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Carson City, located in the northern part of the state, is the capital city of Nevada and is 32 miles from Reno. The city boasts beautiful parks, scenic trails, museums, art venues, and many shops and restaurants. It provides easy access to the great outdoors with Lake Tahoe just 20 miles away.

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Perhaps Nevada’s most famous — and infamous — destination, Las Vegas boasts hotels, casinos, nightlife, and diverse restaurants, so there’s always plenty to do. Winters are mild, but summers are very hot. When you’re tired of hanging out on the strip and feel the need to commune with nature, nearby parks, like Red Rock Canyon, provide access to the great outdoors.

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Home of the Hoover Dam, and established to house its builders, Boulder City provides easy access to outdoor activities on Lake Mead, in Black Canyon, and on the Colorado River. It’s just 26 miles outside of Las Vegas, so it offers quick access to the resources of a much bigger city.

Located in northwestern Nevada, Winnemucca is one of the smaller cities on our list. It offers a spread-out suburban feel, and families can explore local attractions like the Humboldt Museum, get in a round of bowling at Spare Time, or picnic in Vesco Park. Water Canyon Recreation Area offers hiking, biking, and camping. Families may appreciate the city’s above-average schools.

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A bit bigger than Winnemucca, and toward the eastern part of the state, Elko offers a similar suburban feel. Families may enjoy the Ruby Mountain Balloon Festival, heading to the rodeo at the Silver State Stampede, or hiking, horseback riding, and snow sledding in the Humboldt National Forest. (Parents also appreciate the above-average school system.) If you’re looking to buy in the area, consider these tips to qualify for a mortgage.

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Right next door to Las Vegas, Henderson is the second-largest city in Nevada. Parents might appreciate its well-rated school system. The city is also in close proximity to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Outdoor recreation areas like Cornerstone Park, which features a 31-acre lake, nature trails, picnic areas, sports facilities, and a playground, provide spaces for families to gather and play. If you’re thinking of buying a large property for your family, you may want to investigate getting a jumbo mortgage loan, which can help with financing for a pricey house.

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Nevada’s largest city may offer the most opportunities for job, entertainment, and companionship. The biggest employers are the resort companies that run the city’s famous casinos, but the city also has large health-care employers and is a growing tech hub with many startups setting up shop.

Thinking of moving to Vegas? Familiarize yourself with different types of mortgage loans, and visit a home loan help center to get comfortable with mortgage basics.

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Henderson provides easy access to the vibrant nightlife of Las Vegas just next door. There are also plenty of job opportunities, not just in entertainment but in technology, with Google and Amazon opening large data centers in the city. The Las Vegas Raiders have also built their headquarters in town.

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Fernley is about 30 miles east of Reno, a fair commute for young adults who work in Reno but are in search of lower housing prices. Living in Fernley also puts residents within easy reach of Pyramid Lake, the home of the Paiute Tribe, one of America’s most beautiful desert lakes, and a fishing mecca.

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Mesquite is located on the Virgin River on the border of Arizona. It’s home to hotels, casinos, and golf courses. If you’re thinking of retiring here, you’re not alone: 45% of the population is 65 and older.

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Boulder City has a large concentration of retirement communities, and about 30% of the population is 65 or older. Because it is near the shores of Lake Mead, there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, and at just 25 miles from Las Vegas, the city is a stone’s throw away from nightlife and culture.

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Las Vegas is a good option for retirees looking for an active retirement. It boasts easy access to health care and a large number of retirement communities and recreation centers in addition to its famed hotels, casinos, and nightlife.

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Just 34 minutes outside of Reno, Fernley is nestled close to Lake Tahoe, Washoe Lake, and Pyramid Lake where residents can hike, fish, kayak, and mountain bike. There is skiing in the nearby Sierra Nevadas.

Winnemucca is a small town in northwestern Nevada. Residents can explore the Winnemucca sand dunes, hike or mountain bike in the Water Canyon Recreation Center, and hike the Winnemucca Mountain Trail on the city’s namesake peak.

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A city known for hotels shaped like Egyptian pyramids, Roman palaces, and the city of Paris may not be the first to mind when it comes to outdoor recreation. But Las Vegas is close to some of the nation’s premier national parks, including nearby Red Rock Canyon. The city can also serve as a jumping off point to some of the crown jewels of the national parks system, including Zion National Park and Death Valley, each a two-hour drive away, and the Grand Canyon, a four hour drive.

