In search of a quieter and more affordable place to live, many Americans move to largely rural states

The South Dakota website "Dakota Roots" claims the state is "paradise for anyone who loves the outdoors." (Dakota Roots photo)

Several rural states are seeing population growth as Americans leave cities in search of a different lifestyle that includes lower living costs.

"Nearly 15 million Americans moved across the country in 2025, with many opting for quieter and more affordable places to live, according to data company Stora's U.S. Census analysis, reports Kelly McGreal of Fox News. 

 

Saving money and living closer to nature are big factors for many movers. McGreal writes, "About 88% of movers say they're relocating to save money, while 76% are seeking better access to outdoor lifestyles often found in rural areas."

South Dakota, a state with no income tax, had the largest population gains. "The state recorded the largest net migration increase, with nearly 11,000 more people moving in than leaving," McGreal adds. "Other largely rural states also ranked highly, including Vermont, Nebraska, Mississippi and Alaska."

Home prices are also a driving factor. "Home prices in South Dakota average around $310,000, below the national average," McGreal reports. 

 

Gavin Shields, CEO of Stora, told McGreal, "It's no longer just about the house, but about having financial freedom, the ability to buy your own property that comes at a more affordable price, and a lower cost of living."

'On the Front Porch' discussions return on Aug. 21. Pipa and Orrell begin with big change in northern Appalachia.

Tony Pipa (left) and Brent Orrell return on Aug. 21

After a summer of traveling to rural destinations, Tony Pipa from Reimagine Rural and Brent Orrell of the American Enterprise Institute are back 'on the front porch,' discussing the trials, successes and ongoing challenges of rural communities across the United States.

The new season dives in with Pennsylvania activist and author Tataboline Enos, who discusses her latest book, “Proudly Made: A Story of Reinvention in the Big Woods and Small Towns of the Pennsylvania Wilds.”

Set in northern Appalachia, Enos' memoir recounts the story of a region rich in public lands that was struggling to survive decades of depopulation and business decline. Through hard work, planning and collaboration, the community forged a new and brighter path forward by harnessing the spirit of the land and the people.

Enos will share details of how this community created change.

The group will share a blueprint for other rural communities looking to leverage outdoor recreation opportunities for economic development. Virtual participants can submit questions before the event via email to events@brookings.edu

Register here for the online event on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 3 p.m. E.T.

For more rural inspiration, Pipa's Reimagine Rural podcast returns for its third season beginning on Aug. 19. The podcast's first two stops are in western North Carolina, where residents and businesses are navigating post-Hurricane Helene recovery.

Season 3, Episode 1 focuses on a community working to restore outdoor recreation in Old Fort, N.C. Episode 2 explores how Canton, N.C., is maintaining its identity and resilience after multiple disasters.

New Reimagine Rural podcast episodes are released every three weeks throughout the fall and can be accessed on platforms such as Spotify and Apple.

Rural residents seeking higher degrees often have to move; lawmakers think community colleges may have a solution

Jaylea Perez attends community college but will have to move if she
 wants a 4-year degree. (Photo by Mike Rundle, The Hechinger Report)

Rural communities across the United States face the same problem: There aren't enough higher education opportunities within driving distance. To fill ‘education deserts,’ more state lawmakers want community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees," reports Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report, which covers education.

The U.S. has roughly 13 million adults who "live beyond a reasonable commute from the nearest four-year university," Marcus explains. For now, the lack of educational options is predicted to increase "as private colleges in rural places close, public university campuses merge or shut down and rural universities cut majors and programs."

Although half of the states in the country already allow community colleges to offer some type of bachelor's degree, several of those that don't are considering adding this option. Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Texas are all states with large swaths of rural populations that have legislatures considering plans to allow community colleges to expand.

The proposal Illinois is considering is "backed by that state’s governor, J.B. Pritzker, who has said the move would make it easier and more affordable for residents to get degrees — 'particularly working adults in rural communities,'" Marcus adds. "Three-quarters of community college students in Illinois said they would pursue bachelor’s degrees if they could do it on the same campus, according to a survey released by Pritzker’s office."

