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We moved to England to live near my husband's family. After 7 months, we realized we'd made a mistake.

30 October 2026 at 14:10
Woman with backpack smiling, views of treetops and sky behind her
Looking back, I think our move to the United Kingdom may have been overly optimistic.

Cara Howlett

  • When we left Canada and moved closer to my husband's family in the UK, I pictured a fun adventure.
  • Our move caused a lot of financial strain, and living near family didn't go the way I expected.
  • After seven months, we returned to Canada. Looking back, I should've been more realistic.

I pulled down the extendable ladder covered in cobwebs and dust and watched dead woodlice roll down the steps onto the new carpet in our bedroom.

With a deep breath, I willed myself to go up into the attic — a place I hated to go — to retrieve our family's suitcases and duffel bags. We were heading back to Canada, and it was time to start packing.

When we had moved to England seven months earlier, I never imagined returning so soon.

At first, moving to the UK felt like it could be a grand adventure

Kids walking in forest
The idea of leaving Canada behind to try living in the United Kingdom seemed exciting.

Cara Howlett

Packing up a life in Canada and starting a new one in England had been a herculean endeavor, but I had been excited to do it.

For two years leading up to our move to the UK, my husband, two kids (ages 7 and 10), and I had been settled in Alberta, Canada.

As much as we enjoyed it, I ached for a new adventure; something different. I didn't feel particularly connected to our community, and our day-to-day lives had felt monotonous for a while.

Some of our only reprieves as busy young parents were monthlong summer holidays spent with my husband's family in the bucolic British countryside.

We enjoyed these trips so much and looked forward to them for weeks, from planning excursions to castles and museums to researching the best local restaurants and pubs.

When we arrived, we loved taking day trips to nearby locales and eating fish and chips by the seaside. I started wondering if living in England would be just as enjoyable and exciting as these monthlong stints. Maybe it'd also satisfy our longing for adventure.

Although moving meant leaving my extended family in Canada behind, the idea of our kids spending the rest of their childhoods with my husband's family nearby felt like the right next step.

My in-laws also seemed excited about the arrangement, as they offered to help pay for my visa application to live in England permanently.

My (more skeptical) husband decided he'd continue running his business in Canada after we moved, occasionally commuting back every few weeks while working remotely from the UK in between.

After six months of figuring out some logistics and filling out paperwork, we boarded our flights.

Not long after the move, reality began to sink in

Aerial view of greenery, trees in Devon, UK
It was quickly becoming clear that settling in England would be more difficult than we had originally thought.

Chris McLoughlin/Getty Images

We arrived in the UK in September 2025, lugging heavy duffel bags, suitcases, and backpacks, feeling exhausted, sweaty, and weary from a much-delayed flight.

We were ready to be in our new home. Home, however, did not yet exist.

For the first week, we stayed at my husband's grandparents' place, which was vacant while they were on holiday. We spent it navigating sleepless nights, trying to get over jet lag, and dealing with horrible colds.

From there, we bumped around to three different Airbnbs and holiday accommodations. My husband returned to Canada for a three-week work stint while I earnestly tried to find us a place to live.

Securing a rental was more challenging than anticipated, and it felt unlikely that a landlord would approve our application. My husband was still earning Canadian income, we had no local credit history, and we had two kids — yet we were trying to rent a smaller (read: more affordable) home.

After six weeks and more than 20 different applications, we finally had a landlord agree to rent us a beautiful, newly renovated historic cottage that couldn't be more picturesque.

It was, however, at the very top of our budget. We knew we were heading into a precarious situation, but we could no longer afford to keep staying in vacation rentals.

We signed a six-month lease with the help of my in-laws, who loaned us the deposit and acted as guarantors, and moved.

We faced more and more challenges as we settled into our new home

Two kids staring out into greenery
We figured securing a rental property would be challenging, but we had no idea our search would take six weeks.

Cara Howlett

Our new rent ate up so much of my husband's pay that we couldn't live the way we had hoped.

There wasn't room in our budget for the fun things we'd dreamed about doing when we moved here, like overnight stays in nearby towns and small trips to other parts of Europe.

And as a Canadian living in the British countryside, I increasingly felt like an outsider who would never fully be accepted.

My accent betrayed me every time I spoke, prompting locals to assume I was on holiday despite my residential status. Giving the full explanation of why I left Canada to live in the UK felt so exhausting that I started to just let them believe I was on vacation.

When I'd imagined my life here, I pictured being surrounded by a close-knit community of friends and family. Instead, I mostly felt alone in a new place while my husband, who understood the local culture, spent weeks at a time working in the country we'd left behind.

On top of that, we realized how challenging it can be to go from seeing loved ones a few times a year to living close by and having more frequent interactions.

Being near my husband's family didn't go as well as I'd hoped; instead, it seemed to lead to a series of disagreements and misunderstandings.

In less than a year, living permanently in the UK no longer felt worth it

Although I hated the idea of "giving up" after all of the time and effort we had put into the move, building our dream life here no longer felt possible, and we returned to Canada after less than a year.

Looking back, I realize excitement clouded my judgment about how viable this arrangement really was, but I pushed forward, believing that moving was the solution to my loneliness, restlessness, and lack of community. It was not.

We hadn't properly prepared for what life in a new country might bring, and we didn't achieve our goal of blending international families.

I realize now that our move was a misguided attempt to feel free and unburdened. Now, we're trying to repair the financial damage from it while figuring out what's next.

Read the original article on Business Insider

My husband and I live on a sailboat. It isn't cheap, but the perks keep winning us over.

30 October 2026 at 13:36
The writer and her husband are on their sailboat.
Living on a boat full-time is expensive, but so far, it's been worth the costs.

Rachel Murphy

  • When my husband and I moved to California, we decided to live on a sailboat.
  • Repairs, maintenance, and docking fees have made the lifestyle more expensive than we expected.
  • The tight quarters can be challenging, but the experience has been great for our marriage.

Last year, my husband, Michael, and I bought a sailboat to live on full-time.

