No. 6

Dickinson, North Dakota

Thanks to the North Dakota oil boom, Dickinson has become one of the fastest-growing towns in the U.S. It boasts an unemployment rate of 4% and a strong economy centered on the energy industry as well as agriculture and manufacturing.

Yet Dickinson had attractions of its own even before the shale oil frenzy upended its economy. Long known as the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the town is also home to Dickinson State University and the Dickinson Museum Center, a complex whose holdings range from Jurassic-era findings to artifacts from the American settlers. There’s also the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, which hosts workshops on traditional Easter egg decorating.

Best Places 2017

Dickinson’s real draw, however, is the amazing breadth of available outdoor activities: from fishing and big-game hunting to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Residents can ride or trek the 144-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail, and can sometimes even catch the aurora borealis coloring the night sky. —Kerri Anne Renzulli

Median home sale price is unavailable for this location. Instead, median home price reflects the median listing price.

Find homes in Dickinson, North Dakota on

Sign Up for Our Newsletters

Sign up to receive the latest updates and smartest advice from the editors of Money

SUBSCRIBE