The shift to allowing community colleges to confer higher degrees might also help smaller communities address population loss and "brain drain." Marcus reports, "Fewer than 25% of rural Americans hold bachelor’s degrees or higher, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, compared to the national average of 33%," and that gap is widening.

Some states looking to make the change are contending with push-back from their larger colleges. The Illinois proposal "is stalled in committee after several public and private university presidents issued a statement opposing it," Marcus reports. "Negotiations are continuing."

To find out which states have active proposals and which 'deserts' they are trying to address, read the entire story here. 

Rural living gets trendy: It's cheaper, roomier, has great views, and residents can grow their own food

View of Twin Falls in rural Idaho.
(Photo by J. Adkins via Livability)

More and more people are leaving city life to embrace a cheaper and more sustainable option -- rural living.

Being in the heart of the city and in close proximity to anything you could want doesn’t often measure up to a through-the-roof cost-of-living and lack of space.

Brittany Anas wrote for Livability that, “Inflation has prompted many others to rethink their living situations and consider joining the big city exodus. A survey by Ipsos found that 42% of people have either moved or thought about moving since March 2020, and rural areas, small and mid-size cities were their top choices.”

One person who made the move is Wyneta Chambers. In an interview with Roslyn Anderson at WLBT, Chambers said she moved away from the city to grow her own food and live more sustainably, even convincing friends to “embrace country living.”

“The benefits of you growing your own stuff is you know what you put in it,” Chambers told Anderson. “The tariffs will not affect you if you are already growing your own stuff. You don’t have to worry about what’s coming [from] overseas.”

According to Anderson, rural life offers a lot of benefits: it’s more affordable; there's more space; neighbors are more friendly and involved with each other; there are fewer traffic jams (unless you count driving behind a tractor down a one-lane road); and better job markets. It also can be beneficial when going back to school.

In her interview Chambers said, “This was the best move a lot of us have made, and we wouldn't change anything.”

How one N.C. town is straddling 'ground-shaking development' while maintaining its small-town charm

Siler City, N.C. has been a farming community since the late 1880s. (Siler City photo)

A small North Carolina town known for its "Andy Griffith Show" connections works to embrace big business investments without sacrificing its rural charm. It's a balancing act that many Siler City residents want to see succeed, reports Bill Horner III for Business NC.

The town is a "relatively poor, formerly industrial-rich town fighting for traction, stability and identity. . . .With one caveat: Wolfspeed and Toyota are creating ground-shaking development to the tune of about $19 billion," Horner explains. "Wolfspeed has pledged 1,800 jobs at its $5 billion silicon carbide plant. . . . Toyota’s $13.9 billion battery manufacturing plant is expected to create an additional 1,500 jobs."

Location of Siler City, N. C.
(Wikipedia map)

That's a lot of investment and people for the town of roughly 8,000 residents to manage; however, Siler City officials have already begun to assimilate the town's new prospects. Horner adds, "The changes in Siler City aren’t just in new faces and construction. The town's mayor, Donald Matthews, is enthused about momentum and new initiatives, including a visitors center. . . .The town has signed a service agreement for water and sewer. . . . Downtown-wide Wi-Fi is on the horizon."

To help build retail infrastructure, Siler City officials "hired Josh Harris, the former athletic director at the local high school, to become the town chamber’s first executive director. Nearly 120 businesses have since joined," Horner reports.

Harris told Horner, "It’s a great place to live and enjoy your time, and raise your family. What happens in the next 10 years. . . is hard to predict. But the potential is there.” Horner writes, "Harris recognizes [Siler City's] farming roots and the need to preserve agriculture and grow agribusiness. His family’s Harris Homeplace Farm, in nearby Snow Camp, sells grass-fed meats directly to consumers."

Harris sees incoming businesses and residents as a way to make Siler City a "generational community." He told Horner, "I’m the sixth generation on our family farm, and our family’s been here a long time. . . . I needed to get my hands involved in this because I want this to be a great place to live in 30 years — not for me, but for my kids."