Athens, Georgia

Although Georgia is predominantly a conservative state, the existence of The University of Georgia has helped by providing a substantial balance in cultural attitudes; plus it brings in all the life a place needs. The cost of living is below the national average and average houses are around $140,000. The weather is temperate. The crime rate is about the national average and has actually shown signs of improvement over the last few years.

Con: The downtown may seem overwhelming due to the heavy population of the city.