Love Fall? This May Be The Best Region For You To Live

Colorful leaves might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fall. It's the season when pumpkin patches and corn mazes seem to mysteriously appear overnight, and wagons piled with hay bales transport the young at heart across the countryside. People drive for miles to see the reds, oranges, and yellows that portend the onset of winter, clogging scenic routes like Skyline Drive in Virginia and the Columbia River Highway in Oregon. But would you choose where to live just because the area has beautiful fall colors? Affordable housing, job opportunities, and good schools combined with an active, interesting cultural scene and access to your favorite activities make a place desirable year round. No single region hits the mark in all categories, but while New England might be the first place that comes to mind when you think of fall color, it may surprise you that the upper Midwest might be the place to be if you love fall. Get ready to start decorating your house for Halloween.

Quality of life, home value compared to income, the job market, and a region's desirability are the criteria frequently used to define the "best places to live." A 2022 International Economic Review study used hard data to determine that Minnesota is one of the two states with the highest living standards. The upper Midwest is heavily forested and has spectacular fall color. Small towns and cities connected by scenic byways celebrate the treasured season between summer and winter. A lively culture that stretches from the history of the Woodlands and Plains Indians to the contemporary art at the Walker Art Center guarantees a stimulating lifestyle for residents. Choosing the best place to live in Minnesota or the upper Midwest may be difficult because of its diversity. 

If taking a long walk in the woods is your ideal way to practice the fine art of leaf peeping, the upper Midwest has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail stretches from Green Bay almost to Minneapolis, while about 140 miles of the North Country Trail traverses Wisconsin. If you'd prefer a scenic drive, almost any back road will provide chances to experience autumn glory, stops at u-pick apple orchards, quaint inns, and eateries serving seasonal fare. The annual Warrens Cranberry Festival is a fall destination on Wisconsin's Cranberry Highway, and the Meander Art Crawl, an annual October event, combines fall color with stops at art studios in the Upper Minnesota River Valley.

Choosing to move somewhere because you love the fall season involves more than knowing when the leaves change. If you prefer city life, the cost of living in Minneapolis is lower than the national average, a conclusion determined by comparing housing, transportation, entertainment, healthcare, and food costs. Summer temperatures are in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit, and windy fall days shepherd residents into winter, where cold weather enthusiasts will find opportunities for both downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, and snowmobiling. Just make sure you prep your home for cold weather — after the colors of autumn fade, you'll be faced with several months of particularly chilly winter temperatures.