The Expert Podcast

Today, we're going to look at a list of 15 hidden gems of cities or towns in the U.S. where people might not have heard about. These are great places to live. These towns are relatively small and spread across the country—coastal towns, mountain towns—that you may not have heard of. They're close to maybe larger metropolis areas, but they’re hidden gems for people looking for unique places to live. This list is in no particular order, as it’s not best to worst, but each one has its own appeal to buyers.

First, we’re going to look at Suches, Georgia. Suches, Georgia is in the North Georgia Mountains, about an hour and a half or maybe two hours from Atlanta, depending on how you drive. It’s probably an hour or so from the large population areas of Alpharetta or Roswell. It’s a remote town with little around it. The biggest business in Suches is a convenience store and a gas station. There’s also a resort that opens and closes now and then, where people stay or get together on weekends, especially motorcycle enthusiasts. There are a lot of mountain roads where people ride street bikes, and some back roads where they ride dual-sport and dirt bikes on national forest roads. Suches is a place where the Appalachian Trail goes through, known as the Valley of the Clouds, or the Valley in the Sky. It’s a valley at a high altitude with a little lake, great for trout fishing, mountain biking, and white-water rafting. It’s a great outdoor town. There’s an adjacent town, Dahlonega, Georgia, just 15 to 20 minutes away, where you’ll find a nice town square with good restaurants and a small bluegrass-type music venue. Dahlonega also has many parades and events. Suches is a hidden gem in the North Georgia woods.

Next, we move to Higganham, Connecticut. Higganham is in the southern part of the state, not on the shoreline, but it’s only about 10-15 minutes away from the Connecticut shoreline, Long Island Sound. It’s a nice older, historic New England town with a big white church, just like most New England towns. It’s very rural and sparsely populated, with houses spread out from one another. Higganham is located on the Connecticut River, where they have a Shad Derby every year where they catch shad. There are a couple of nice restaurants in town, including a pizza place, a sushi spot, and a German restaurant. It’s a small town, but it’s close to larger towns. You can get to Middletown in about 10 minutes and Hartford, the state capital, in about 30 minutes. Higganham is a great place for families and for those who love that classic New England vibe.

Moving south, we look at Cedar Key, Florida. Cedar Key is on the west coast of Florida, not in the Florida Keys, despite the word "key" in its name. It’s at the point where the west coast bends around from the Gulf Coast into the Panhandle. Cedar Key is an island, but you can drive onto it via a causeway and a connector road. The town is small with a small airport, which might have the shortest runway in Florida. It’s a great place for ocean fishing, and it has a thriving oyster industry. There are a lot of tourist attractions, but because it’s off the beaten path, not many tourists visit. The climate is great since it’s not too far south where it gets boiling hot, and you can enjoy the ocean breezes without the bitter cold winters. Cedar Key is a great family town.

Staying in Florida, next we look at Live Oak, Florida. Live Oak is located about an hour to the east of Cedar Key, in central Florida. The interesting thing about Live Oak is that it’s right where two major highways intersect—Florida’s Turnpike and I-4. These highways connect you to a lot of places, and they both go right through Live Oak. It’s near the Suwannee River, and you’ll find large acreage properties there, with many properties being five to ten acres, which are very affordable. The houses tend to be older and smaller, and there’s a lot of agriculture in the area. People raise livestock such as horses and cows. You’ll also find that southern charm with Spanish moss hanging from trees. One unique feature of Live Oak is its drive-through liquor store—just pull up, tell them what you want, and drive off without leaving your car. Live Oak is close to Orlando if you need to access a larger city.

