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Americans have never really been fond of crowded urban areas, a sentiment that dates back to the nation's earliest years. "I view large cities as pestilential to the morals, the health, and the liberties of man," declared Thomas Jefferson, who believed that life was better in small towns and rural areas.
Millions of today's Americans share his views, though they remain trapped in big cities. Most of America's jobs, after all, are concentrated in metropolitan areas.
But times have changed. The Covid-19 pandemic has loosened economic and technological constraints, revealing that a substantial proportion of white-collar jobs can be done remotely. The stage is now set - at long last - for disaffected city dwellers to follow their dreams and flee from urban grime and congestion.
But where to go? G. Scott Thomas has written an essential guide for anyone seeking to escape a big city. It rates the quality of life in 2,084 small towns across the nation, subjecting them to 12 rigorous tests. The 209 places with the highest scores - the top 10% - have been designated as Dreamtowns, the very best small communities in America.
Detailed scorecards are presented for all 209 of these ideal small towns, giving you the tools to weigh the possibilities and narrow your choices, setting the stage for the final three steps in your quest - targeted research, actual visits, and the ultimate selection of your own personal Dreamtown.
