KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo is getting some attention being ranked as "the coolest place to live with the lowest cost of living" in the entire country.
Kalamazoo was ranked #1 of ten among other cities throughout the U.S. including Knoxville, Tennessee and Savannah, Georgia.
The ranking was given by online platform PureWow. For results, they cross-referenced data from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index.
"You can have the big town amenities, but you can also have that small town feel," said the City of Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson.
"It’s the combination of urban and natural. It is a small town with really big downtown attractions. It has so many attractions, so many big town restaurants, and really has so much to offer for a town its size," said Discover Kalamazoo President & CEO Jane Ghosh.
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While there is a lot to do through restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities and community gatherings, Mayor Anderson said the people also make it a place you'd want to be.
"I believe that Kalamazoo…people who live in Kalamazoo are known as folks who embrace, engage, want to support each other and desire to live in a diverse, equitable community. I believe we are committed to that," said Mayor Anderson.
PureWow also mentioned Kalamazoo's close proximity to two major cities, Chicago and Detroit, and the affordability that comes with it.
"Once you come to Kalamazoo, and live here, you realize how affordable the homes are and how affordable everything else is, even our attractions are affordable, our restaurants are affordable. Once you realize that, it is really hard to be tempted to go someplace else because any other place you go from here is going to quite likely offer less and cost you more," said Ghosh.
If you've never been to Kalamazoo before, here's a message from Mayor Anderson:
"Come to Kalamazoo, walk around, check out our neighborhoods, take a walk downtown and you will be convinced that this is a great place to work and build a life," said Mayor Anderson.
Mayor Anderson also said in terms of the housing market, up until a few years ago, many people were wanting to move out of the city. Now, he said they're seeing more interest of people wanting to live within city limits where accessibility to places is in close proximity.
SEE MORE: KALAMAZOO