At the time, we were preparing to move from our home near Louisville, Kentucky, to Santa Barbara, California, where I'd lived for a few years after college.

As excited as we were to move to a new state, we weren't prepared for the higher cost of rent, and paying $2,500 a month for a place we wouldn't even own was a hard pill to swallow for two Midwesterners.

We knew we couldn't afford to buy a house yet, but still wanted a something we could own outright. I figured there had to be an alternative option.

After some thought, I remembered I had previously met a number of people in Santa Barbara who lived aboard boats, and wondered if that would be feasible for us.

My husband and I had each been on a handful of sailing trips, and as lifelong outdoorspeople, exploring by ocean was appealing, even though we knew almost nothing about the logistics.

Once the idea was planted, we couldn't imagine doing anything else.

So far, the experience has been full of ups and downs

Sunlit wooden boat cabin with galley fixtures, mountain views through windows, and the writer's husband is seated on the deck.
Our 1975 43-foot sailboat is a beauty, but it needed a lot of repairs.

Rachel Murphy

After deciding to take this leap, we saved up and consumed every book and YouTube channel about sailing. We even fastened a sailing cleat to the arm of an old chair, and we used that to practice our knots.

In September 2025, we bought a 1975 sailboat outright for $40,000 in San Francisco and sailed it down the coast the morning the papers were signed.

Our 43-foot boat is a beautiful work of craftsmanship, featuring a well-preserved wooden interior with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a desk. But unfortunately, the boat came with an overwhelming amount of work from the start.

A side-by-side image of the desk inside the writer's boat, and an image of the small kitchen inside the writer's boat.
Along with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the boat has a desk and a small kitchen.

Rachel Murphy

The previous owner had left us quite a mess to clean up, leaving every drawer stuffed with old kitchenware and junk. Plus, it needed work, like replacing the rotting main sheet, updating the navigation systems, and cleaning out a mildewed freshwater tank — things we've slowly fixed one at a time.

The first night aboard the boat, we lay in bed and thought to ourselves, "What have we done?" We hung up a horseshoe — a lucky family heirloom that had watched over my dad's doorway for 20 years — hoping it still had some luck left to lend us.

Although we've loved living on a boat so far, we were surprised it wasn't more affordable than living on land. Our slip fee, about $1,500 a month, at the marina where we're usually docked, is cheaper than any studio apartment in the area, but we make up the difference in the maintenance that comes with owning a boat from 1975.

There's a saying among boat owners that BOAT stands for "Bust Out Another Thousand" — something we didn't learn until we lived aboard. Boat parts aren't cheap, and anything labeled "marine" comes with a hefty price tag.

Luckily, we've been able to save a lot of money by doing the labor ourselves — whether that's resealing the windows, installing solar, or replacing engine parts. Michael is a great engineer, mechanic, and all-around handy guy, and I'm fair with a wrench.

The writer and her husband sail on open water on their sailboat.
The extra costs haven't been easy, but the boat certainly feels like home.

Rachel Murphy

Despite the financial challenges of living on board, we've developed a routine that has made this place feel like home.

Most weekday mornings start with espresso from the machine we squeezed onto our limited counter space. We drink it in the cockpit while the rest of the marina is woken up by the loud roars of sea lions.

After work, we like to bike around town and sometimes host dinner parties that end with watching the sunset behind the hundreds of sailboat masts.

On the weekends, we've been able to use the boat to explore the California coast. We pack up on a Friday, sail out to a quiet anchor, and spend a few days hiking, swimming, and watching dolphins from the deck.

A year living aboard has tested us, but it's also brought us closer

The writer's husband stands on a sailboat deck near a rocky coastline at sunset.
Sharing a tight space with my husband can be challenging, but we've blossomed as a team.

Rachel Murphy

After a year on the boat, we trust ourselves more and more as sailors, and the sweetest part has been watching us blossom as a team.

Even though it can be challenging sharing a space with someone who is never more than 10 feet from you, the greatest adventure has been navigating this new lifestyle and learning curve together.

Sure, we miss having a large floor space to stretch, a kitchen big enough for two, and a toilet that doesn't smell like rotten seawater.

Some days, our 43 feet feels larger than life, filled with possibilities and adventure, but other times it feels like we're living in a very expensive closet.

A side-by-side image of the writer sitting inside her boat with friends, and a close-up image of the boat's interior.
We love inviting friends and family aboard for dinner parties.

Rachel Murphy

Even on those claustrophobic, leak-dodging, seaweed-scented days, neither one of us would trade it. Not yet, anyway. We've been able to explore the Channel Islands, witness incredible coastal wildlife, and learn the skills that come with living on the water: reading the weather, trimming sails, and surfing.

Eventually, we want children, and we can't picture raising them aboard. But for now, we're exactly where we want to be.

There's a narrow window in life when you can uproot everything for something this impractical, and we're standing right in the middle of it.

Read the original article on Business Insider

WeWork CEO John Santora explains what it takes to fix a damaged company

30 October 2026 at 13:22

When John Santora became CEO of WeWork, the company was emerging from bankruptcy, saddled with one of the most notorious failures in business history. The longtime commercial real estate player is leading the company's next act: proving that flexible work can be a disciplined, profitable business.

As part of Business Insider's The Long Play, Santora shared what it takes to turn a damaged company into one built to last and offered insight into a real estate market being reshaped by how we work now.

He also talked about how AI is affecting real estate with Cadie Thompson, Business Insider's deputy news chief and executive editor.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The most haunted house or building in every US state

30 October 2026 at 11:07
Real estate photograph of a house located at 112 Ocean Avenue in the town of Amityville, New York March 31, 2005. The Amityville Horror house rich history and beauty are overshadowed by the story of George and Kathy Lutz, the previous residents of 112 Ocean Avenue, who claimed that shortly after moving into the house they fled in terror driven out by paranormal activity.
The infamous "Amityville Horror House" in Long Island, New York.

Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

  • Historic buildings often collect urban legends over the course of their long histories.
  • For some thrill-seekers, haunted mansions are among the most popular tourist attractions.
  • The haunted homes industry in the US reportedly checks in at least $300 million annually.

It's spooky season, and nothing screams Halloween like a haunted house.

In the US, haunted homes are not only a seasonal staple but also a highly lucrative industry, often raising a town's profile as a tourist destination.

Haunted houses can make paranormal tourism a profitable economic strategy for cities. American Haunts, an industry trade group, estimated that the haunted-homes industry generates between $300 million and $500 million in annual ticket sales.

However, some homes have such dark histories that they're better left alone.

To find the most haunted home in every US state, Business Insider considered properties known locally for spooky occurrences, ghost sightings, or with horrifying backstories.

Some of these properties are open to the public, while others have been transformed and are now private residences.

From abandoned mansions to historic hotels, here's where the spookiest haunted building is hiding in every US state.

Lucy Yang contributed to a previous version of this article.

ALABAMA: Sweetwater Mansion
Sweetwater Mansion
Sweetwater Mansion in Florence.

Library of Congress

Located on Sweetwater Avenue in Florence, Alabama, this plantation home was built in 1835 by Gen. John Brahan and first occupied by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and, eventually, the governor of Alabama.

Many spooky stories are associated with this mansion, including one about the home's caretaker, who one day witnessed a casket appear out of thin air. Inside, she found a man dressed in a Confederate uniform, believed to be one of General Brahan's sons who died in the Civil War, AL.com reported.

Other examples of reported supernatural activities include distant voices of children's giggles and a woman in old clothes wandering the halls, as reported by Forbes.

Property records indicate that the private home, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, was sold to a hospitality group in 2023. The Willingham, a graduate student magazine at the University of North Alabama, reported that although the sale was part of a hotel investment, the owners have since worked with the Sweetwater Foundation to restore the mansion and find a new purpose for it.

The foundation is led by a descendant of the original owners and also works with descendants of the estimated 300 enslaved people once connected to the property.

ALASKA: Jesse Lee Home for Children
Jesse Lee Home for Children

US National Archives and Records Administration

Opened in 1926 as a sanctuary for orphaned children, this property was damaged in a 1964 earthquake and has remained abandoned since.

According to a widely reported urban legend, the spirits of several children are said to roam the hallways of the home after it closed as an orphanage. Visitors reported experiencing "dread and despair" when they walked inside and hearing giggling children and the sounds of jump ropes and bouncing balls, per Haunted Rooms, a ghost tour company.

By 2021, the home was mostly demolished by Seward City, with future plans still under discussion, KDLL reported.

ARIZONA: Winnie Ruth Judd's House
Winnie Ruth Judd's House
Hedwig Samuelson and Agnes LeRoi, a couple who rented this home, were murdered here in 1931.

Everett Collection/Shutterstock

In 1931, a 26-year-old medical secretary named Winnie Ruth Judd fatally shot two of her friends in this bungalow.

Dubbed the "Trunk Murderess," Judd was caught trying to dispose of her victims' corpses in Los Angeles after she stuffed their bodies into two trunks and other luggage.

After a jury found her legally insane, she was held at a mental health facility, but she escaped in 1962, vanishing for almost seven years before she was found in California, The New York Times reported. Her sentence was commuted in 1971, and she was paroled.

The house remains infamous in the area. Today, it serves as a working office for attorney Robert Warnicke, according to the local outlet KJZZ.

ARKANSAS: Allen House
Allen House arkansas

Google Maps

Built in 1906 by local businessman Joe Lee Allen, this eye-catching home is said to be haunted by several spirits.

Local legend says Allen's daughter killed herself by consuming mercury cyanide on Christmas Day in 1948, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Since then, her ghost is said to have haunted the two floors of this mansion.

While the house used to host ghost tours and haunted mazes, in 2024 the company running the tours announced it would no longer offer them because it was a private residence.

In 2023, the house was listed for $488,000. The listing was removed in March 2024, per Zillow.

CALIFORNIA: Winchester Mystery House
California Winchester House Historic

Library of Congress

This eerie mansion has an even creepier backstory. The home was built by Sarah Winchester after her husband, the creator of the Winchester rifle, died in 1881.

Since then, many have claimed, including Sarah herself, that the building is haunted by the spirits of those killed with her husband's invention, per Smithsonian Magazine.

She built the home to escape the angry spirits, and it has many quirks, including "a staircase that leads to nowhere, cabinets that open into walls, and a door that opens up to a 12-foot drop," Business Insider previously reported.

Today, it is open to visitors.

COLORADO: Henry Webber House
henry webber house

National Park Service

The history behind this quaint 1885 building, which is also known as Pioneer Park, is much darker than you'd think.

Henry Webber, a shoe and boot merchant who moved to Aspen in 1880, decided to build this home after making huge profits from his mining investments, per History Colorado.

The spooky story, though, involves Webber's wife, Harriet Webber, who died under "mysterious circumstances" and is said to haunt the house, The Aspen Times reported.

Today, the property is part of Pioneer Park and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1987, although the house itself — which was sold in 2021 for $11.5 million — remains a private residence.

CONNECTICUT: The Seaside Regional Center
The Seaside Regional Center is in Waterford.
The Seaside Regional Center is in Waterford.

Rachel Rose Boucher/Shutterstock

Formerly known as the Seaside Sanatorium, this building opened in the 1930s to treat children with tuberculosis.

In the 1950s, the property was renamed the Seaside Geriatric Hospital and served as a home for older patients for three years. After that, it reopened as the Seaside Regional Center, a home for people with mental illness, until it was closed in 1996.

Today, the abandoned spot is a popular destination for paranormal researchers, who claim to have seen ghostly orbs and other spooky phenomena, as reported by The New York Times.

In recent years, a developer has been fighting plans to demolish the property, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996, according to the Connecticut Mirror.

DELAWARE: John Dickinson House
This home is in Dover.
This home is in Dover.

Library of Congress

Also known as Poplar Hall, this plantation home was the childhood home of John Dickinson, one of the Founding Fathers of the US.

