The appeal of urban living has long been undeniable to young adults looking to spread their wings, grow their careers, and immerse themselves in the caliber of culture and nightlife that only the world's top cities can provide. But this year's global pandemic is changing the way people think about cities. In addition to the fact that major metropolises such as New York City, London and Rome became early hotbeds of COVID-19 infection, cities also are notoriously crowded and overpriced. "Modern cities weren't designed with highly transmissible diseases like the coronavirus in mind," Yasmeen Serhan wrote in a June 2020 article in The Atlantic. "They're crowded. Many don't have much green space. And most of the perks of living in a vibrant metropolis — the rapid public transport, the bustling bars and restaurants, and the seemingly endless supply of entertainment and culture, to name a few — necessitate some form of togetherness." Crowded spaces also turned into super spreader sites in the era of the novel coronavirus. It certainly hasn't helped big cities that many of their residents sacrifice living space for the benefits of an urbane lifestyle. Sheltering in place for long periods of time inside a studio or shared apartment, even in the most sophisticated and hip neighborhood, can feel a bit like a prisoner's solitary confinement. "We've gained a lot from living in the city," San Francisco resident Sarah Demarest de Rivera told The Washington Post in June. "But as we get older, and going through this pandemic, we see the value of being close to family and having land." She's not the only one for whom big cities have lost their allure this year. CNN recently reported that construction of single-family homes in suburban and exurban communities — or areas located between downtown and the suburbs — swelled in 2020 while condo and co-op sales in Manhattan plummeted. CNN tracked a number of people who are leaving cities in search of more affordable real estate, more space for their money, and a lower cost of living. It follows that some smaller U.S. cities that may have previously been undesirable to urban dwellers are gaining popularity. The slideshow above illustrates 10 midsize cities that Zippia, the job search website, determined are the best cities in which to live and work in 2020. The site evaluated job opportunities, work-life balance and affordability to assemble its list. Insurance professionals looking to grow their prospect pool or expand into new markets would be well-advised to consider one of these 10 "underrated cities." Keep reading... |

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