Long, long ago I was a Navy language student at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. One day a couple of friends and I went to the Hog's Breath Inn in Carmel with the idea that we might meet Clint Eastwood (who owned the place at the time). Far-fetched as it might seem, we actually DID meet Clint. Not only that, he joined us for a few minutes to chat and bought us a round. He was really nice to us, and it was one of those moments in life that you never forget. Also, I want to mention that I went through Red Lodge, Montana, a few years back (on a recommendation from a previous Briggs video) and really liked it. As I was looking for a new place to live (to get out of Californicated Colorado), I tried hard to find something in Red Lodge. But I was never able to find a suitable rental and wound up - as of this month - in a beautiful little town in the Ozarks of central Arkansas. It's a far cry from Montana, but I already love it here.
Nice. I was billeted to the Hotel Del Monte while stationed at the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center in the 80'. Saw Clint at Bud's pub. If money were not an issue I would still be there. Liked nearby Salinas river state beach too.🤓👍
The Ozarks in Arkansas is on my short list of places to investigate moving to since I'm now retired. My grandson just graduated from the language school in Monterey! (First school, I think he will have more after he finishes his Comms school in Texas).
My Dad was from Bayfield, WI... The last time I was there was in 1974. My Dad hadn't been there in 25, but when we stepped into Greunke's for breakfast, all of the older patrons immediately called him by name, regaled us with stories from my Dad's youth. Yes, he was suitably embarrassed. Nice town, very nice people.
Would you consider doing an episode similar to this for the bottom half earners in the country? Where we wont have to live in tent cities or be mudered in our sleep because we dont have $3000/month for a mortgage?
$3,000 would be the slums in some of those places. And no tents allowed in those California “gems”-they don’t put up with that crap like they do in San Francisco.
If you don't live in a huge metropolitan area you can live very inexpensively in essentially any state. You will just have to deal with the available amenities. Plus who needs 3 Walmarts within 15 minutes.
When in Stowe VT stop by The Roastery for one of the best coffee or cherry tea you’ve ever had EVER. The coffee is hand sifted, fresh roasted, and has amazing stories connected to its cultivation and various people involved. Having a beverage here is an experience. Corporate coffee does not sift out bugs. They’re ground in. One of many reasons to try The Roastery and shop their beans on line :)
Those are the communities you don’t want to promote or advertise as they won’t be small towns anymore or inexpensive. One people know about them lots of people move to them and it ruins the character of the town.
Try Kansas southern Missouri southern Illinois most of Oklahoma and Arkansas except that northwest corridor is getting a little expensive. But the town my parents grew up and has beautiful Victorian homes. They had the most millionaires per capita of anywhere in the United States back in the 20s independence Kansas, but they have some gorgeous homes. Very very inexpensive.
Oh and a big thumbs up to Cloudcroft, New Mexico. It's high up in the mountains. Lot's of camping and outdoor activities. Spent a few days visiting there.
Pretty much any small town in a rural area of the Midwest. Tons and tons of them. They are dying, that's why they are so cheap (relatively speaking). Just get out a map of KS/MO/IA/NE/OK and close your eyes and point.
I love your videos!! There's one correction that made me laugh...at the 2:16 mark of the first video o Mendocino you said they only have a population of 932,000.......that made me laugh🤣🤣🤣🤣 Tim, Vancouver, Washington
Cloudcroft, NM, is definitely one of the secret gems of NM. It's not Taos Tourist Trap, and it's definitely not crime-ridden Albuquerque. Although they can be occasionally wary and aloof, the people are friendly, and helpful. To a comfortable degree, they practice inclusivity. There's a Walmart Superstore about 40-45 minutes away in Alamogordo, and you can also get good preliminary medical care in Alamogordo, too. (If you need serious medical care, El Paso, TX is only 2 hours away.) Yes, it snows, it's cold, at 9,000 feet it may not be the best place for people with breathing problems, but the summers are awesome and terrific! Spend a full week in Cloudcroft, you'll be glad you did. (This is not a promo, I used to live in Alamogordo, and went to Cloudcroft every chance I could.)
I live here in North Carolina. Blowing Rock is a great place to visit or live. Blowing Rock is named after a Rock where when it snows it snows upward instead of downward. It is really cool to see.
Grove, Oklahoma is a small town with a beautiful lake. At the moment, it is very affordable but can change in the near future. Located in NE Oklahoma near the Arkansas border. Also, I lived in Hilham, Tennessee. Beautiful area in Clay County. Affordable
Right by ocean city is the island of assateague that connects to chincoteague island. Both ate great places to go camping and have fun. There's a lot of things for kids to do.
Mendoccino has 932 residents, not 932k. He just misspoke. You can also tell by the footage he showed of the town where there aren't nearly enough homes for 900k people.
