Eastern Iowa City Ranks #1 for Travelers Looking to ‘Townsize’ This Year

If you aren't familiar with the term "townsize," you're not alone. I wasn't either, but it is a simple, logical term Gen Zers have glommed onto.

Searches for "townsizing" are up a whopping 4700% in the past year alone.

To townsize or townsizing is a term used to describe travel to quaint, comfy breathers in one of America’s small towns.

In other words, to townsize is not to go to Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles.

And when it comes to the best places to townsize, you better believe Iowa is home to number one!

Welcome to Iowa - Time to Townsize!

The idea behind townsizing is to visit a place that will give the traveler a quieter getaway with a walkable downtown, local shops, and fewer crowds.

Car rental company SIXT created a list of the Top 20 small town destinations for a townsizing vacation.

They used data like population size, walkability, local businesses, and noise level to rank each place.

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The results, Decorah, Iowa, came in finishing in the top spot!

Why Decorah Was Selected

Decorah, a city I lived and worked in for several years in the mid-2000s, tops the list as the best townsizing spot in America - but why?

• Population: 7,578 (big enough for fun, small enough to be cozy)

• Noise Level: 40 decibels, in other words, it's super quiet!

• Walkability Score: 82/100, so it's easy to wander around on foot

• Local Businesses: Over 300 to explore, including a couple of amazing breweries

Decorah is known for its quaint streets, tight-knit downtown, and hidden local gems. It's also the home of Luther College. Go Norse!

Where Else Should You Go?

If you're into townsizing, the top 5 cities selected by SIXT were:

1. Decorah, Iowa
2. Cape May, New Jersey
3. Sewanee, Tennessee
4. Houghton, Michigan
5. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Galena, Illinois, also made the list at #11.

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If you need an easy, fun getaway, Decorah isn't far, but it's worth the trip. Want to see it when it's a little more crowded? Hit the town during Nordic Fest in late July!