberry RFD and more like cities of the future. If you need this kind of city flavor but also crave the less hectic balance of the burbs, then check these places out.  

Want your suburban spot to have some downtown action? Lots of foodie joints? Shops? City squares? Maybe even a little history? Here are some places that have built up a legit, walkable city scene in a family-friendly locale.

You can always go...Downtown.

Suburbs With Downtowns

Some cities are known for the natural beauty that surrounds them. Others are known for, among other things, the beauty humans have created and brought to their city. From places that possess an abundance of galleries and museums to areas that foster environments for artists, there are plenty of communities across the country tailored for art lovers. 

If you believe in art then start here.
 

There are plenty of cities across the country that channel the creative spirit and are a haven for art-lovers and the artsy. These places breed galleries and museums and often even attract creative talent who put down roots and...create. If you consider yourself a lover of the arts, these destinations might be for you.

For the artsy and the arts-minded

Art Center Cities

The energy and the atmosphere of a good college town; the blending of the young, the academic and the cheap beer is unsurpassed in American life.

For those who just can’t quit a college town, look for one here.


Dazzling campuses and an influx of young, spirited people give those areas surrounding centers of academia a unique and alluring atmosphere. Here are some of the top college towns in the country.

Happiness = Critical Thinking + Social Culture + Beer and Cheap Eats

College Towns

Large, bustling cities are not the United States’s only claim to fame. From the rugged coasts to the mountains and oodles of lakes and rivers, the U.S is famous around the world for its natural, majestic beauty and National Parks. If you’d really rather be (insert anything) outdoors, make the move.

For a breath of fresh air, from the redwood forests to the gulf stream waters, here are some refreshing places to consider.


Is it really all about the Great Outdoors for you? You’re not alone. Hence, the national migration from big cities to outdoorsy havens like Bend or Boise.

Think Outside. No Box Required.

Outdoor Meccas

The assumption that big cities all have an urban vibe just isn’t true. Urbanity does not live on population size alone. For example, San Jose is pretty big but also pretty mellow and mostly suburban. Cities like Seattle or Atlanta have much more downtown energy. 

Where downtown is not a town at all but rather awe-inspiring architecture, world-renowned chefs, pro sports, culture galore, hustle and bustle, public transportation and lots of invigorating walking.

Where those little town blues go to die.

Urbanist Dream Cities 

Beaches are a major draw as potential places to live for a number of perfectly valid reasons. With beaches typically come better weather, livelier social scenes, and for many, the greatest of outdoors. Opportunities to find a slice of beach life in America are more plentiful than you might think. Each metro area is different, and although they might appear the same scrolling through images on your screen, there are many vastly different options to choose from. If you’re looking for your Point Break, look here.

A daily dose of beach is a powerful thing. Everything from a sleepy beach town to a jumping oceanside metropolis is available in the U.S of A. Those who break from the screen and go to the water are probably onto something.