He didn't realize he said it. I caught it. These places are not for the average buyer. Seems anything below a 2k population is usually pretty expensive.
Always love your videos! Would you consider putting in dangerous weather as a variable to choosing nice places to live? I’ve only been to 2 of the towns in this video . Thank you
Having been stationed a couple years in Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, I spent some time in Carmel. "The people are snobs" is an understatement. I recall finding it not surprising that Carmel has no addresses. When someone invites you over there are long directions about the third house with the white picket fence near the blue one. Additionally you can not cut down a tree with out a hard to get permit. All signs must be small and finding anything with the no addresses, small signs and over grown trees is a challenge. Most of the people who live there are snooty in the extreme.
90% of the people who “alive” there don’t--it’s just one of many homes they own. And many are foreign. This was told to me by a real estate agent who has served the area for 20 years. These are the Uber-elites. Great place to visit-very charming. But Pacific Grove and Monterey is where the real, normal, down-to-earth folks live.
Stowe, VT: "The hills are alive with the sound of ...snowboards!" LOL the Trapp family lodge is up the road a bit from Stowe. That lodge has pictures of the famous Trapp family from the Sound of Music. Actually rented a farm house up the road from Stowe (Morristown a few miles north of Stowe) when I flew in to my son's graduation at Norwich in Northfield. That whole region has quit a few charming towns. In a previous video you mentioned Burlington. Been there, too, on a different trip.
I feel like any mention of CA needs to call attention to the homeowner’s insurance crisis. I understand that it’s primarily due to fires but it’s not just fire-prone areas that are feeling the heat (“heat”, get it?). Insurance companies are in many cases not renewing policies and some aren’t issuing new ones
I love Berlin, MD - Ocean City is just ok. Love Chincoteague, VA too. Definitely recommend visiting both if you are out in the Virginia Maryland area - they are not far from each other.
For the record, cities with an average price near a million aren't hidden.. They are just too expensive for most to go visit.. clearly well know by the wealthy..
@@nonamegivenatbirth right? some of these towns have like 600 people and they average a million dollars for a home. How many people does he think can afford to live there? Are we acting like half the country wouldn't move to Stowe Vermont if we could afford to?
Appreciate your view, it’s great! One suggestion for folks who are considering a geographical move would be to use square foot average cost for the property. What your range of cost doesn’t cover or accurately cover is how many beds and bathrooms it is. Education I think is the key to this channel so to all pay attention to sg ft cost.
Great list! I believe Carmel-by-the-sea is to differentiate from Carmel valley which is a little more quaint and wine country. Monterey, nearby is my preference because it's not as snooty!
I just got back from the little town of Blue Ridge Georgia. It’s up near the North Carolina border. It was like visiting Mayberry. The locals were so nice it was as if they all worked for the tourism board. It’s worth checking out. I completely forgot that we were in Georgia , in a really good way. They also have a Sasquatch museum so there’s that.
Would it be possible on your small town series to say what the average rent would be? Not everyone is capable or wants to buy especially young people and retirees. I enjoy your channel, I can't even imagine the work involved in all the research! I always watch until the end not only because I enjoy the content but I love to hear you tell everyone to "be nice to each other." ❤
It can get a bit boring in most of these small towns even if they are nice to live in. Blowing Rock is near Boone. The biggest town above 3000’ altitude E of the Mississippi
I haven't heard you mention a small town with a lot to offer , namely "Hayward , Wi.". They are the finish line for the "American Birkabiner Cross Country Ski Race " as well as the Muskee Festival ( 60' Muskee on display ), other features as well . And no , I don't live nearby , I do think it's a nice little town to live in or for a visit .
Hey Briggs, long time watcher, first time commenter. I find it interesting that you use average home values instead of mean home values. Can you enlighten me? Average values are easily skewed by outliers where mean values are relatively immune to outlier values. In home values it is unlikely to have homes valued so low that they offset the fancy, big, high-dollar homes that exist in almost every community. An average home price would (in general) be an inflated measure of center versus a median. Thanks for what you do. I enjoy it greatly. Glen
You actually gave me two worth thinking about! Basically as affordable as NWA. One with better transportation as reflected by the numbers on Sperling Best places. You and Sperling got me here. If I make it through another year and I'm still capable? I'm going to want to move on if I can.
