15 Beautiful Main Streets in America You Will Want to Move To

Lauren Monitz
15 Beautiful Main Streets in America You Will Want to Move To

At the heart of every small town, there’s a Main Street. In fact, the U.S. has more than 7,600 roads with that title, according to the National League of Cities.

Many are commercial hubs where restaurants and shops comingle — and some you can even live on. And if you do reside on Main Street, you may very well feel like the mayor of the town. It’s definitely a statement address. Take a look at the most beautiful Main Street American cities that make for an ideal place to buy a vacation (or permanent) home.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $636,873

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 11

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $333,700

Bob Seger sang about the long, lonely nights on Main Street, Ann Arbor, recalling a simpler time that was distinctly Midwestern. A busy hub for University of Michigan students, it’s home to art galleries, music venues, boutiques and restaurants and bars aplenty.

Pay a visit to the Ark, which has live music over 300 nights a year, and the Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room, which has been a staple of the community for over 30 years.

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Aspen, Colorado

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $4.92 million

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 9

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): N/A

Anywhere in Aspen will be a pricey ZIP code, and Main Street homes are certainly no exception. Main Street is where a majority of the luxury hotels reside, so pop into Hotel Jerome to feel fancy for a minute. Pause for a photo in front of the gazebo at Paepcke Park before moseying down to the highly acclaimed Matsuhisa for dinner.

Bozeman, Montana

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $469,317

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 6

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $436,800

The gateway to Yellowstone National Park, Bozeman is a cute mountain town with a thriving Main Street. You can see a show at the historic Ellen Theatre, get a spot of culture at the Gallatin History Museum or catch a performance at the Intermountain Opera. The street is also home to the Sweet Pea Festival, a music, food and art event that takes place every summer.

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Covington, Kentucky

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $307,910

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 10

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $108,900

Street art infuses the area with character, which you can see by following a self-guided mural map. You’ll also want to pay a visit to the mixed-use MainStrasse Village, which has homes, retail stores, restaurants, parks and one of Covington’s most iconic monuments, the Clock Tower.

One of Main Street America’s 2017 recipients for the Great American Main Street Award, Main Street, Covington was also recognized for its revitalized downtown district.

Dahlonega, Georgia

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $557,000

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 2

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $207,600

If you’re a fan of the country song “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,” you’ll be happy to know it’s not hard to find your own watering hole in this sleepy southern town. The downtown square is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is known for its Civil War and gold rush history, which you can learn about at the Dahlonega Gold Museum.

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Dallas

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $475,098

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 25

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $214,900

One of the bigger cities on this list, Main Street, Dallas is a thriving urban area. The centerpiece is Main Street Garden, which is a green reprieve comprised of water installations, digital art and performance venues encircled by the city’s most prominent architectural elements.

Eureka, Arkansas

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $240,225

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 4

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $177,900

The entire downtown core of Eureka Springs is on the National Register of Historic Places, which you can learn about at the Eureka Springs Historical Museum. You can also ride the trolley around the downtown loop to explore.

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Galena, Illinois

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $312,167

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 9

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $162,200

Nicknamed “Helluva Half Mile,” Galena has more than 125 shops and restaurants on Main Street. There are art museums, old-fashioned ice cream parlors, candy stores and even a magic theater. Extra-special during the holidays, be sure to visit during Christmas, Mardi Gras or Halloween for decorative window displays and parades.

Georgetown, Texas

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $379,772

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 7

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $299,600

The first city in Texas to be awarded the Great American Main Street Award, Georgetown’s Victorian charm is a sense of Lone Star pride. Centered on the Williamson County Courthouse, there’s everything from the Grape Creek Vineyards to antique malls in the nine-block radius.

Indianapolis

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $304,273

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 11

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $142,900

Main Street, Indianapolis is a bit different in that it was created to revitalize the local Motor Speedway. What they call “a town within a city,” the updated drag boasts Main Street restaurants and bars that are all within walking distance to the races. Local favorites include Barbecue and Bourbon, Foyt Wine Vault, Daredevil Brewing Co. and the 1911 Grill, which actually overlooks the kart-racing track.

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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $453,000

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 2

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $149,700

Main Street, Myrtle Beach is a major entertainment hub for the waterfront town. Annual events such as Mayfest on Main regularly get the locals celebrating. Plans for a new mixed-development called Town Center on Main are currently underway, which will feature both homes and retail.

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Park City, Utah

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $1.69 million

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 4

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $790,400

This particular Main Street has been Park City’s premier shopping district since the 1800s when merchants pandered to town miners. Today, over 70 shops offer everything from designer wear to souvenirs. Don’t miss Park Silly Sunday, the town’s open-air farmers market, which runs weekly throughout the summer.

Pella, Iowa

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $332,400

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 10

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $204,900

Known for its Dutch heritage, Main Street, Pella has a working grain windmill as a focal point, and that’s exactly what sets it apart. Called Molengracht, the replica square even features an authentic canal just like you’d find in the Netherlands. Peruse the old-school cinema, bakeries and meat markets as you’re magically transported across the pond. Tulip season is an especially festive time to visit.

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Walla Walla, Washington

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $186,054

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 11

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $247,000

Located in Washington’s picturesque wine region, Main Street, Walla Walla is a tree-lined thoroughfare with cafes, bookstores, antique shops and tasting rooms. There are several wineries right on Main Street, so you won’t have to walk very far if you’re looking to indulge.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Average cost of property around Main Street: $394,350

  • Number of listings on or around Main Street: 4

  • Average home value in the city (all homes): $133,100

Winston Salem’s downtown is broken up into a few different districts, making Main Street home to City Hall and the Federal Building. Just a block from the popular arts area, you’ll find galleries, restaurants and even the art park all right at your fingertips.

How Much It Really Costs to Live on Main Street

Living on Main Street often comes with the perks of having restaurants, shopping, nightlife and other entertainment options and amenities right outside your door — but living in these ultra-desirable areas tends to come with a hefty price tag. In many of the cities analyzed in this study, the cost to live near Main Street is roughly double the cost to live elsewhere in the city.

But the actual cost varies greatly from place to place. The most affordable Main Street in this study is in Walla Walla, Washington, where the average cost of a Main Street property is $186,054; the most expensive is in Aspen, Colorado, where Main Street properties cost an average of $4.92 million.

If you don’t need to be by a Main Street to retire happy, consider the best small towns in America for your retirement.

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Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.

Listing and sales prices were sourced from Zillow’s February 2019 data. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the photos might not reflect the streets listed in this article.

 

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Beautiful Main Streets in America You Will Want to Move To