Local lore says the home is haunted by Dickinson himself, and visitors have reported hearing the "sound of a quill pen scratching across parchment paper," Delaware Today reported.

The house is owned by the State of Delaware and serves as a park where visitors can learn about Dickinson's life and the stories of the 59 enslaved people who once lived and worked on the plantation, per the National Park Service.

FLORIDA: Riddle House
riddle house palm beach

Google Maps

Located in West Palm Beach, this private residence was first used as a funeral parlor in the early 1900s.

Legend has it that one of the homeowner's employees fell into financial hardship and hanged himself in the attic, the Palm Beach Post reported. His spirit is reportedly just one among many that haunt the home, said to be one of the most active haunted locations in South Florida.

Today, the house is part of the Yesteryear Village park and offers occasional ghost tours.

GEORGIA: Hay House
This mansion is in Macon and is part of The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
This mansion is in Macon and is part of The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.

Doug Nurnberger/Shutterstock

Also known as the Johnston-Felton-Hay House or the "Palace of the South," this historic residence was built in the late 1850s. Since then, various sightings of spooky figures and swinging chandeliers have been reported.

Today, the mansion is owned by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and serves as a museum. The property has been in the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.

In 2010, a photographer claimed he captured a ghost on camera — wearing a top hat, no less — while snapping pictures of a wedding at the Hay House, as reported by Macon's The Telegraph.

HAWAII: 'Iolani Palace
'Iolani Palace in Hawaii
A view of 'Iolani Palace from Kapiolani Boulevard in downtown Honolulu.

Faina Gurevich/Getty Images

Located in Honolulu, this residence was home to the island's last royal family until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.

Since then, visitors and staff members have reported hearing footsteps and seeing the figure of a woman believed to be Queen Lili'uokalani, Honolulu Magazine reported.

Most recently, the National Historic Landmark, which is owned by the state, has become a tourist attraction.

IDAHO: Standrod Mansion
Standrod Mansion, built in 1901, at N. Garfield Avenue in Pocatello.
Standrod Mansion, built in 1901, at N. Garfield Avenue in Pocatello.

Carol M.Highsmith/Library of Congress

Built by a judge named D.W. Standrod in 1902, this mansion has a tragic backstory. Both of the Standrods' children died at a young age, and the home is said to be haunted by their spirits.

In 2020, the Idaho State Journal reported that a new owner, Barbara Magin, originally from New Jersey, revamped the property and brought it back to life.

Magin shared with the publication that when she visited the home, she felt it was trying to communicate with her, saying, "Help me."

"There are ghosts. I've had experiences with them. And I just told them that I was here to take care of the mansion," she said in the interview. "[They're] welcome to stay." 

ILLINOIS: McPike Mansion
A guided tour takes place at the notorious McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois.
A guided tour at the McPike Mansion in Alton.

US Department of Transportation

Built in 1869 for local businessman Henry McPike, this three-story, 16-room brick house is said to be haunted by several spirits.

People have reported hearing children laughing when no one was present, seeing faces appear randomly in the home's windows, feeling touched, and more, according to the mansion's website.

Today, the private mansion is owned by Sharyn and George Luedke and regularly offers ghost tours.

A 2014 feature by Business Insider reported that many locals believe the ghosts of the home's former owners and their servants still surround it.

INDIANA: Culbertson Mansion
Historic Culbertson Mansion. Located in the Historic Mansion Row District on Main Street.

Thomas Kelley/Getty Images

The former home of William Culbertson, once the richest man in Indiana, this mansion and its carriage house are said to be haunted.

The carriage house burned down in 1888 after a lightning strike, killing everyone inside. Some believe their spirits roam the property, the Courier Journal reported.

Today, the historic site is owned by the state and offers haunted mansion tours in October.

IOWA: Villisca Axe Murder House
A newspaper clipping from June 14, 1912 reporting on the Moore murders.
A newspaper clipping from June 14, 1912 reporting on the Moore murders.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library/Library of Congress

In 1903, Josiah Moore moved into this residence with his family.

On the night of June 9, 1912, Moore, his five family members, and two guests were brutally murdered in the home. All eight victims were bludgeoned to death with an ax.

The horrific crime was never solved, and the home — per multiple reports — remains haunted by the spirits of the victims.

As of 2024, the private home is owned by Lance Zaal and serves as a local attraction, the Villisca Axe Murder House, which offers tours and even overnight stays for $199 per night, according to its website.

KANSAS: Clutter Family Home
Four members of the Clutter family were murdered by two ex-convicts in The home picture here is from Nov. 2, 1979.
Four members of the Clutter family were murdered by two ex-convicts in The home picture here is from Nov. 2, 1979.

AP

On the morning of November 15, 1959, wheat farmer Herbert Clutter, his wife, and his two teenage children were found bound and shot to death in this home.

Ex-convicts Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were later arrested, convicted, and executed for the crime. American author Truman Capote eventually immortalized the Clutter tragedy in his non-fiction bestseller, "In Cold Blood."

The home, which has been owned by Leonard and Donna Mader, was previously open to tours but is now closed to the public.

KENTUCKY: Loudoun House
Loudoun House Kentucky

Library of Congress

A shining example of Gothic Revival architecture, this elegant home was built in 1851 for Francis Key Hunt.

Some visitors have reported seeing a ghostly woman and capturing orbs in pictures, per Paranormal Traveling.

Today, the mansion is owned by the City of Lexington and is the home of the Lexington Art League and its galleries.

LOUISIANA: Myrtles Plantation
Spanish moss hanging from Crepe Myrtle trees at night outisde the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville.
Spanish moss hanging from Crepe Myrtle trees at night outisde the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville.

wanderluster/Getty Images

The Myrtles Plantation has been haunted by a series of deaths on its property, including that of two of the owner's children in the 1820s, per Nola.com.

Since then, the plantation has been said to be one of the most haunted homes in the US.

Today, the plantation functions as a hotel with restaurants on-site. The plantation also offers a variety of tours, including an evening "mystery" tour, per the hotel's website.

