Franklin, Tennessee

Half an hour south of Nashville, Franklin draws visitors to its historic Civil War sites and picturesque Main Street. They’d do well to stay.

Low unemployment, booming job growth, short job commutes, and breweries aplenty make it an ideal place to set down roots. Two highly ranked school districts (plus an array of private schools) assure parents their kids can receive a quality education.

Franklin is hardly a stale suburban town. An afternoon on Main Street might call for grilled oysters and Mud Cat Mac and Cheese at Puckett’s Boat House; later, flip through a page-turner on the couch at Landmark Booksellers, warmly run by a married couple and housed in a building over 200 years old.

A family-friendly spirit pervades Franklin, as embodied by its annual Pumpkinfest: bouncy houses and costume contests for the kids, plus live music and a beer tent for adults. — Max Zahn

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