This Missouri destination is one of America’s best small towns, Travel + Leisure says
With three lakes, the Ozark Mountains and many lively shows, Branson is a popular tourist destination. But what if you want to extend your southern Missouri vacation indefinitely? Travel + Leisure Magazine says go for it.
The Ozark town was named one of the top 12 small towns to live in the U.S, in an article published Monday. The locales, with fewer than 25,000 residents, were chosen based on several desirable factors, including attractions, natural beauty and affordability.
Travel + Leisure Magazine touted Branson’s natural beauty and affordable housing. The average home value in Branson is $262,186, which is $100,000 less than the national average, according to Zillow.
April Redford, a local real estate agent quoted in the article, said that Branson’s real estate market has slowed down after rapid growth during the pandemic.
Redford said, “Branson is perfect because whether you want tons of action and activity, or you just want to sit in the shade by the creek and skip rocks, there’s something for everyone.”
Located near the Missouri-Arkansas border, the town of 13,000 residents has water activities on Table Rock, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals, in addition to indoor attractions like Dolly Parton’s Stampede and the Titanic Museum.
Branson has been recognized on a number of national lists this year.
USA Today readers named Silver Dollar City the best theme park in the country for the second year in a row, and two Branson restaurants appeared on a ranking of the best-rated low-cost restaurants.
After a chaotic start in 2022, the new Thunder Ridge Nature Arena is back open for concerts. The Bass Pro Shops-owned music arena, located 15 minutes outside of Branson, has visits by Imagine Dragons and Pitbull on the schedule.
Here are the 12 best small towns to live in the United States, according to Travel + Leisure.
Incline Village, Nevada
Moab, Utah
North Potomac, Maryland
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Taos, New Mexico
Beaufort, South Carolina
Rutland, Vermont
Berry Hill, Tennessee
Williamsburg, Virginia
Davenport, Florida
Whitefish, Montana
This story was originally published August 17, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