These look beautiful but as I get closer to geezerdom I want to be sure I live close to a good hospital, and I’m not sure any of these places would meet that requirement
@@aprilclover2429 If you leave it then it’s likely that you won’t be able to return. I moved away for a job in 2020 and I’m in that very position - I don’t care for my current city (PDX) but CA, in general, is not an option. Think carefully before leaving - do as much as you can to ensure that the place where you are moving is right for you (and/or have a plan B). Good luck 🙏🏻
I find it crazy that when I typed in YT search bar “world according to…” and Briggs wasn’t the first one to pop up your literally my go to, I just figured you were everyone else’s too 😂
Briggs, you said at the end of Menocino, which is the 1st clip, that it only has 932 thousands residents. That's not a small town, that's a decent size city
Back in the early 1970s, Dad was stationed at Holloman, AFB. I remember looking at land in Cloudcroft. I wish that Mom and Dad had bought land there to retire from the Aif Force
My cousin was stationed at Ft. Ord in the early 70's and we visited Carmel. So was kind of thrown off by the 'by the sea' part. Never heard it called that.
I feel exactly the same however what he said at the beginning is very much true for me - I no longer need the extensive club scene that was important to me in my 20s-30s (ok, even into my 40s), when I wouldn’t even consider a suburb of a major city
I grew up in a small town in the South, and every day I wished I was on the one airplane that flew over our house every day, going anywhere. I love Denver. Haven't needed a car for 20 years and in my 70s am starting to be grateful for the hospitals. And the restaurants I can walk to!
Blowing Rock is only a 15-20 drive from Boone, a College town with all the things on your list. Boone can get congested, just like any town pinned in by mountains. Even though the area is in North Carolina, the winters can get quite cold due to the elevation. Banner Elk, a ski town, is also nearby.
@@thesilentowl correct I was responding to the comment in the video stating people want smaller towns as they retire.. for the record I know very precisely where blowing rock is..
Once again Coupeville on Whidbey Island, Washington, was ignored. That's probably a good thing. Too many tourists looking to explore the town in the movie "Practical Magic" already.
It is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. As I've pointed out a few times already, people get upset when their chosen "hidden gem" town or area is ignored, when they don't realize that it getting ignored is a GOOD thing. The whole point that makes these places great is that they are not well known and thus small, but if it gets too much recognition and gets "put" back on the map again then you risk losing all of that charm if tons of tourists flood in and you get people looking to move in, thus making it not small anymore and just like any other place that has too many people.
The one 20 year old photo of Red Lodge... hilarious. Most of those businesses in the photo are gone. And then a drone shot of the lower Beartooth Highway and one more old photo of the Beartooth Pass area. You done us dirty, Briggs. Red Lodge is a great place to live. 50% of our property taxes go to the schools, you don't see that in most places. We have a great downtown with older historic houses and two benches above the town with newer houses around the golf course. We have downhill skiing, nordic skiing, some rock climbing, tons of hiking between town and Beartooth Pass, mountain biking options are getting better, we have a new disc golf course, and tons of restaurants and bars. We have government jobs and many hospitality jobs, you can work for the ski area in one of two dozen capacities, and we're not far from white water rafting and Yellowstone NP.
Loved this tour of hidden gems in small towns! The scenery and local spots look so inviting. Which of these towns do you think would be the best for a weekend getaway?
Hi! Can you check out my hometown, Havre de Grace Maryland and current home Salisbury North Carolina? I would love to see these two town featured in a video one day! Havre de Grace is a charming small town that sits at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River. Its rich in history (attacked by the British in the War of 1812) and a strong sense of community and hosts various festivals throughout the year, such as the Seafood Festival and First Fridays! Gotta cut my comment short, but Salisbury NC is on the come up with the rejuvenation of downtown with the new Bell Tower Green Park, the annual Cheerwine Festival (with over 100k people in attendance) and many more! Please consider checking these two great towns out! Oh! And Havre de Grace has itself a whole, new commercial now! I'm so proud of HdG ❤
I went through Vermont, NH, and Maine during leaf-peeping season last year. Stowe, VT has absolutely nothing of value to be on this list as far as I'm concerned. Very short main street with almost no shops, minimal activity, and not many people walking around which is very typical for that area. There are literally tons of other small towns in those 3 states that blow Stowe away.
I love Carmel but it is way out of my price range, all the lots are very small too. The summers are more foggy than clear which I just love as I can't handle much sun.
Briggs. Ocean City is nice in the offseason, but it’s a crap hole in the summer. The boardwalk is like Baltimore in summer. It used to be great, very family oriented.
Try central America or Asia. Or live like a hermit up in the hills somewhere. There is no such thing as nice and cheap towns in the US. Where there are lots of poor people there is lots of crime, drugs and bad schools and probably stressed healthcare and infrastructure. They are inexpensive for a reason. People don’t want to live there by choice and it gets worse, not better.
Carmel, CA, is why I have trouble conversing with overtly beautiful women. In the '70s, our family attended a medical convention with our Dad (Nashville, TN, maybe), and I met this gorgeous 14-year-old girl - stop typing; I was 14 or 15, my own damn self - whose family lived in Carmel. Long story short, I've forgotten her name, but I'll always remember being unable to speak when I saw her the first few times around the convention hotel (it sounds like a song lyric, doesn't it?). I imagine she became a doctor and is looking forward to retirement while I'm considering moving to Berlin, MD, to be closer to my grandkids. Thanks, Briggs! You nailed all the feels with this one!!
