Ten steps from the big city to a small town

Why families and retirees trade city life for a small town, from safety and caring neighbors to the trade-offs you should know first.

Government price data shows how much further a paycheck goes in rural areas than in five big cities, and what those numbers leave out.

The six kinds of small towns, their pros and cons, and how far from a big city and a good hospital you may want to be.

Rank what each person needs, measure real drive times, ask the locals what you can't find online, and plan a first visit around it all.

How to win over a spouse, the kids or a reluctant teenager, from finding each person's perk to a first visit that feels like a great first date.

In town or on acreage, what to inspect in an older home, which spots to avoid, and why you should see a house by day and by night.

Public or private, what to ask on a tour, why to go to a game, where to look up test results, and why in-state college costs matter.

Keep your job from a town near the city, transfer, work remotely or start a new career, plus ways to make a long drive worth it.

Compare moving options, get bids from every mover, negotiate twice, protect your heirlooms and time the move around school breaks.

Explore before you unpack, keep a family activity binder, volunteer, help the kids find friends and jobs, and stay close to old friends.