We all dream of escaping to a place where life just seems less complicated. A place that is filled with friendly people, clean air, and plenty of simple pleasures. If you’re looking for a town like that, check out this list of slow-paced small towns around the country where life is still uncomplicated and sweet. The best small towns in America are sure to delight any traveler.

1. Massachusetts: Hadley
Hadley, MA, USA
Flickr/Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
Flickr/Tony_Mateus
Hadley is nestled in the Connecticut River Valley and is one of the few small towns in Massachusetts where open-field farming still makes up the majority of the landscape. The "Cultural Landscape of Hadley, Massachusetts" is actually on the World Monuments Fund's watchlist for endangered sites. With a population of only 5,000 people, this place still moves at a pace more in tune with the yearly cycle of harvesting and sowing. If you want a farm-town getaway, it's hard to top Hadley.
2. North Carolina: Saluda
Saluda, NC 28773, USA
Flickr / Frank DiBona
Though this town is a mere 40 miles from Asheville, not many people outside the area know that Saluda, North Carolina is one of the best small towns in America. The town's unique charm and old-fashioned feel make it a great place to visit, or even settle down. The town's proximity to some truly lovely hiking and biking trails make it an easy place to stay active, and its main street is a lively hub of restaurants and galleries. Head to Saluda for its annual summer Coon Dog Day festival, featuring a 5k race and plenty of great food and street dancing. Come for the festival, or visit during fall foliage season to see Saluda at its best.
3. Georgia: Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge, GA 30513, USA
Flickr/Theodore Lee
Flickr/Matt Malone
Blue Ridge is a popular vacation spot for those looking for a bit of peace and quiet. The town has about 1,300 permanent residents, and it's quiet year-round. Visitors and natives alike love to spend their days in Blue Ridge out among nature, and there are plenty of places to hike, fish and golf in this Georgia town. Mercier Orchards provides the town with plenty of juicy apples and space to roam.
4. Vermont: Ripton
Ripton, VT, USA
Flickr/flissphil
Vemont is one of the best places in America to live a slow-paced life. In the words of Jessica Ravitz of CNN, the tiny town of Ripton is "the kind of place where cell service fails more often than it works and the country store is really just that....Tibetan prayer flags wave outside a weather-worn home, and the fog lifts to reveal a white horse grazing in a field." Ripton is home to 588 people and the annual Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. It's one of the msot quintessential New England towns.
5. Alaska: Talkeetna
Talkeetna, AK 99676, USA
Wikimedia Commons
Flickr - Sandy Brown Jensen
You may have heard about this town's mayor on social media... Talkeetna's unofficial mayor is a cat named Stubbs. If that fact alone isn't enough to convince you that this is one town that really has a sense of humor, nothing will. Alaska is hard to beat when it comes to natural beauty, and Talkeetna is a highlight of any northern trip. Talkeetna acts as the base camp for expeditions to Denali, and people flock to this quaint town of 876 residents in order to take advantage of the great salmon fishing nearby. The small downtown area features plenty of offerings by local artists and craftspeople.
6. Maryland: Smith Island
Smith Island, MD, USA
Flickr / Lee Cannon
This island is actually home to one of the region's oldest English-speaking communities. The people of Smith Island use what is known as a "relic accent," which preserved the speech patterns of the original English settlers of the island. Only accessible by boat, the island is rapidly shrinking due to erosion and coastal storms. While you're here, try the famous Smith Island cake!

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7. California: Murphys
Murphys, CA, USA
flickr/david sawyer
This town gets its name from the area's two original merchant settlers, John and Daniel Murphy. Today, the town is home to about 2,200 residents. One of California's most charming towns once drew hundreds of prospective gold miners who hoped to make their fortunes in Murphys.
8. Montana: Stevensville
Stevensville, MT 59870, USA
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr
Stevensville was first settled by Jesuit missionaries in the early 1800s. It is the oldest permanent settlement in Montana. Today, the population stands at about 1,800 people, and life in town is definitely slow-paced. The nearby Bitterroot River provides plenty of opportunities for fishing and boating. Stevensville is also known as one of the best foodie towns in Montana.
9. Virginia: Front Royal
Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
Lindley Ashline/flickr
Front Royal sees a lot of visitors coming to take a peek at the nearby Shenandoah Caverns. The town has been called the "Canoe Capital of the World" due to its proximity to the junction of the South Fork River and North Fork River of the Shenandoah. Front Royal is a great base camp for exploring the beautiful wilderness of the Shenandoah Valley. Take a trip along Skyline Drive to see Virginia in the best way.
10. Connecticut: Essex
Essex, CT, USA
Wikimedia Commons
Essex, and its village of Ivoryton, is the perfect haven for those seeking classic New England charm and plenty of quaint architecture. The roads aren't too busy, the neighbors are friendly, and the community is active and involved.
11. Texas: Pecos
Pecos, TX 79772, USA
Flickr/kkanouse
Pecos was the site of the world's first American-style rodeo. The town itself is filled with ranchers, modern cowboys and those who like a slow-paced lifestyle.
12. New Jersey: Walpack
Walpack Township, NJ, USA
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
Walpack is definitely a quiet place. With less than 50 permanent residents and a town center that has been largely abandoned, life here moves at a snail's pace, and it's one of the best places in America to live a simple life. Things may not be too lively, but Walpack's people are friendly and welcoming to visitors.
13. Mississippi: Ackerman
Ackerman, MS 39735, USA
Mississippi in HDR/Facebook
This little town was named after a railroad official in 1885, and is home to around 1,500 people. The town is by no means a tourist destination, but people do come from miles around to sample the tasty and cheap barbecue at Sonny's Smokehouse.
14. Michigan: Ionia
Ionia, MI 48846, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Every July, this town hosts the largest free admission fair in the world. When it's not flooded with visitors, Ionia is a peaceful little town with a picturesque downtown and many small, family-run businesses. Bertha Brock Park is a must-see destination in town.
15. Kansas: Cottonwood Falls
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845, USA
Wikimedia Commons
With a bevy of historic structures, a bustling main street, a cozy population of less than 1,000 residents, and a beautiful Flint Hills location, Cottonwood Falls is a picture-perfect, slow-paced Kansas small town.

Do you appreciate the simple life? Have you been to any of these small towns around the U.S.? Let us know! We love chatting about small towns here at Only In Your State, and we’d love to hear about your favorite places to live for a slower pace of life.

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More to Explore

best small towns in america

Kim Magaraci | September 22, 2022

Where can I find more information about the best small towns in America?

Here at Only In Your State, we love featuring the best small towns in the USA. In fact, we're always encouraging our readers to get out and explore their own home state, or plan a getaway to see another state in a whole new way. Our series on Small Town Getaways will help you pick out the best places in America to visit for a charming getaway.

Where are the best slow-paced places to live in America?

Every state has plenty of charming, slow-paced places to live. Even in the busiest, most densely populated states like New Jersey, you can find charming small towns! If you really want to get away from it, consider a state with a low population like Wyoming or Montana. If you want to find the best places in America to live a simple life, browse Only In Your State's archives and see what small-town America is all about.

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