A small town can hold surprising treasures for its residents.
According to CNNMoney, these superb small towns represent peak living opportunities in places that make everyday life grand.
[find-an-apartment]Take a look at their recent picks for 2013, plus our cool apartment options in these hoppin’ hamlets.
Sharon, MA
This little village of nearly 18,000 gained top spot as the best small town. It’s a 30-minute train ride from Boston, MA and Providence, RI, which means residents can commute to a big city job while enjoying a relaxed life in a Sharon apartment. This resort town has a lot of local attractions including beautiful Lake Massapoag.
Louisville, CO
Colorado is home to several top healthy cities, and Louisville makes the list of best small towns yet again. Families love the community and great schools, plus access to the thriving Denver-Boulder tech corridor. There’s always something happening downtown, and all summer long you can enjoy the Friday night Street Faire.
Vienna, VA
Vienna, Virginia brings a small town feel to the Washington, D.C., metro area. This cozy city is known for its walkability and historic town center. One of Vienna’s best features is the 45-mile W&OD bike trail that runs through the middle of town along an old railroad bed.
Chanhassen, MN
Those with a flair for the dramatic will love living in Chanhassen. In fact, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres represent some of the nation’s largest dinner theater experiences. Here, you can enjoy a variety of shows on multiple stages all under one roof! Plus, the school districts have recently gotten a boost with increased technology resources and Wi-Fi on school buses.
Sherwood, OR
Quaint Sherwood is located smack dab in the middle of mountains, rivers and Music on the Green. It’s also just minutes away from popular Portland (home to Nike and Intel) and surrounded by Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley wineries.
Berkeley Heights, NJ
Near NYC, this smart small town is home to Alcatel Lucent’s headquarters and a plethora of pharmaceutical companies located nearby. Besides access to great jobs, Berkeley Heights offers access to the Watchung Reservation, where you’ll find nearly 2,000 acres of outdoor activities including horseback riding, hiking and picnicking.
Mason, OH
The schools here are among the best in Ohio, which makes Mason the perfect small town for families who work for local companies like Proctor & Gamble and Mitsubishi. Their mayor is bringing in new industries all the time, so economic growth continues to make this a much-loved locale. Community is so important here that new residents are invited to a monthly coffee meetup.
Papillon, NE
Life on the outskirts of Omaha is ideal in Papillon. Great schools, safe neighborhoods and a quick 15-minute commute to the big city make it very appealing. This town makes you feel right at home with its Wednesday night farmer’s market and Omaha Storm Chasers baseball games at Werner Park.
Apex, NC
The Peak City Pig Fest isn’t the only reason you should move to Apex, but it’s a good excuse to live in this historic town that is just minutes away from Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Proximity to local universities and the Research Triangle Park makes it one of the top small towns in the United States.
As rental trends shift and people are looking for work and life balance, these sweet small towns hold a new appeal for apartment hunters. Give them a careful look during your search for the perfect place to live!
Photo credits: Shutterstock / James R. Martin, Bridget McPherson