Next on the list is Gunter, Texas. Gunter is in the northern Dallas suburbs, about an hour and a half to two hours from Dallas itself. Most of the development of Dallas has moved north to places like Plano, Frisco, and Prosper. You can get to Prosper in less than 40 minutes from Gunter. It’s a rural area with large pieces of land, and development hasn’t quite reached there yet. However, some developers have purchased large tracts of land to build subdivisions. If you’re lucky enough to find an older home in the area, you could be on the leading edge of development. The Dallas North Tollway, a major road that runs from Dallas all the way north to Prosper, will eventually extend to Gunter, bringing more development. Texas Instruments, a major chip manufacturer, is building a new $30 billion chip factory in nearby Sherman, so there’s a lot of potential growth in the area. Gunter is a nice town to consider if you want to get ahead of the curve.

Next, we head to Port O'Connor, Texas. Port O'Connor is on the Texas shoreline, on the Gulf of Mexico, a little west of Houston. It’s a small, quiet town, not near the chaos of Houston or any other large cities. You can drive west to South Padre Island in about an hour, but Port O'Connor itself has a lot of appeal. It’s a great place for a fishing community, with plenty of docks and boating access. While it is a small town, there’s a good amount of fishing industry, and tourism is a little bit lower than other coastal towns. Real estate here is affordable compared to other parts of Texas, and you’re close to the coast, with beaches and waterfront access. Port O'Connor is an underrated and often under-the-radar town.

Next, let’s look at Three Forks, Montana. In Montana, the hot areas are places like Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley. If you want to be close to Bozeman but without the hefty price tag, check out Three Forks. It’s a little farther west, and though it’s about an hour’s drive from Bozeman, it’s still within the Gallatin County, where Bozeman is. You can access Montana’s vibe without having to spend a lot of money. Three Forks is also in a good location for people who work remotely. It’s close to Yellowstone and offers great outdoor activities in a very affordable town. Three Forks is a great option if you want to be in Montana without spending big money.

Joseph, Oregon, is next. Joseph is located in the northeast corner of Oregon, in an area with beautiful, Swiss Alps-like mountains and lakes. Getting to Joseph can be a long drive, as it’s several hours from Portland. Once you’re in Joseph, you’re in a secluded area. The one road into Joseph comes from the Columbia River Valley, and there’s no way out east because of a large canyon. The area is remote, but it’s a great place for outdoor enthusiasts who love skiing, backpacking, and mountain biking. Joseph and its twin town, Enterprise, offer affordable properties and stunning natural beauty. If you want to be truly remote, this is a great hidden gem.

Custer, South Dakota, is next on the list. Custer is located in the Black Hills, near Mount Rushmore. It’s a little more secluded than some of the bigger towns in the area, so you won’t find much tourism here. The real estate is a little pricier than other places on this list, but it offers the opportunity to live in the mountains with some of the economic advantages South Dakota offers, such as no state income tax and low cost of living. If you want to be in the Black Hills without the hustle and bustle, Custer is a good option.

Next, we move to Pauly's Island, South Carolina. Pauly’s Island is near Myrtle Beach, a little farther south, and offers a more laid-back atmosphere. The area has that southern charm with Spanish moss hanging from the trees. It’s right on the coast, so you get great fishing and seafood, and there are plenty of shrimp and fishing boats going out every day. The town is less crowded than Myrtle Beach, and you can enjoy golf at top-rated courses in the area. It’s a great location for anyone who loves a coastal lifestyle with a laid-back vibe.

Next on the list is Parker, Arizona. Parker is on the Colorado River and is surrounded by desert. However, because it’s on the river, it offers great boating opportunities. There are homes on canals where you can dock your boat right in your backyard. It’s near Lake Havasu, so if you’re into the recreational lifestyle there, it’s not far away. Parker is a small, overlooked town where you can enjoy the desert lifestyle with the benefit of a river, all without paying oceanfront property prices.

Finally, we head to Slaty Fork, West Virginia. West Virginia may not sound appealing at first, but Slaty Fork is a hidden gem. The area has scenic mountains and great outdoor activities. You’ll find good fishing, hiking, and skiing, and if you like being surrounded by nature, Slaty Fork offers a more peaceful and remote lifestyle, away from the more commercialized areas.