MAINE: Wood Island Lighthouse
Wood Island Lighthouse
Wood Island Lighthouse in Biddeford.

Chausa Tra/Shutterstock

The 11th-oldest lighthouse in the US, Wood Island Light, was built in 1808 under the orders of then-President Thomas Jefferson.

According to one urban legend shared by the lighthouse's website, it is haunted by the ghost of a fisherman named Howard Hobbs. In 1896, Hobbs shot and killed his landlord, Frederick Milliken, before turning the gun on himself.

Today, the lighthouse is owned by the US Coast Guard and is maintained by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, who run a variety of tours on the property.

MARYLAND: Hager House
This home is in Hagerstown.
This home is in Hagerstown.

Alejandro Guzmani/Shutterstock

This stone house, constructed in the mid-1700s, was built by German immigrant Jonathan Hager, the founder of Hagerstown.

The property is reportedly haunted by as many as 13 ghosts of former residents who died in the home. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices and footsteps, seeing objects move on their own, and other paranormal activity, per the Herald-Mail.

Today, the house is owned by the City of Hagerstown and serves as a museum that offers guided tours.

MASSACHUSETTS: Jonathan Corwin House
Judge Jonathan Corwin's home in Salem.
Judge Jonathan Corwin's home in Salem.

AlessandroV/Shutterstock

Known as the Witch House, this structure is the only remaining building with direct ties to the Salem witch trials.

It is the former residence of Jonathan Corwin, who served as a judge during the hearings that led to the executions of 20 innocent people, falsely accused of witchcraft.

Today, the building is owned by the City of Salem and opens seasonally as a museum, per its website.

MICHIGAN: Bruce Mansion
bruce mansion michigan

Google Maps

Built by lumber baron John G. Bruce in 1876, this building has been a popular destination for paranormal investigators.

The house, which at some point served as a location for church events and funerals, saw multiple of its owners die on the property, including John Walker, who is said to have hanged himself in the mansion's central tower after running over a pedestrian and burying him in the backyard, the County Press reported.

Since then, multiple tenants in the house have moved out due to paranormal activity, the County Press also reported.

These days, the home is privately owned and hosts mystery tours, per its website.

MINNESOTA: Glensheen Mansion
Duluth, MN, USA - June 27, 2025: Stunning front view of Glensheen Mansion, highlighting its grand architecture and the scenic beauty of its surroundings.

GummyBone/Getty Images

On June 27, 1977, an 83-year-old millionaire heiress named Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse, Velma Pietila, were murdered in this massive mansion, as reported by Minnesota Public Radio.

Roger Caldwell, the husband of one of Congdon's adopted daughters, Marjorie, was later arrested and convicted of the crimes. Marjorie herself was charged, but acquitted, of aiding and abetting and conspiracy to commit murder.

In 1982, Caldwell's conviction was overturned based on new evidence introduced during Marjorie's trial. Although Caldwell was offered a new trial, he confessed to the murders after prosecutors cut him a deal.

However, Caldwell only served a little over five years before he was released from prison. He died by suicide in 1988.

Today, the mansion serves as a museum, venue, and beer garden, and offers a variety of tours, per its website.

MISSISSIPPI: The Longfellow House
Bellevue Longfellow house

Library of Congress

Also known as Bellevue, this building was built in 1850 as a private home for slave trader and pirate Daniel Smith Graham.

According to local legend, the building is haunted by the ghosts of the men, women, and children who were abused by Graham, who is said to have been sadistic and cruel, per the house's historical marker.

Today, the private residence is one of the last antebellum houses on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

MISSOURI: Epperson House
epperson house missouri

Google Maps

Now part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, this four-story building is known for its many secret passageways and reported hauntings.

Built by businessman Uriah Epperson in 1923, the 54-room house was donated to the university in 1942 after Epperson's passing over a decade earlier, and it briefly served as a Navy dormitory during World War II, per Fox 4 News in Kansas City.

Since then, the house has gathered local legends of paranormal activity, with reports saying people have heard footsteps and music.

Today, the house is planned to be renovated and turned into a boutique hotel, as reported by Fox 4 News.

MONTANA: Daly Mansion
The mansion was the home of three generations of the Daly family.

Tara Krauss/Getty Images

This mansion was bought in 1886 by businessman Marcus Daly, one of the three "Copper Kings" of Montana during the Gilded Age.

Staff have reported paranormal activity in the mansion, such as the smell of roses when none are around and fire alarms going off inexplicably, the Missoulian reported.

Today, the property is owned by the State of Montana and run by the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust. The mansion can be rented for events like weddings and offers seasonal tours inside the property.

NEBRASKA: Fort Sidney
Fort Sidney Museum
Fort Sidney Museum is located in the Officer's Quarters and is reputed to be haunted.

Google Maps

In 1975, the Lincoln Journal Star published a story titled "A Ghost at Ft. Sidney? Well..." which tried to determine whether the ghost of a young officer's wife still roamed the home. 

According to local legends, this historic building, which was once a supply station and trailhead for gold-seekers, is haunted by the ghost of a young officer's wife, who broke her neck in 1885 after falling down a staircase.

Upon her death, the husband boarded up the staircase. However, visitors have said they've heard noises of a person walking up or down the staircase and falling. 

Today, the property is privately owned and operates as a museum, opening seasonally and offering tours, according to its website.

NEVADA: Bowers Mansion
bowers mansion
Bowers Mansion.

Hank Shiffman/Shutterstock

Built in 1863 by millionaires Lemuel "Sandy" Bowers and his wife, Eilley, this historic building is said to be haunted by Bowers himself.

According to locals, after Mrs. Bowers' death, many people saw a green light floating around the grounds, along with shadows and the voices of spirits.

Today, the mansion is owned by Washoe County Parks and operates as a seasonal museum.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Ocean-Born Mary House
OCEAN BORN MARY HOUSE

Library of Congress

According to local lore, this home is haunted by a woman named Mary Wallace, a folklore figure more commonly known as "Ocean-Born Mary." Her spirit is said to protect the property, where her husband was murdered over a pirated treasure, per New Hampshire Magazine.

