Why Small Town Living Might Be the Best Investment

By Lorri Matthewson

There is a moment that happens—usually somewhere between being stuck behind traffic during a 40-minute commute, and a line up for parking, when people start to wonder if life is supposed to feel like this, or if there could be a calmer, more authentic way to live. At least, that is what I am told. I wouldn’t know. I have never lived in the city where I had to commute to work without a bus.

 I love to visit the city, love a concert, or a show, and the great food, but after a few days I want to be back at my desk, in my office, in my house, with my big snorty dog, our ancient cat, and my mister.

In my giant 125-year-old house, where I still work 12 hour days, intersected with breaks for cooking, cleaning and making art, life is peaceful. My life is only possible because I live in an evolving community, a little town in southwest Manitoba. Let me explain.

I did try city living early on, attracted by all the things there was to do, only to find I didn’t have the time or money, or head space to “do” much of any of them. My world was getting up, getting ready, going to work, coming home, making  food, cleaning up…(sometimes) going to bed. Weekends, or days off were catching up because during the workday, I couldn’t get the errands done, because I was either at work, on my way to work, or on my way home. Once my first daughter was born, time got even tighter.   

And for a long time, despite the evidence around me, I believed that living in a small town meant I wasn’t doing it right. I used to believe that moving to the city was an evolutionary step, a rite of passage. Even when I moved back, due to a divorce, and a deep need for family and friend support, it was supposed to be temporary—a year, or two at most.

But, living in a small town as an adult is a lot different than living in a small town as an 18-year-old, particularly an 18-year-old like me, born with gypsy feet. Here is what I learned when I moved back…

1. You get your time back—and your life back with it.

As a single mom, I found moving back to a little town brought with it a comfort and support that made it possible for me to work and support my wee family. The days were very full, and impossible without the support of family and friends. I had to commute to the next town for work, but the parking was free, and the childcare was cheap. It wasn’t perfect, but it was possible. I got a big old house, and a big old yard. And peace. I got peace. Had I stayed in the city, my daughter would have been raised by strangers, my ability to earn insufficient to support anything but the most basic lifestyle, and my world shrunk to subsistence living, with reliance on foodbanks, and subsidized apartments. I didn’t want to do that. So, I moved back to a little town.

Life went on, and now I find myself in a different big old house in a different province, in a different town! Same comfort though!

Today most days, my commute is down the stairs from the bedroom to the kitchen to start the coffee, tend to the pets, and write in my journal, and then walk 20 feet to my office. Even if I go to my office downtown, (Jenn and Anna run the offices) it is a 10-minute walk, or a 3-minute drive. And that schedule leaves an extra hour and a half every day.

2. You can find housing that doesn’t break you.  

Small towns offer space. Space to breathe, space to grow, space to live. Just this week, I found 3 liveable, fixer uppers with big space yards in small towns near us, that start at $65,000.00. No kidding.

No way we could afford a house and yard the size of what we enjoy in our small town for what we paid.  We could perhaps afford a condo with half the square footage. Being able to wear my housecoat out on the veranda in the morning and listening to the birds 6 months out of the year, brings about that peaceful easy feeling the Eagles used to sing about. You can have a yard, a garden, a workshop, or in our case, a 2200 square foot home with more outside living space than in. It’s not about cheaper; it is about the possible amenities you can add to your day-to-day living.

3. Community is a way of life.

And before you come at me with all the negatives, here is a tip…if you don’t put your private life out on the socials, engage in drama, and are generally a decent human, most people are decent back, no matter the size of the town. People do notice when you show up, and they notice when you don’t. You are not anonymous; you are part of something.  There are neighbors who help without being asked. Local businesses learn about you, there are events to attend, if not in ‘your’ town, in one over, there is as much to do as you want to do. Over time there is a sense of belonging. I know that isn’t the case for some and I know this kind of close isn’t for everyone. But we find we can be alone as much as we like, or social as much as we like. Community is just built into the rhythm of the place.

4. Opportunity is everywhere—if you want it.

Small towns are full of gaps waiting to be filled. There are opportunities to:

• Start a business

• Volunteer

• Solve a problem

If you want to make a difference you can step in and see the impact of your work almost immediately.

5. A slower pace is possible, but it can also be as busy as you want it to be

This is where people really get it wrong. Living deliberately means you can fill your days as full as you like. We have the frantic people here too, who hit the ground running and tip over at midnight to start again at 4:30 am. But if you choose to, you can see, as I did when I moved back to small towns, that I was able to gain things back into my life that are important to me. Things like quiet mornings, stars I can see, and a sense of calm are possible, because out here, I can hear myself think.

Matthewson & Co. is working in all three prairie provinces now, I’m starting a bricks and mortar business with my former staff turned business partner, Anna, that will open soon. I am taking and training webinars, and work as hard as anyone I know, but living in a small town allows the mind space I need to keep all the balls in the air. A slower pace is not less. It just allows space for more of what matters.

Small town living isn’t for everyone, but it could be exactly right for you, if you are craving more time, more space, more connection, and more balance, the right town could be the perfect choice.

True, all small towns are not all created equal. Some do fit the stereotype. Some are dying, and nothing we can do will save them. Some wear their toxic traits on social media pages full of entitlement and uglies aimed at anything they are personally offended by, but those are not the majority. There are many populations that would welcome you with open arms.

Small towns aren’t relics of the past; they are the next chapter for those who want a full, grounded and connected life. Small towns offer all of this—not as a not to nostalgia, but as a modern, intentional choice. People are increasingly drawn to places where they can build a life that feels whole. They want to know their neighbors, contribute to something meaningful, and live in a way that aligns with their personal worldview. That life is still possible, I, and others like me live it every day.

These communities are full of opportunity, set for new businesses, offer a chance to lead, and provide room for innovation. Small town living isn’t a step back. For some of us, living in a small town is a step toward a fuller, richer way of life.