Adair, IA

Best known to I-80 travelers for its cheerful yellow smiley-face water tower, Adair is a quiet, close-knit community of around 800 in western Iowa. The town sits right along the ridge dividing the Mississippi and Missouri river basins, about an hour west of Des Moines and an hour east of Omaha. That handy interstate location gives residents an easy commute to larger job markets while keeping the peaceful pace of a traditional small town.

ATTRMe / CC BY-SA 3.0

History buffs recognize the area as the site of Jesse James's famous 1873 train robbery, commemorated today at a local historical park and during annual community celebrations. Daily life centers on neighborhood get-togethers and local schools, with younger kids attending classes right in town through the AC/GC school district. Between affordable homes, a relaxed country setting, and convenient highway access, Adair provides a comfortable, down-to-earth place to settle down.