Also Dying Young a Julia Roberts movie. I was living there when that was being filmed. Mendo was used as a New England village. They even built a temporary house on the headlands in town where the main character in the movie lived.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks! And if I can put in a video request: Nice, affordable small towns that have low humidity and winters that aren't too harsh.
Long, long ago I was a Navy language student at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. One day a couple of friends and I went to the Hog's Breath Inn in Carmel with the idea that we might meet Clint Eastwood (who owned the place at the time). Far-fetched as it might seem, we actually DID meet Clint. Not only that, he joined us for a few minutes to chat and bought us a round. He was really nice to us, and it was one of those moments in life that you never forget. Also, I want to mention that I went through Red Lodge, Montana, a few years back (on a recommendation from a previous Briggs video) and really liked it. As I was looking for a new place to live (to get out of Californicated Colorado), I tried hard to find something in Red Lodge. But I was never able to find a suitable rental and wound up - as of this month - in a beautiful little town in the Ozarks of central Arkansas. It's a far cry from Montana, but I already love it here.
Take a trip to Alpine, TX. Mild summers and winters. Much nicer than Marfa and far more affordable.
DLI huah
Nice. I was billeted to the Hotel Del Monte while stationed at the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center in the 80'. Saw Clint at Bud's pub. If money were not an issue I would still be there. Liked nearby Salinas river state beach too.🤓👍
The Ozarks in Arkansas is on my short list of places to investigate moving to since I'm now retired. My grandson just graduated from the language school in Monterey! (First school, I think he will have more after he finishes his Comms school in Texas).
Nice. I went their about 5 or 6 times and never saw Clint
My Dad was from Bayfield, WI... The last time I was there was in 1974. My Dad hadn't been there in 25, but when we stepped into Greunke's for breakfast, all of the older patrons immediately called him by name, regaled us with stories from my Dad's youth. Yes, he was suitably embarrassed. Nice town, very nice people.
Would you consider doing an episode similar to this for the bottom half earners in the country? Where we wont have to live in tent cities or be mudered in our sleep because we dont have $3000/month for a mortgage?
I think he actually has, I remember seeing Montrose, CO on a video that I’m almost sure has that theme
$3,000 would be the slums in some of those places. And no tents allowed in those California “gems”-they don’t put up with that crap like they do in San Francisco.
@@p-fx7gxMontrose? Must be an old video.
@@Interdimensionaltravelagent I know it’s not super recent but can’t remember how long ago. Sorry
If you don't live in a huge metropolitan area you can live very inexpensively in essentially any state. You will just have to deal with the available amenities. Plus who needs 3 Walmarts within 15 minutes.
When in Stowe VT stop by The Roastery for one of the best coffee or cherry tea you’ve ever had EVER. The coffee is hand sifted, fresh roasted, and has amazing stories connected to its cultivation and various people involved.
Having a beverage here is an experience.
Corporate coffee does not sift out bugs. They’re ground in. One of many reasons to try The Roastery and shop their beans on line :)
I love small towns
One of the many things I Love about your channel are the visuals. This video did not disappoint. 👍
I appreciate that!
Yeah, they are always so beautiful.
Nice video. Could you please make one about great secret small towns that are actually affordable? Like under $300K? Thanks.
This would be amazing!
Those are the communities you don’t want to promote or advertise as they won’t be small towns anymore or inexpensive. One people know about them lots of people move to them and it ruins the character of the town.
There are many affordable small towns in Wisconsin.
Try Kansas southern Missouri southern Illinois most of Oklahoma and Arkansas except that northwest corridor is getting a little expensive. But the town my parents grew up and has beautiful Victorian homes. They had the most millionaires per capita of anywhere in the United States back in the 20s independence Kansas, but they have some gorgeous homes. Very very inexpensive.
I absolutely love and adore Cloudcroft. Every year that I can, I go up there in the summer to go camping. It is just so gorgeous.
I lived in Alamogordo when I was younger. We spent a lot of time in Cloudcroft.
I was stationed at Holloman AFB and would go to Cloudcroft occasionally. Beautiful place!
I grew up in Alamogordo. Camping in the mountains around Cloudcroft are some of my favorite memories.
Oh and a big thumbs up to Cloudcroft, New Mexico. It's high up in the mountains. Lot's of camping and outdoor activities. Spent a few days visiting there.
So cool!
Born and raised in North Carolina. It's beautiful here 😊
We love Chincoteaque ❤❤❤! Might want to check out Bedford Virginia! Love Blowing Rock!