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Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains and located near Kentucky and Tennessee, Big Stone Gap offers those who love to be outdoor an endless variety of things to do, including fishing, mountain biking, and hiking in the nearby national forests. A former coal mining town, Big Stone Gap has a quaint main street with restaurants and shops. If it appeals to you, you might get started with the mortgage preapproval process so that you’ll be well-positioned when you find a house you like.

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Bluefield is a small town located on the border of West Virginia. It’s known as “Virginia’s Tallest Town,” and claims to be the highest town east of Denver, Colorado. It’s a quiet place — there aren’t a lot of restaurants or stores here. However, Bluefield is affordable and offers the benefits of small-town living, such as knowing your neighbors. And when you need your city fix, Roanoke is less than two hours away.

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If you’re a baseball fan, Pulaski could be the home run you’ve been looking for. Historic Calfee Park, the ninth oldest professional in-use Minor League Baseball park in the U.S., is now home to the Pulaski River Turtles, a summer collegiate baseball league. When you’re not at a game, you can hike or fish in one of the many nearby state parks.

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Culpeper is located just 70 miles from Washington, D.C., but it feels like a world away. The town has a long history, and in fact, it changed hands 78 times during the American Civil War. Today, Culpeper offers families a walkable downtown with shops and restaurants and plenty of outdoor spaces and parks for kids to run around. Residents also appreciate the area’s good schools. If you think Culpeper is right for you, you might look into first-time homebuyer programs in Virginia to help make a down payment more affordable.

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This medium-sized city offers families plenty to do, including cultural events, museums, sports, and restaurants. It’s in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, which means residents are surrounded by mountains, and there are miles of trails for walking, biking, and hiking. James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, which gives parents access to college students for babysitters and tutors.

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The most populous city in the state, Virginia Beach offers good schools, plenty of job opportunities, and endless entertainment to keep your kids — and you! — busy. There’s the beach, the boardwalk, state parks, museums, and an aquarium. Your family can hike, bike, kayak, and even paddleboard for fun. Ready to make a move? Check out a home loan help center to understand your mortgage options.

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Virginia Beach has a lot to offer young adults. The beach is a large draw, and the area also has good employment opportunities, a vibrant nightlife, lots of restaurants and shops, plus concerts and other activities. The cost of living in Virginia in this town is a bit below the national average, meaning it could be an affordable option.

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With nearly 100,000 residents, Roanoke is a medium-sized city in the southwestern part of the state. It’s in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so there are plenty of outdoor activities for young adults, like hiking, biking, and camping. There is also a large local brewery scene in Roanoke, along with plenty of restaurants and bars, so young adults can enjoy an active social life here. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you may find programs to assist you with purchasing in Roanoke.

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A vibrant college town (Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond are both located here) Virginia’s capital draws many young adults. There are plentiful employment opportunities, along with trendy restaurants and bars, shops, museums, and festivals. Whitewater rapids run through downtown Richmond, and it’s the only city in the country that can claim this distinction.

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On the border of North Carolina, Danville, with its rolling countryside and a river that runs through it, has the qualities of a small town and the amenities of a city. Cultural attractions include a fine arts museum, a theater company, and a symphony orchestra. Many retirees live here because of the relaxed and affordable lifestyle.

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Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains, retirees can live an active life here, with hiking, boating, and biking. There are also museums and other cultural attractions for them to enjoy in town. For those times they want to go to the city, Roanoke is about 50 miles away.

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Retirees who choose to live in Staunton can enjoy all that Charlottesville has to offer (The city is just 40 minutes away) without paying Charlottesville prices. Staunton itself is known for being friendly. The town has museums, parks, shops, and restaurants, so there’s plenty to do close to home. Retirees on a fixed income may want to explore the different types of mortgage loans to learn their options.

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Hampton has 26 miles of shoreline along the coast of the Chesapeake, including four public beaches. The waterfront city also has historic attractions, museums, restaurants, and shops. It’s conveniently located near a number of other cities, including Newport News.

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Located where the Chesapeake meets the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is a fun, family-friendly beach city, with three miles of boardwalk. The city is filled with restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and an aquarium.

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Norfolk has over seven miles of public beaches along the Chesapeake Bay. The city has a rich history and is home to the largest naval base in the world. Because of this, you’ll see plenty of naval ships and commercial vessels near the port.

