Castle Rock Named the Best Up-and-Coming Small City Near a Major Metro

Over the past few months, the coronavirus pandemic has prompted many people to re-examine their living situations. Amid shutdowns, for instance, having easy access to open space — or a backyard at the very least — emerged as a new priority for many. Meanwhile, the economic turmoil accompanying the pandemic gave city-dwellers reason to question whether it’s really worth paying a premium to live in a big, crowded metropolis.

Now, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one-third of Americans are considering moving to a less densely populated area, according to a Harris Poll survey. In addition, a national survey by Ipsos found that 42% of people have either moved or thought about moving since March, and rural areas, small and mid-size cities were their top choices.

Becoming a suburbanite, or transitioning to small-town living, doesn’t mean you need to completely abandon life as an urbanite, though. Some of the country’s best small and mid-sized towns are within close proximity of major metropolises. That means you can enjoy the wide open spaces and quaint downtowns, but still zip into the big city for amenities and attractions (when they re-open, of course) like pro sports, malls, museums and amusement parks.