Thank you for missing my town again.
@@dwightjones3305 😂👏🏻
I so get that 👍🏻
Ocean City, Maryland is a time capsule. Wonderfully maintained and stuck in the 80's. It's my favorite place!
Too much riff-raff there during the summer months. Off season is good.
How about some info on small town gems that are affordable to the average Joe 🤪🤪🤪
Pretty much any small town in a rural area of the Midwest. Tons and tons of them. They are dying, that's why they are so cheap (relatively speaking). Just get out a map of KS/MO/IA/NE/OK and close your eyes and point.
They're no longer affordable due to videos like this 😂
@@Sammy-il1qf Crazy how much power Briggs has! 😜
Check out The MidWest, and Pennsylvania.
Check out Glasford, Illinois, my childhood home.
I love your videos!! There's one correction that made me laugh...at the 2:16 mark of the first video o Mendocino you said they only have a population of 932,000.......that made me laugh🤣🤣🤣🤣
Tim, Vancouver, Washington
Cloudcroft, NM, is definitely one of the secret gems of NM. It's not Taos Tourist Trap, and it's definitely not crime-ridden Albuquerque. Although they can be occasionally wary and aloof, the people are friendly, and helpful. To a comfortable degree, they practice inclusivity. There's a Walmart Superstore about 40-45 minutes away in Alamogordo, and you can also get good preliminary medical care in Alamogordo, too. (If you need serious medical care, El Paso, TX is only 2 hours away.) Yes, it snows, it's cold, at 9,000 feet it may not be the best place for people with breathing problems, but the summers are awesome and terrific! Spend a full week in Cloudcroft, you'll be glad you did. (This is not a promo, I used to live in Alamogordo, and went to Cloudcroft every chance I could.)
I was stationed at Holloman AFB for four years and would occasionally go to Cloudcroft. It's beautiful!
I was glad to see Cloudcroft on this list. NM has a lot of suckage going on between high crime and poverty, but Cloudcroft is beautiful and nice.
Mendocino is one of my favorite places. And it hasn't changed in decades! They have deliberately kept it small and wonderful.
God, I love this channel.
And I love God!
I live here in North Carolina. Blowing Rock is a great place to visit or live. Blowing Rock is named after a Rock where when it snows it snows upward instead of downward. It is really cool to see.
I love that area of NC, it's beautiful.
Have visited a number of times, have friends in Asheville and we do mini road trips. Beautiful country and very sweet people. Always a good time.
Beautiful town, has a great brewery. Nice shops and restaurants.
Briggs, pleas e do more of these small towns, love them.
Grove, Oklahoma is a small town with a beautiful lake. At the moment, it is very affordable but can change in the near future. Located in NE Oklahoma near the Arkansas border.
Also, I lived in Hilham, Tennessee. Beautiful area in Clay County. Affordable
Right by ocean city is the island of assateague that connects to chincoteague island. Both ate great places to go camping and have fun. There's a lot of things for kids to do.
A town with a population of 900,000 is not a small town. It’s a metropolis. I live in a small town where our population is 1400. That’s a small town.
Mendoccino has 932 residents, not 932k. He just misspoke.
You can also tell by the footage he showed of the town where there aren't nearly enough homes for 900k people.
he said the houses were 900k+ not the population
@@shadfletcher6815As the previous commenter said, he mis-spoke. Google the population and you’ll see that it very much meets the criteria of the list
He didn't realize he said it. I caught it. These places are not for the average buyer. Seems anything below a 2k population is usually pretty expensive.
My town is 449 as of 2020.
Always love your videos! Would you consider putting in dangerous weather as a variable to choosing nice places to live? I’ve only been to 2 of the towns in this video . Thank you
Having been stationed a couple years in Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, I spent some time in Carmel. "The people are snobs" is an understatement. I recall finding it not surprising that Carmel has no addresses. When someone invites you over there are long directions about the third house with the white picket fence near the blue one. Additionally you can not cut down a tree with out a hard to get permit. All signs must be small and finding anything with the no addresses, small signs and over grown trees is a challenge. Most of the people who live there are snooty in the extreme.
@@WWeronko Having been through there, that doesn’t surprise me a bit
I would pick Pacific Grove over Carmel to live.
90% of the people who “alive” there don’t--it’s just one of many homes they own. And many are foreign. This was told to me by a real estate agent who has served the area for 20 years. These are the Uber-elites. Great place to visit-very charming. But Pacific Grove and Monterey is where the real, normal, down-to-earth folks live.
Oh how I wish I could afford Carmel or Mendocino! I love both towns. Maybe in my next life.
Fun Fact: Stowe, VT is also the home of the von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall, so great brews are available there.
Mendocino is beautiful, although it's gotten a little too touristy in the last 40 years. Still love it.
