Is a small town calling your name? You are not alone. Since the pandemic, more and more people are moving away from large cities and embracing an appealing pace of life in smaller towns.
According to a recent report, some of the largest cities in the U.S. have reported large numbers of people moving away for more rural portions of the country in 2020. Being cooped up in a small apartment for months on end due to the enduring pandemic has proved to be too tiresome for many, and those who haven’t been able to escape urban sprawl this year are at times undoubtedly yearning for greener pastures and wide-open spaces. A new Gallup survey shows how the desire to live in a rural or small-town setting has risen substantially over the past two years.
In a recent survey from Gallup, nearly half of all U.S. adults said they’d prefer to live in a small town or rural area in 2020. That’s a nine percentage-point increase from 2018, when just 39 percent of respondents said the same. White men over the age of 55 were among the most likely to prefer rural, small-town settings, however sizeable increases were observed in almost every measured demographic. Those between the ages of 18 and 34 had a 10 percentage-point increase over the last two years, with 39 percent preferring rural/small-town life. The largest broad demographic increase came in non-white adults, where a 12 percentage-point increase over the last two years has 39 percent who said they’d prefer more spacious parts of the country.
There are many benefits to small-town life. Neighborhoods.com recently shared their list of reasons that moving to a small town can be a great choice. Among them:
A True Community
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, right? The most appealing characteristic of small-town life is the feature embedded in its definition—a small population. With fewer people often comes a closeness that simply isn’t possible in the anonymity of a larger city. When neighbors know one another and recognize each other on the street, a spirit of cooperation takes hold, and residents work together. There’s nothing else like it.
Low Traffic and Car Insurance Bills
It’s not difficult to imagine that one massive benefit of living in a single-stoplight town is the pronounced absence of traffic. While big-city residents have to do mental math before traveling across town or going to work, small-town folks don’t bat an eye before running out the door.
In addition to smoother commutes, State Farm notes that urban drivers pay more for car insurance than those in small towns due to generally lower rates of vandalism, theft, and collisions in less densely populated areas.
Lower Cost of Living
Now that we’ve established savings on as granular a level as insurance rates, it’s time to acknowledge one of the biggest advantages of small-town living—the lower cost of living. One Business Insider article reports that the biggest factor in the cost of living shift from urban to small-town life is housing.
The article makes the eye-popping comparison of two New York towns—New York City where the average home price is reported in the mid $600s and Woodstock, NY, where the median price sits in the high $300s. In addition, small-town homeowners are more likely to see their property taxes decrease significantly. While property taxes do vary from town to town, the general trend seems to suggest that homeowners are highly likely to save here as well.
The Small Business Scene
One of the best aspects of living in a small town can be the colorful local business scene that can’t be found anywhere else. Not only can shopping local provide unique finds and quality services, but it also means supporting your neighbors directly and giving back to your community. The lack of fierce competition for space and resources also makes small towns great for starting up your own business and putting down roots in your community.
The aforementioned Business Insider article also notes that business owners in small towns may have a higher profit margin stating, “The average revenue per business in America’s biggest cities is $1.4 million, but the number is tripled to $4 million in smaller cities and towns.” Combine this metric with the lower cost of living, and small towns seem to all but promise an increased quality of life for the residents who call them home.
Family Friendliness
Because small towns often provide a tight-knit community where residents look out for one another, they’re also ideal for raising a family. Smaller populations naturally may lead to smaller class sizes and educational environments where children can be in class with their neighbors, cementing social bonds that are key to development.
Proximity to Nature
While some small towns exist as tight-knit communities in the shadow of more densely populated areas, many are characterized by their rural landscape and sometimes even remote location. This means that the great outdoors are often right in your own backyard.
Are you ready to make a move? Hutchinson has several exciting opportunities available in small towns and suburbs.
Contact Brenda Helps at brenda@hutchinsonconsulting.com for the following positions:
- Front Office Manager for high-end resort near Lake Placid, NY ($70K + bonus)
- Accountant/Bookkeeper for high-end resort near Lake Placid, NY ($50K)
- Catering Sales Manager for high-end resort near Lake Placid, NY ($65K)
- Chef de Cuisine for luxury golf resort in Bandon, OR (70K + bonus)
- Director of Convention Services for branded full-service hotel in Kalamazoo, MI ($85K+ bonus)
- Senior Accountant for semi-pro sports complex in Kalamazoo, MI ($70K + bonus)
- HR Director for high-end restaurant company in eastern Virginia ($150K)
- General Manager for small Inn in coastal Northern California ($175K + housing)
Contact Julie Keller at jkeller@hutchinsonconsulting.com for the following positions:
- F&B Director for a modern membership club in Ohio ($85k base plus commission)
- Functional/Integrative Medicine-trained MD ($250k) for thriving practice in St. Louis
- Chef de Cuisine for a luxury resort in Santa Ynez, CA ($85k base plus bonus)
We are seeking several talented individuals for a year-round luxury resort in Montana featuring ski-in/ski-out access to untouched powder and an unparalleled alpine playground for skiers and snowboarders! Affordable housing will be available. Contact Suzy Crockett at suzy@hutchinsonconsulting.com for the following positions:
- Assistant Spa Director $65k – $70k
- Director of Banquets $90k
- Assistant Director of People $85k – $100K
- Assistant Restaurant Manager $60 – $65k
- Assistant Director of Catering & Conference $70k – $75K
- Assistant Director of Banquets $70k – $75k
- Sous Chef $65k – $70k
- People and Culture Manager $65k – $70k
Contact Julie Ambrosini at julie@hutchinsonconsulting.com for the following positions:
- Director of People and Culture, Missoula, Montana $120k
- Assistant Director of People & Culture – Park City, Utah $90k-$110k
- Assistant Director of Spa – Park City, Utah – $80k-$90k
Contact Sheri Claflin at sheri@hutchinsonconsulting.com for the following postions:
- Director of Engineering for luxury boutique resort and spa (Eastern US) (140-150K+ bonus)
- F&B Operations Manager for waterfront boutique hotel (Eastern US). (80-90K + bonus)
- Executive Housekeeper for boutique resort within a quiet oceanfront town in CA. (80-90K + bonus)
- Director of Catering for destination mountain resort property (110-120K + bonus)
- Assistant Director of Finance for luxury waterfront resort (Eastern US) (90-100K + bonus)
- Executive Sous Chef for iconic Forbes rated boutique resort in CA. (85-100K + bonus)
- Chef De Cuisine for five-star property in a quaint Southern city. (85-95K + bonus)
