10 Best Cities to Live in the United States as an Introvert

Have you ever considered choosing a new hometown based on your personality type? While many people pick a place to live based on their career paths or family connections, you can pick a new place to live based on your personality as an introvert.

While introverts can (and do) thrive in every city, some cities are more introvert-friendly than others. To help you pick a place you’ll love, we’ve compiled a list of ten of the best cities for introverts to live in the United States.

1. Burlington, Vermont

Burlington is a charming little city that feels like a small town, despite its population of nearly fifty thousand people. It’s filled with all the things introverts love: local businesses, niche hobby shops, breweries, and cafes. Lake Champlain is an amazing place for introverts to get away and reconnect with nature.

Burlington is also home to The Fletcher Free Library, a library that also lends out gardening tools for interested individuals. Not only can you pick up a new book to read, but the supplies you need to get started with a home garden.

2. Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cambridge is another charming city where introverts can thrive. One year, the Boston Globe ranked the city as Massachusetts’ top town for hipsters. While the title ruffled some feathers, the fact remains that Cambridge is a friendly town for people who make their own path.

The MIT Museum is a fantastic spot for introverts to dive deep into their interests. It contains cool things like robots and holograms, as well as geeky memorabilia and more. If technology isn’t your interest, the Harvard Natural History Museum has over 3,000 glass models in The Glass Flowers Gallery.

Every Sunday, Inman Square has live jazz music at Ryles, the oldest jazz club in the city. It’s the perfect spot for introverts to spend a relaxing morning out, eating pancakes and listening to live artists play.

3. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is a city known for its natural beauty and athletics. While residents of all athletic levels can live in Colorado Springs, the city is well-known for their outdoor sports. The city is also home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. This city is filled with history and charm, making it a great home for introverts.

The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival is the longest running women’s film festival in North America. The festival takes place every year in Colorado Springs, lasting several days. Film enthusiasts can enjoy two or three films each day, as well as panel discussions, galas, and mixer events.

4. Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara is a calm, yet fun city with lots of amazing outdoor activities. Introverts living in this city will enjoy being close to the beach and amazing hiking trails. Due to the early influence of Spanish explorers, much of the city is covered with beautiful Spanish-style buildings.

It was once called the “Hollywood of the North” because many early silent films were produced in Santa Barbara. Besides the rich film history, Santa Barbara is filled with amazing restaurants and other attractions to keep you entertained for relaxing weekends near home.

This is definitely a great city for introverts who love outdoor athletic activities. The city has a reputation for being athletic. Locals enjoy hiking, kayaking, swimming, surfing, and more.

5. Salt Lake City, Utah

This beautiful city is the perfect location for introverts that love being around breathtaking scenery and other amazing outdoor exploits. Introverts who prefer a calm place to live will enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of this city.

If you love to swim, you’ll enjoy weekends at the Great Salt Lake. Because of the lake’s salt content, it’s denser than other water. This means you’ll float in this water, instead of sinking.

6. Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is a charming city with lots of great activities to enjoy. The city is home to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, a massive bridge that floats over the Missouri River. It links over 150 miles of hiking trails and serves as the barrier between Nebraska and Iowa.

This laid-back and charming city is home to one of the world’s best zoos, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. This giant zoo is dedicated to conservation and includes the world’s largest indoor desert, the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome, and the largest indoor rainforest in North America.

Omaha is perfect for introverts who love learning about animals and their habitats. Omaha is also home to a thriving music scene, a reputation they’ve held since the 1930s. Introverts who love live music can see performances at Slowdown, The Waiting Room, Sokol Auditorium, and Reverb Lounge.

7. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison offers all the excitement of a city at a fraction of the cost. Residents of Madison enjoy a low cost of living and plenty of activities perfect for the laid-back homebody. If you’re an introvert who enjoys relaxing evenings around the town, Madison has plenty of great venues to enjoy.

Named after President James Madison, this city has nearly 700,000 residents. That makes Madison the 81st largest city in the United States and the second-largest in Wisconsin. The outdoorsy introvert will enjoy five nearby lakes and twelve great public beaches.

If you enjoy going out with your dog for walks, there are fifteen amazing off-leash dog parks in the Madison area. That makes Madison a very pet-friendly city.

8. Portland, Oregon

Portland is well-known for its warm and quirky personality, making it the ideal home for introverted hipsters and imaginative bookworms alike. Although it is a city, it boasts a rich agricultural scene, with many residents enjoying time outside in their gardens.

Introverts who live in Portland can enjoy all the conveniences of a city with the space of a smaller town. If you love spending your free time outdoors, you’ll love Portland’s nearby Forest Park, the largest forested park nestled within city limits in the United States.

If reading is more your speed, you’ll enjoy the largest independently owned bookstore in the world, Powell’s City of Books. This massive bookstore has nine different color-coded rooms and over 3,500 sections. Whether you’re looking for something specific or just want to browse, this bookstore will become your new home away from home.

9. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is a charming city with beautiful architecture. With the Atlantic Ocean mere miles away, introverts who love spending their days at the beach will love this city. With just over 130,000 residents, Charleston is smaller than many cities. However, it’s still big enough for residents to enjoy all the conveniences of living in the city.

This city has a rich history, dating back to the earliest days of the United States. The Port of Charleston is a major stop for trade, bringing significant commerce to the surrounding area.

10. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is a massive city filled with lots of introvert-friendly activities. The city offers beautiful landscapes and impressive monuments, perfect for the introvert who loves to explore on their days off. As the country’s capital, this city is always filled with bustling activity.

Nearby parks, trails, and paths are great for introverts to enjoy the sites in solitude. The Potomac River and Great Falls National Park are also nearby, providing breathtaking views for hikers, cyclists, and weekend explorers.

Best of all, D.C. is home to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. This amazing public library was once owned by Thomas Jefferson. If you love to read, you’ll enjoy exploring bookshelves containing more than 6,000 books.