41 Most Affordable, Real-Life Places That Feel Like Stars Hollow
The fall season is the perfect time to welcome back cooler weather, your favorite pumpkin-flavored lattes and a rewatch of the hit mother-daughter series “Gilmore Girls.” While viewers can’t actually move to Stars Hollow, the fictional town where Lorelai and Rory reside, a surprising number of places exist with similar vibes throughout the United States. From Washington state to Connecticut, a new MoneyLion study pinpointed 41 affordable spots with high livability scores where you can enjoy year-round small-town charm.
To find these towns, we referred to several sources including Parade and Livability.com. Key factors sourced include each city’s median household income, average home value, average monthly mortgage cost, annual cost of living and livability score out of 100. This study does not include any locations with a total population of over 50,000 or locations where the total cost of living amounts to $100,000 or more annually.
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We scored and weighted the livability index (1.00) and total cost of living (1.00) and summed and sorted the scores to show the best and most affordable places in live in that feel like Stars Hollow.
Key Findings
Oxford, Mississippi is the most affordable, real-life destination that feels like Stars Hollow. This Southern city has the highest livability score of the 41 ranking locations at 88 and modest cost of living at $51,511 annually.
Stars Hollow is based in Connecticut and two Connecticut towns, New Milford and Bethel, received honors in our ranking. New Milford, in fourth place, received a writeup by New England from the editors at Yankee Magazine as the “real-life Stars Hollow” in 2023. Bethel, which ranked at #14, is known for its downtown business district that several online bloggers have favorably compared to beloved Stars Hollow establishments.
19 East Coast cities ranked, the most of any U.S. region (and fitting considering the show’s location!). The cities and ranks are as follows: New Milford, Connecticut (#4); Beacon, New York (#6); Lititz, Pennsylvania (#7); Portsmouth, New Hampshire (#9); East Aurora, New York (#10); Bethel, Connecticut (#14); Cold Spring, New York (#17); Camden, Maine (#18); Mount Dora, Florida (#19); Bar Harbor, Maine (#20); Sylva, North Carolina (#26); Beaufort, South Carolina (#28); Clayton, North Carolina (#30); Peterborough, New Hampshire (#31); Hudson, New York (#33); Rockport, Massachusetts (#34); Sykesville, Maryland (#38); Newnan, Georgia (#39); and Cape May, New Jersey (41).
13 hidden gems that feel like Stars Hollow await in the South. Besides Oxford in first place, they include Mount Dora, Florida (#19); Fredericksburg, Texas (#24); Jonesborough, Tennessee (#25); Sylva, North Carolina (#26); Laurel, Mississippi (#27); Beaufort, South Carolina (#28); Clayton (#30); Eureka Springs, Arkansas (#36); Hot Springs, Arkansas (#37); Sykesville, Maryland (#38); Newnan, Georgia (#39); and Lewisburg, West Virginia (#40).
Here’s where you can find affordable places to live reminiscent of Stars Hollow from coast to coast.
1. Oxford, Mississippi
Median household income: $64,451
Average home value: $424,395
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,455
Total cost of living annually: $51,511
Livability score: 88
2. Stillwater, Minnesota
Median household income: $105,853
Average home value: $463,591
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,681
Total cost of living annually: $56,246
Livability score: 85
3. Oberlin, Ohio
Median household income: $81,308
Average home value: $249,807
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,445
Total cost of living annually: $38,115
Livability score: 83
4. New Milford, Connecticut
Median household income: $83,235
Average home value: $519,294
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,003
Total cost of living annually: $62,670
Livability score: 85
5. Seward, Alaska
Median household income: $85,481
Average home value: $410,391
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,374
Total cost of living annually: $54,810
Livability score: 84
6. Beacon, New York
Median household income: $107,859
Average home value: $578,207
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,344
Total cost of living annually: $69,938
Livability score: 85
7. Lititz, Pennsylvania
Median household income: $88,576
Average home value: $465,691
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,693
Total cost of living annually: $57,631
Livability score: 83
8. Leavenworth, Washington
Median household income: $69,943
Average home value: $705,218
Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,079
Total cost of living annually: $71,530
Livability score: 84
9. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Median household income: $106,219
Average home value: $886,991
Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,130
Total cost of living annually: $85,876
Livability score: 85
10. East Aurora, New York
Median household income: $103,949
Average home value: $455,311
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,633
Total cost of living annually: $57,231
Livability score: 82
11. Galena, Illinois
Median household income: $58,689
Average home value: $320,916
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,856
Total cost of living annually: $46,161
Livability score: 80
12. Whitefish, Montana
Median household income: $73,811
Average home value: $938,207
Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,426
Total cost of living annually: $87,566
Livability score: 82
13. Hood River, Oregon
Median household income: $85,647
Average home value: $732,565
Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,237
Total cost of living annually: $72,970
Livability score: 80
14. Bethel, Connecticut
Median household income: $90,848
Average home value: $592,933
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,429
Total cost of living annually: $71,132
Livability score: 79
15. Cannon Beach, Oregon
Median household income: $69,375
Average home value: $1,001,523
Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,792
Total cost of living annually: $91,886
Livability score: 80
16. Zionsville, Indiana
Median household income: $172,024
Average home value: $715,854
Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,140
Total cost of living annually: $73,897
Livability score: 78
17. Cold Spring, New York
Median household income: $117,292
Average home value: $756,697
Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,376