Nice list new mexico made a good list which is nice.
Ahhh Marfa TX! I have some great memories of visiting friends in Marfa!! ❤
Good stuff, as always… Montana, land, that sounds fantastic IF you can endure the winters
Stowe, VT: "The hills are alive with the sound of ...snowboards!" LOL the Trapp family lodge is up the road a bit from Stowe. That lodge has pictures of the famous Trapp family from the Sound of Music. Actually rented a farm house up the road from Stowe (Morristown a few miles north of Stowe) when I flew in to my son's graduation at Norwich in Northfield. That whole region has quit a few charming towns. In a previous video you mentioned Burlington. Been there, too, on a different trip.
I feel like any mention of CA needs to call attention to the homeowner’s insurance crisis. I understand that it’s primarily due to fires but it’s not just fire-prone areas that are feeling the heat (“heat”, get it?). Insurance companies are in many cases not renewing policies and some aren’t issuing new ones
Unfortunately, it’s not just California having an insurance crisis. You’ll need to do your research wherever you go.
@@sw6118 Good to know. Thanks 👍🏻
Murder she wrote wow 😳, I remember that tv show with my mom as a kid. You took me way back, great content as always 👏🏾👏🏾✌🏾
I love Berlin, MD - Ocean City is just ok. Love Chincoteague, VA too. Definitely recommend visiting both if you are out in the Virginia Maryland area - they are not far from each other.
For the record, cities with an average price near a million aren't hidden.. They are just too expensive for most to go visit.. clearly well know by the wealthy..
Exactly! I guess the emphasis is on the “gem”.
@@nonamegivenatbirth right? some of these towns have like 600 people and they average a million dollars for a home. How many people does he think can afford to live there? Are we acting like half the country wouldn't move to Stowe Vermont if we could afford to?
Appreciate your view, it’s great! One suggestion for folks who are considering a geographical move would be to use square foot average cost for the property. What your range of cost doesn’t cover or accurately cover is how many beds and bathrooms it is. Education I think is the key to this channel so to all pay attention to sg ft cost.
Good cross section of locations from the lower 48...
Red Lodge is my dream home.
A few to add that is pretty fun is Old Forge, NY, Alexandria Bay, NY and Cooperstown, NY.
Chincoteague is actually a really cool little town
Great job Briggs ❤❤❤😮😮😮😊😊😊
Great list! I believe Carmel-by-the-sea is to differentiate from Carmel valley which is a little more quaint and wine country. Monterey, nearby is my preference because it's not as snooty!
They all look lovely! Thank you for the video!
I just got back from the little town of Blue Ridge Georgia. It’s up near the North Carolina border. It was like visiting Mayberry. The locals were so nice it was as if they all worked for the tourism board. It’s worth checking out. I completely forgot that we were in Georgia , in a really good way. They also have a Sasquatch museum so there’s that.
I remember well "The Shops at Palos Verdes" Lived there in the 70's and again from 2001 - 2015
Carmel. Clint Eastwood 👍👍👍Icon
Would it be possible on your small town series to say what the average rent would be? Not everyone is capable or wants to buy especially young people and retirees.
I enjoy your channel, I can't even imagine the work involved in all the research! I always watch until the end not only because I enjoy the content but I love to hear you tell everyone to "be nice to each other." ❤
Love Cloudcroft! ❤️
Chincoteague sounds like a great spot based off the name alone! Bonus that it’s near Ass-a-teague’s beach! 😂
@@ZBatt1 you mean Ass Fatigue?
It can get a bit boring in most of these small towns even if they are nice to live in.
Blowing Rock is near Boone. The biggest town above 3000’ altitude E of the Mississippi
Vacationed in Chincoteague 2015. Still have the magnet on my car. One of the nicest places we have ever been too.
I have been to Carmelle it’s beautiful but crazy expensive!
I haven't heard you mention a small town with a lot to offer , namely "Hayward , Wi.". They are the finish line for the "American Birkabiner Cross Country Ski Race " as well as the Muskee Festival ( 60' Muskee on display ), other features as well . And no , I don't live nearby , I do think it's a nice little town to live in or for a visit .
Hey Briggs, long time watcher, first time commenter. I find it interesting that you use average home values instead of mean home values. Can you enlighten me? Average values are easily skewed by outliers where mean values are relatively immune to outlier values. In home values it is unlikely to have homes valued so low that they offset the fancy, big, high-dollar homes that exist in almost every community. An average home price would (in general) be an inflated measure of center versus a median. Thanks for what you do. I enjoy it greatly.
Glen
You actually gave me two worth thinking about! Basically as affordable as NWA. One with better transportation as reflected by the numbers on Sperling Best places. You and Sperling got me here. If I make it through another year and I'm still capable? I'm going to want to move on if I can.
