Returning to New York City from a trip to Salisbury, Maryland, it is clear why so many younger Americans are so open to giving up the displeasures of a dense metropolis—high crime, high costs, and constant competition for amenities—for affordable, easy-to-navigate small-town environs like this fantastic city nestled within the Chesapeake’s Eastern Shore.

Salisbury is a small city of about 30,000 and growing with a small urban core situated within a larger rural region. It is in close proximity to major urban centers such as Washington, D.C., and Virginia Beach, as well. Natural amenities, like the Atlantic coast and the Chesapeake Bay, are close by and the city is bolstered with a vibrant culture, a quality university, and steady job growth.