Total cost of living annually: $86,032
Livability score: 79
18. Camden, Maine
Median household income: $78,788
Average home value: $697,236
Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,033
Total cost of living annually: $71,092
Livability score: 77
19. Mount Dora, Florida
Median household income: $74,537
Average home value: $395,517
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,288
Total cost of living annually: $52,736
Livability score: 75
20. Bar Harbor, Maine
Median household income: $67,701
Average home value: $704,478
Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,074
Total cost of living annually: $73,716
Livability score: 77
21. Custer, South Dakota
Median household income: $78,369
Average home value: $484,478
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,802
Total cost of living annually: $60,020
Livability score: 75
22. Goodland, Kansas
Median household income: $52,258
Average home value: $154,164
Average monthly mortgage cost: $892
Total cost of living annually: $32,541
Livability score: 72
23. Cody, Wyoming
Median household income: $72,570
Average home value: $473,680
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,740
Total cost of living annually: $58,733
Livability score: 74
24. Fredericksburg, Texas
Median household income: $64,534
Average home value: $522,598
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,023
Total cost of living annually: $58,458
Livability score: 73
25. Jonesborough, Tennessee
Median household income: $74,015
Average home value: $345,250
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,997
Total cost of living annually: $46,768
Livability score: 71
26. Sylva, North Carolina
Median household income: $44,086
Average home value: $333,885
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,931
Total cost of living annually: $46,842
Livability score: 71
27. Laurel, Mississippi
Median household income: $47,661
Average home value: $146,436
Average monthly mortgage cost: $847
Total cost of living annually: $32,243
Livability score: 69
28. Beaufort, South Carolina
Median household income: $61,220
Average home value: $416,247
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,407
Total cost of living annually: $51,843
Livability score: 71
29. Palisade, Colorado
Median household income: $80,587
Average home value: $575,074
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,326
Total cost of living annually: $63,215
Livability score: 72
30. Clayton, North Carolina
Median household income: $78,822
Average home value: $366,132
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,118
Total cost of living annually: $48,654
Livability score: 70
31. Peterborough, New Hampshire
Median household income: $85,833
Average home value: $502,589
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,907
Total cost of living annually: $58,988
Livability score: 71
32. Moab, Utah
Median household income: $61,667
Average home value: $556,633
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,219
Total cost of living annually: $61,952
Livability score: 70
33. Hudson, New York
Median household income: $54,139
Average home value: $457,157
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,644
Total cost of living annually: $57,452
Livability score: 69
34. Rockport, Massachusetts
Median household income: $86,250
Average home value: $950,974
Average monthly mortgage cost: $5,500
Total cost of living annually: $91,526
Livability score: 72
35. Winters, California
Median household income: $122,951
Average home value: $613,086
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,546
Total cost of living annually: $70,065
Livability score: 69
36. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Median household income: $38,425
Average home value: $323,893
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,873
Total cost of living annually: $43,810
Livability score: 66
37. Hot Springs, Arkansas
Median household income: $47,760
Average home value: $243,783
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,410
Total cost of living annually: $39,011
Livability score: 64
38. Sykesville, Maryland
Median household income: $139,556
Average home value: $574,093
Average monthly mortgage cost: $3,320
Total cost of living annually: $64,565
Livability score: 66
39. Newnan, Georgia
Median household income: $82,292
Average home value: $370,515
Average monthly mortgage cost: $2,143
Total cost of living annually: $51,587
Livability score: 63
40. Lewisburg, West Virginia
Median household income: $49,560
Average home value: $307,197
Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,777
Total cost of living annually: $45,177
Livability score: 60
41. Cape May, New Jersey
Median household income: $62,576
Average home value: $725,498
Average monthly mortgage cost: $4,196
Total cost of living annually: $75,146
Livability score: 63
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed U.S. cities that feel like Stars Hollow to find the best and most affordable places to live. First, MoneyLion used sources including Parade.com, PlannedWanderings.com, Livability.com, HarborsandHavens.com, TheHappinessFxn.com, KeepCalmandChiffon.com, OnlyinyourState.com, JasmineAlley.com, Hippie-inheels.com and Yahoo.com to find these cities. For each city several factors were sourced including total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and median household income all sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 5-Year ACS. Cities with a total population of over 50,000 were removed from this study. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for all households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units, the average expenditure costs were calculated for each state. The average single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for July 2026. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.66%, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each location. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for necessities was calculated. Locations with a total cost of living for necessities of $100,000 or more were removed since they are not considered affordable for this study. The livability was sourced from Areavibes.com for each location. The livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00, the total cost of living for necessities was scored and weighted at 1.00. The scores were summed and sorted to show the best and most affordable places to live that feel like Stars Hollow. All data is up to date as of August 31, 2026.
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