@@ameliarhodes5000 NWA? I’m looking around for a new loc
These look beautiful but as I get closer to geezerdom I want to be sure I live close to a good hospital, and I’m not sure any of these places would meet that requirement
That makes me reluctant to leave the SF Bay Area.
@@davidtardio9804 “Geezerdom” 😂. Well done‼️👏🏻👍🏻
@@aprilclover2429 If you leave it then it’s likely that you won’t be able to return. I moved away for a job in 2020 and I’m in that very position - I don’t care for my current city (PDX) but CA, in general, is not an option. Think carefully before leaving - do as much as you can to ensure that the place where you are moving is right for you (and/or have a plan B). Good luck 🙏🏻
@@p-fx7gx, I live in a very expensive area but I will stay here as long as I can. I’m stuck in Paradise. 😂
@@aprilclover2429 I get it. I was there for 25 years
I find it crazy that when I typed in YT search bar “world according to…” and Briggs wasn’t the first one to pop up your literally my go to, I just figured you were everyone else’s too 😂
Mendocino is very nice. Honeymooned there about 30 rears ago.
very good I like
Thanks for liking
The famous author Tom Robbins is from Blowing rock, NC... Fun Fact
I'm from Scotland, have visited Mendocino and Carmel, beautiful places, would like to give a shout out to Rockport, Ma and Red Wing, Mn 🏴🇺🇲
Briggs, you said at the end of Menocino, which is the 1st clip, that it only has 932 thousands residents. That's not a small town, that's a decent size city
I had said 930 to a thousand. I said it really fast. At the beginning I had said it had around 930 in 2022
Back in the early 1970s, Dad was stationed at Holloman, AFB. I remember looking at land in Cloudcroft. I wish that Mom and Dad had bought land there to retire from the Aif Force
went to Carmel by the sea in 2019- i fell in love- wish i could afford a home there
Mendocino is an amazing place. Went 2 years ago chomping to go back
My cousin was stationed at Ft. Ord in the early 70's and we visited Carmel. So was kind of thrown off by the 'by the sea' part. Never heard it called that.
Briggs: “New Vid Guys!”
Small Towners after the vid: “Count your days Briggs”
Interesting, as I get older I find I want a bigger town with buses, trains, art, culture, hospitals, maybe a college, lots of restaurants..
I feel exactly the same however what he said at the beginning is very much true for me - I no longer need the extensive club scene that was important to me in my 20s-30s (ok, even into my 40s), when I wouldn’t even consider a suburb of a major city
I say that cities are for young people and older people. The in-betweens go to the suburbs for the family life.
I grew up in a small town in the South, and every day I wished I was on the one airplane that flew over our house every day, going anywhere. I love Denver. Haven't needed a car for 20 years and in my 70s am starting to be grateful for the hospitals. And the restaurants I can walk to!
Blowing Rock is only a 15-20 drive from Boone, a College town with all the things on your list. Boone can get congested, just like any town pinned in by mountains. Even though the area is in North Carolina, the winters can get quite cold due to the elevation. Banner Elk, a ski town, is also nearby.
@@thesilentowl correct I was responding to the comment in the video stating people want smaller towns as they retire.. for the record I know very precisely where blowing rock is..
Get it?
Got it?
Good!
Once again Coupeville on Whidbey Island, Washington, was ignored. That's probably a good thing. Too many tourists looking to explore the town in the movie "Practical Magic" already.
It is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. As I've pointed out a few times already, people get upset when their chosen "hidden gem" town or area is ignored, when they don't realize that it getting ignored is a GOOD thing. The whole point that makes these places great is that they are not well known and thus small, but if it gets too much recognition and gets "put" back on the map again then you risk losing all of that charm if tons of tourists flood in and you get people looking to move in, thus making it not small anymore and just like any other place that has too many people.
I was waiting for Langley or Coupeville to come up.
Just visited Coupeville and Langley. Loved Coupeville but Langley felt a bit too aloof for me. Whidbey island is a great place to live.
Washington is full. He probably knows that living in Oregon.
I don’t know about Stowe, but Woodstock, VT is a gem.
I knew Stowe was gonna appear on this list. Love it as a tourist, but I'll never afford it, lol.
The one 20 year old photo of Red Lodge... hilarious. Most of those businesses in the photo are gone. And then a drone shot of the lower Beartooth Highway and one more old photo of the Beartooth Pass area. You done us dirty, Briggs. Red Lodge is a great place to live. 50% of our property taxes go to the schools, you don't see that in most places. We have a great downtown with older historic houses and two benches above the town with newer houses around the golf course. We have downhill skiing, nordic skiing, some rock climbing, tons of hiking between town and Beartooth Pass, mountain biking options are getting better, we have a new disc golf course, and tons of restaurants and bars. We have government jobs and many hospitality jobs, you can work for the ski area in one of two dozen capacities, and we're not far from white water rafting and Yellowstone NP.