Today, the house is a private residence.

NEW JERSEY: Seabrook-Wilson House
This home is in port Monmouth.
This home is in port Monmouth.

Andrew F. Kazmierski/Shutterstock

Also known as the Spy House, this property dates back to 1650, when it was a popular drinking spot for both British and Colonial soldiers.

Now, some say the old tavern is home to as many as 22 different ghosts, from a "devil-worshiping sea captain" to a "blood-thirsty pirate" in the basement, according to the Best of NJ.

NEW MEXICO: Luna Mansion
Luna Mansion

Google Maps

Formerly a steakhouse, the Luna Mansion is said to be haunted by as many as four ghosts. The most famous is Josefita, who was once the lady of the opulent home, per local news outlet KOAT.

Patrons of the restaurant claimed to have seen an empty rocking chair move back and forth as Josefita appeared and watched them eat.

Today, the building operates as a historic event venue that hosts haunted house tours, according to its website.

NEW YORK: Amityville Horror House
amityville horror home

Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

In 1974, this expensive estate became the site of a horrific mass murder when 23-year-old Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. fatally shot his parents and four siblings. 

One year later, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the home with their three children. After only 28 days, however, the Lutz family left, claiming that they had been terrorized by paranormal phenomena such as strange odors, slamming doors, and a voice that screamed: "Get out."

Their claims eventually became the subject of Jay Anson's best-selling book, "The Amityville Horror: A True Story."

NORTH CAROLINA: Biltmore Estate
Landscape of the Biltmore Estate with the green garden in Asheville, North Carolina stock photo

Wirestock/Getty Images

Among the largest private homes in the US, the massive 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate is said to be haunted by Edith, the wife of its original owner, George Washington Vanderbilt II, of the wealthy Vanderbilt family.

Visitors have reported hearing her laughing and calling for her husband inside the property, per Explore Asheville.

Today, the historic mansion serves as a museum, an attraction, and a winery.

NORTH DAKOTA: Chateau De Mores
Medora, ND, USA - July 17, 2025: The Chateau de Mores Interpretive Center in Medora, North Dakota

GummyBone/Getty Images

Originally built in 1883 as a summer home for Antoine de Vallombrosa, the Marquis de Mores, the 26-room, two-story home is now a museum. However, some people believe this historic building is haunted by a female spirit, the Minot Daily News reported.

Today, the house is a historic site open to the public.

OHIO: Ohio State Reformatory
Ohio State Reformatory

ullstein bild Dtl./ullstein bild via Getty Images

Built in 1896, the Ohio State Reformatory was designed as a middle-tier prison for criminals too old for a juvenile detention facility but who had committed lesser offenses than those sent to the state penitentiary, according to the building's website.

The state began withdrawing funding from the facility in the 1960s, and by the 1980s, the building had severely deteriorated, leading to its closure in 1990.

In 1994, the film "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed on the property.

Once filming wrapped, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, a nonprofit organization, purchased the property for $1 and opened its doors to the public for ghost tours. The home now attracts more than 120,000 visitors each year, and ticket sales help fund property restoration.

Visitors can tour the facilities during regular times or visit during the seasonal "Blood Prison" offerings, which include themed tours and escape rooms.

OKLAHOMA: Skirvin Hotel
Aerial view of the Skirvin Hilton, Oklahoma City.
Aerial view of the Skirvin Hilton, Oklahoma City.

Aaron Yoder/Getty Images/iStockphoto

While Oklahoma has its fair share of haunted homes, the Skirvin Hotel is one of its most famous.

Over the years, many of the hotel's guests, including several NBA players, have claimed to see a ghost named Effie, who is said to have died at the hotel, The New York Times reported.

OREGON: Asahel Bush House
Bush's Pasture Park salem oregon

Bob Pool/Shutterstock

Now a museum, this mansion was built by American newspaper publisher Asahel Bush in the 1870s in Salem, Oregon.

Legend has it that Bush's youngest daughter, Eugenia, still haunts the home. Visitors have claimed they've heard female voices and described random cold spots when visiting the mansion, per the Oregonian.

PENNSYLVANIA: The Farnsworth House
Farnsworth House

George Sheldon/Shutterstock

This bed-and-breakfast is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Confederate soldiers, a nurse named Mary, several other women and children, and even some cats, as reported by Fox 43.

These days, the privately owned home is popular for its group dining experiences and ghost tours. 

RHODE ISLAND: The Breakers
The Breakers mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, USA

AlexandreFagundes/Getty Images

The Breakers in Newport is the second Vanderbilt property on this list. The estate, which served as a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in the late 19th century, is said to be haunted by his wife, Alice, per Visit Rhode Island.

Today, the historic mansion is a museum open to the public.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
A view of an old Southern mansion located at Magnolia Plantation in South Carolina

Thomas J Crawford/Getty Images

Originally acquired by Stephen Fox in the early 17th century and passed down to his son-in-law Thomas Drayton, the Magnolia Plantation encompassed more than 1,700 acres of land cultivated by enslaved people prior to the Civil War.

The property still has four preserved slave cabins on its grounds.

Various reports of creepy voices, growls, and the sound of music have shrouded this Charleston plantation in mystery over the years, per CBS News.

Today, the plantation is a museum and is open to the public.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Bullock Hotel
Deadwood, SD, USA - May 27, 2026: Historic Bullock Hotel on Main Street in Deadwood South Dakota known for its Western heritage and architecture

GummyBone/Getty Images

Some believe this building is haunted by its original owner, Seth Bullock, per Legends of America.

Guests have reported feeling a "ghostly presence" on the second and third floors of the hotel, while others have said they've smelled a cigar burning, heard boots and ragtime music, or seen floating glasses.

TENNESSEE: Carnton Mansion
Carnton is a historic home and museum in Franklin, Williamson County.
Carnton is a historic home and museum in Franklin, Williamson County.

Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock

This plantation served as a field hospital on November 30, 1864, during one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The site is said to be haunted by the ghosts of fallen Confederate soldiers, per a town website.

TEXAS: Menger Hotel
Facade of historic Menger Hotel, Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas stock photo

Gerald Zaffuts/Getty Images

The Menger Hotel, which opened its doors in 1859, is among the oldest hotels in San Antonio.

Its founder, William Menger, a brewer from Germany, began by opening a tavern, only to realize that those who came to drink there often needed a place to sleep afterward. That's when he and his wife, Mary Menger, launched a small inn next to the tavern.

Soon after, the place became successful and was revamped into a bar similar to the House of Lords Pub in London, according to local news outlet KSAT. It was frequented by famous figures, most notably Theodore Roosevelt.

Legend has it that this historic hotel is haunted by several spirits, from a murdered maid named Sallie White to famed riverboat captain Richard King, per Texas Monthly.

UTAH: McCune Mansion
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA — August 27, 2025: Classic houses in the neighborhoods around downtown Salt Lake City, Utah captured during late summer.

todamo/Getty Images

The construction of this Victorian mansion began in 1898 and was completed in 1901.

In 1999, the McCarthey family purchased it and helped restore it to its original architectural style. Since then, many people have booked the place for private events such as weddings.

However, according to local reports, this popular wedding venue is said to be haunted by two spirits: a man believed to be Alfred McCune and a young girl, per Only In Utah.

VERMONT: Hartness House
hartness house vermont

Google Maps

James Hartness, a politician, inventor, and astronomer, built the Hartness House in the early 1900s. During that time, several underground tunnels were built on the estate to support the former owner's work and create private office space for him.

In the 2000s, the small hotel underwent renovation and reopened as a boutique inn. 

Since then, many locals have reported several paranormal activities, suggesting that the underground tunnels are home to several ghosts, per NewEngland.com.

VIRGINIA: Ferry Plantation House
Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA - January 14, 2026: The back of the Ferry Plantation, built by enslaved African Americans around 1830, is reported to be haunted by eleven spirits.

Bill Chizek/Getty Images

Built in the 1640s, this plantation is reportedly home to 11 spirits, including that of Henry, an enslaved man who was likely born on the plantation, per WHRO, Norfolk, Virginia's public radio.

Today, the historic house is owned by the City of Virginia Beach and run by The Friends of the Ferry Plantation House. The house offers a variety of paranormal tours.

WASHINGTON: Thornewood Castle
Thornewood Castle

National Park Service

Local legends claim that this estate, located in the town of Lakewood, is haunted by the ghosts of several former residents.

Interestingly, in 2002, the castle was featured as a haunted mansion in Stephen King's miniseries, "Rose Red."

WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia State Penitentiary
Moundsville State Penitentiary

Library of Congress

This creepy site operated as a prison for the state of West Virginia from 1876 to 1995.

The Gothic-style building is said to be haunted by numerous spirits, and visitors have reported feeling their hair being pulled and hearing voices telling them to leave, local news station WTRF reported.

The building, owned by the state, operates today as a tourist facility, offering a variety of tours.

WISCONSIN: Brumder Mansion
brumder mansion

Google Maps

This charming bed-and-breakfast is also a popular destination for ghost hunters and paranormal investigators. 

The property is said to be home to at least three known spirits, and visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures and moving chairs, per Paranormal Milwaukee.

Today, the 1910 privately owned building serves as a bed-and-breakfast and event venue.

WYOMING: Occidental Hotel
Buffalo, USA - August 19, 2015: Exterior of the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming, USA. Many famous guests have stayed at the historic hotel including Butch Cassidy, Calamity Jane and Ernest Hemingway.

Maisna/Getty Images

Over the years, this historic 1880 hotel has been home to gold miners and criminals, and it even served as a brothel.

Guests reported sightings of a female ghost on the first floor as early as the 1880s, according to the hotel's website.

Read the original article on Business Insider

UK house prices grow at slowest pace in two years as mortgage rates rise

30 October 2026 at 09:05

Average price for property stands at £273,566 in October, flat on previous month, says Nationwide

UK house prices grew by an annual rate of just 0.5% in October, the slowest pace in more than two years, as higher mortgage rates put off potential buyers.

The average price for a property in the UK stood at £273,566 in October, flat on the previous month and down from 0.8% in the year to September, according to the lender Nationwide.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: scenicireland.com/Christopher Hill Photographic/Alamy

© Photograph: scenicireland.com/Christopher Hill Photographic/Alamy

© Photograph: scenicireland.com/Christopher Hill Photographic/Alamy

My wife and I couldn't buy a home on our own. So, we bought one with my in-laws.

29 October 2026 at 16:31
A hand holds a house key in front of the writer's house.
My wife and I couldn't afford to buy a home on our own, so we bought one with our in-laws instead.

Bill Coberly

  • To become homeowners sooner, my wife and I bought a house with her parents.
  • At first, navigating the space wasn't easy, but we're still able to have ample privacy.
  • Living with my in-laws has its challenges, but I can't imagine living anywhere else.

I've known my wife's parents for nearly a decade, and we've always gotten along, but I never imagined sharing a roof with them. That all changed last year, when my wife suddenly popped the question: "How would you feel about buying a house with my mom and dad?"

We knew it would be years before we could afford the down payment on a house, particularly anywhere near Frederick, Maryland, where we wanted to live.

Even though we were both lawyers in our late 30s, we didn't have as much saved as we should have. We had each chosen lower-paying work over big-firm jobs and lost financial ground during our divorces in the late 2010s.

Without the help of my in-laws, my wife and I would've had to wait another decade or so to buy a house. But if we purchased a place together, her parents would provide the down payment, and we would cover more than half of the mortgage.

So, just like that, I agreed to become roommates with my in-laws.

The house gave all of us the space we needed, but we still had to learn how to share it

The front of the writer's house.
This one-story house, with an added-on second floor and a finished basement, was perfect for all four of us.