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A charming mid-sized city spanning three counties and located just 90 minutes southwest of Minneapolis, Mankato has a lot going for it — in addition to a cost of living about 11% lower than the American average. Outdoorsy adventurers will enjoy excursions to Minneopa Falls and the Mount Kato ski bowl, while historic homes, parks, breweries, and more mean there’s never a shortage of things to do in town.

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The (slightly) smaller twin of Minnesota’s Twin Cities, not to mention the state’s capital, St. Paul beckons for a variety of reasons — not least of which are its affordable housing and bustling downtown. Residents can enjoy easy access to the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Como Park Zoo, as well as diverse neighborhoods speckled with character-filled historic architecture.

Thinking of buying a property? It can be helpful to research which type of mortgage loan will suit you best.

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The largest city in Minnesota, Minneapolis is a metropolis that boasts plenty of job opportunities across fields ranging from health care to finance to manufacturing. Plus, as home to the University of Minnesota, the city provides ample educational opportunities for anyone looking to brush up on their skills or get a new start. The presence of the college also brings plenty of art and culture through the city, and the international airport here serves as a portal to the rest of the world.

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Families may appreciate that Maple Grove has well-regarded public schools, in particular those in the Wayzata Public School District. Beyond that, the suburb is within easy reach of Minneapolis and all its many to-dos, as well as outdoorsy adventures outside the city.

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Another Minneapolis suburb located on the other side of town, Eagan ranks high on our list. Families may be drawn to the solid public schools, as well as the fact that it has plenty of playgrounds and outdoor recreation options suited for children.

With affordable home values, there’s opportunity for would-be homeowners, no jumbo mortgage needed.

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For parents who believe life is better on the lake, Duluth offers ample opportunities to raise a family in an affordable setting. A mid-sized city tucked close to other communities, Duluth has lots of opportunities for kids and adults alike, including educational yet fun attractions like the Great Lakes Aquarium and Glensheen Mansion. The yearly Duluth Airshow will keep little engineers gazing upwards, while job opportunities in health care, education, and hospitality will keep parents gainfully busy.

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All of the action of Minneapolis at a more affordable price tag — and meanwhile, the two towns are only 20 minutes apart, which means young adults who move to St. Paul get double the career and dating opportunities. No wonder the city’s median age is under 35.

If you’re thinking of putting down roots and buying a home, it can be wise to learn the differences between mortgage prequalification and preapproval so you’re ready to bid.

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For young adults seeking the coziness of a mid-sized town, Duluth is a draw for its twin attractions of scenic surroundings and low cost of living. Plus, its median age is currently 37, and many of its households are singletons. What better place to take a date than the Lake Superior waterfront?

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Rochester offers opportunities for single young adults despite its size — and for those in health care, ample career opportunities as the birthplace of the renowned Mayo Clinic. Retail and business are other growing sectors, and residents say they enjoy how close everything is, making for short commutes. Community events (music, art shows) round out Rochester’s appeal

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Not every community has something on offer for both young adults and retirees — but not every community is Rochester. Some 25% of its population is age 55 and over, and since it’s the headquarter city for the Mayo Clinic, quality health care options are never far from home.

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A small, scenic, and historic town tucked along the banks of the Mississippi River, Winona keeps residents of all ages young with the presence of its college community. University students also ensure the town gets more than its fair share of art and culture for a community of its size — and of course, all of this is at a cost of living 14% lower than the national average.

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About a quarter of Albert Lea’s population is aged 65 or over, which makes this small town one that’s full of new friends for seniors. The town’s Senior Center organizes a variety of events and activities that keep older adults moving, and everything’s a little easier with a cost of living 15% lower than the U.S. average.

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If you should ever grow tired of the Mississippi waterfront, take heart: Winona also offers theater, galleries, museums, and more for those in need of indoorsy fun. With the bigger city of Rochester close at hand, this small town truly offers everything one could need.

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Living along Lake Superior is its own reward, and Duluth residents can also appreciate its many indoorsy attractions when the weather grows cold. (Or they can double down and take to the shores of the lake for some ice fishing.)

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Another Mississippi-side small town, Red Wing bears the distinction of being located just an hour outside of the Twin Cities, so its residents can benefit from big-city to-dos, too. Plus a cost of living 9% lower than the national average makes it eminently affordable for many.