Loved this tour of hidden gems in small towns! The scenery and local spots look so inviting. Which of these towns do you think would be the best for a weekend getaway?
Fun fact: Redgate in Deer Lodge Montana is a UFO hotspot. Look it up, great stories of encounters
Red Lodge was fun to visit. We saw a pig racing contest! 😂
My grandparents lived near Berlin, MD when I was a kid. We would visit Ocean City every summer. I can assure you, you’re not missing much.
Greetings from the PPRC great video today. Thanks 🇺🇸🍺🍺
Briggs can you do a video on the most free countries in the world and how they are so free.
Pretty sure New Zealand, is ranked Number 1
I was surprised you didn't include Honesdale this time but then I just looked it up and saw that it has a population over twice as high as 2,000.
Hi! Can you check out my hometown, Havre de Grace Maryland and current home Salisbury North Carolina? I would love to see these two town featured in a video one day!
Havre de Grace is a charming small town that sits at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River. Its rich in history (attacked by the British in the War of 1812) and a strong sense of community and hosts various festivals throughout the year, such as the Seafood Festival and First Fridays!
Gotta cut my comment short, but Salisbury NC is on the come up with the rejuvenation of downtown with the new Bell Tower Green Park, the annual Cheerwine Festival (with over 100k people in attendance) and many more!
Please consider checking these two great towns out!
Oh! And Havre de Grace has itself a whole, new commercial now! I'm so proud of HdG ❤
I went through Vermont, NH, and Maine during leaf-peeping season last year. Stowe, VT has absolutely nothing of value to be on this list as far as I'm concerned. Very short main street with almost no shops, minimal activity, and not many people walking around which is very typical for that area. There are literally tons of other small towns in those 3 states that blow Stowe away.
Just don’t tell anyone. I live in Washington state and am moving to a small town on Midcoast Maine to retire.
is that a flood I see overhead at Bayfield Wisconsin?
I love Carmel but it is way out of my price range, all the lots are very small too. The summers are more foggy than clear which I just love as I can't handle much sun.
Yes, Carmel is beautiful! I would love to live there.
Yep, a day in heaven includes Carmel beach, 17 mile drive, Point Lobos State Park, Monterey Bay acquarium. My favorite place on earth.
It really is!
Briggs. Ocean City is nice in the offseason, but it’s a crap hole in the summer. The boardwalk is like Baltimore in summer. It used to be great, very family oriented.
That's a fact. Better off In Ocean City, New Jersey
Good to know!
I concur
Could you do one on cities where the rents are starting at $600
Try central America or Asia. Or live like a hermit up in the hills somewhere. There is no such thing as nice and cheap towns in the US. Where there are lots of poor people there is lots of crime, drugs and bad schools and probably stressed healthcare and infrastructure. They are inexpensive for a reason. People don’t want to live there by choice and it gets worse, not better.
Despite its recent natural disaster Ruidoso NM would be a really good one.
Almost moved to Mendocino but, no healthcare.
Yes, it’s miles and miles away from medical and other services.
Right! Anything that couldn’t be handled in Ft Bragg you’d have to go to Ukiah or Santa Rosa. Can’t imagine going that distance in an emergency.
As a New Mexican, I don’t recommend Cloudcroft, unless you love Texans.
Check out Port Aransas, Texas. It's a great little town.
My family and I took a trip to Stow Vermont summer of ‘94. It was a really really nice place but some of the people we encountered were so unfriendly.
Residents still refer to it as BEAUTIFUL Carmel By The Sea.
Isn't Stowe VT the place where the von Trapp family ended up? No mention of that?
Cloudcroft NM just had a bad forest fire and now flash flooding......
Carmel, CA, is why I have trouble conversing with overtly beautiful women. In the '70s, our family attended a medical convention with our Dad (Nashville, TN, maybe), and I met this gorgeous 14-year-old girl - stop typing; I was 14 or 15, my own damn self - whose family lived in Carmel.
Long story short, I've forgotten her name, but I'll always remember being unable to speak when I saw her the first few times around the convention hotel (it sounds like a song lyric, doesn't it?). I imagine she became a doctor and is looking forward to retirement while I'm considering moving to Berlin, MD, to be closer to my grandkids.
Thanks, Briggs! You nailed all the feels with this one!!
Summer of '42 was filmed in Mendocino. Total Nantucket New England vibe. It is gorgeous.
I watched them film it. The Russians are coming was also filmed there. Now it’s not a secret😢
Also Dying Young a Julia Roberts movie. I was living there when that was being filmed. Mendo was used as a New England village. They even built a temporary house on the headlands in town where the main character in the movie lived.