Bill Coberly

When we began our search, we envisioned a duplex — two separate living spaces joined together — but we had a hard time finding one.

We struggled even more to find a house with bedrooms on both the first and second floors, something crucial for my in-laws, since they're in their late 60s, and we didn't want them worrying about climbing stairs now or as they get older.

After several months of looking, we finally found a place that checked all the boxes: a 1950s one-story house that the previous owner had renovated to add a second floor and a finished basement.

The upstairs, where my wife and I would live, had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry space. Downstairs, where my in-laws would live, was the main kitchen and living room, a small den, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small back kitchen.

There was enough space for all four of us — along with our two cats, our dog, and their dog — so we put in an offer.

For the first couple of months after moving in, the house was a sea of boxes, and it seemed almost impossible that we could cram all four lives into one place.

My wife and mother-in-law argued about the furniture we needed to get for the shared spaces, and we debated back and forth about what to do with the back kitchen, which we ultimately decided to convert into a laundry/mud room.

As time went on, we also had to get used to the quirks of living together. My wife works from home, which means she has to go downstairs to the main kitchen and interact with her parents before she can fully wake up. Luckily, we've just converted the upstairs laundry space into a little kitchenette, so now she can make her morning smoothie in peace.

Additionally, I learned to put on my dress shoes only when I'm on my way out of the house in the morning, as I had previously been startling my in-laws awake by clomping around in the closet just above their bedroom.

The writer's wife is sitting in the library in their home.
My wife and I love spending time either in our bedroom or in the basement, where we built a library.

Bill Coberly

But even though we're all in the same house, my wife and I still feel like we have ample privacy. Our bedroom is large, and my in-laws don't really spend much time in the basement, so sometimes, we like to hang out there as well.

Thankfully, expenses haven't been an issue, since we split most day-to-day purchases right down the middle by contributing to a joint bank account.

Living together has made everyday life easier in ways I didn't expect

The writer, his wife, and his in-laws are sitting at the dinner table together.
My mother-in-law makes dinner for all of us most nights.

Bill Coberly

Despite the challenges, sharing a home with my in-laws for the past eight months has been great.

My mother-in-law graciously offered to make dinner most nights, so we can all sit down and have a home-cooked meal as a family. When we go out of town, my in-laws watch our dog and our cats.

Once we have children, grandma and grandpa will be right there to help, and as my in-laws get older, we'll be right there to assist them.

Obviously, there are times when we annoy each other, but I've gotten to know my in-laws much better since we became roommates. The arrangement has turned us into a family and given us more financial security, and the plan is never to move again.

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The best US cities to retire in 2027

29 October 2026 at 16:15
Two people in hats hold hands while walking on a sandy beach at sunset.
Florida and Texas cities make up half of the top 15 best cities to retire in.

Twenty47studio/Getty Images

  • US News & World Report released its list of the best places to retire in 2027.
  • Affordability is one of the most important factors for retirees in choosing where to live.
  • Texas has six cities in the top 15, but the top city is in the Midwest.

There are a lot of financial concerns surrounding retirement, and choosing where to live might be one of the biggest challenges.

Unless you've managed to stockpile a large sum of money for retirement, the everyday costs of living could factor into your decision to retire altogether.

US News & World Report analyzed over 850 cities based on quality of life, affordability, healthcare, retiree taxes, job market, and population and migration for retirees 55 and older to rank what cities work best for retirees.

Affordability was a key factor in this year's list, as the pathway to a comfortable retirement isn't smooth for everyone.

"It's no secret that affordability is top of mind for Americans this year, which is why US News updated its weighting criteria to better align with what retirees prioritize," US News & World Report assistant managing editor Megan Wood said. "The 2027 rankings reflect key metrics used to highlight the places that best suit retiree needs."

The six factors used when ranking each city came from a survey of Americans 45 and older to determine what mattered most to them when considering where to retire.

The cliché of retiring to Florida still holds true, as two Florida cities ranked in the top 15. But Texas has become an even hotter spot for retirees. While last year's list included three Texas cities, this year's list has six, with two in the top five.

Texas' overall affordability makes it a popular choice not only for retirees but for other generations as well.

"Retirees are seeking a place that gives them a sense of security and comfort as they live out their golden years," Wood said.

While cities in Florida and Texas account for more than half of the top 15, neither city holds the top spot. Below, the best cities to retire in for 2027.

15. San Angelo, TX
Urban waterfront park with trees, walkways, and mid-rise buildings under a clear blue sky.
San Angelo, Texas.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $191,261

Value index: 9

Population 65+: 17%

14. Conroe, TX
Autumn trees with orange and green foliage reflect in a calm lake under a clear blue sky.
Conroe, Texas.

Photosbyjam/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $323,622

Value index: 7.9

Population 65+: 15%

13. Pearland, TX
Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses surrounding a winding green lake and tree-lined streets.
Pearland, Texas.

halbergman/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $343,369

Value index: 8

Population 65+: 13%

12. Victoria, TX
Aerial view of a small downtown block with brick storefronts, parked cars, streets, trees, and a plaza.
Victoria, Texas.

ianmcdonnell/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $200,767

Value index: 9.3

Population 65+: 17%

11. Bismarck, ND
Aerial view of the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck, North Dakota, on a dramatic overcast sunset with a red-tinted sky in the fall.
Bismarck, North Dakota.

halbergman/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $290,274

Value index: 6

Population 65+: 21%

10. Palm Coast, FL
Aerial view of a residential canal lined with waterfront homes, docks, boats, and palm trees under clear sky.
Palm Coast, Florida.

Jeff Cassetta/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $380,019

Value index: 7.5

Population 65+: 30%

9. Lynchburg, VA
Downtown skyline with illuminated streets and office buildings beneath a colorful sunset sky.
Lynchburg, Virginia.

SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $222,789

Value index: 7.5

Population 65+: 15%

8. Paducah, KY
Historic storefront buildings line a downtown street with parked cars, planters, trees, and empty parking spaces.
Paducah, Kentucky.

larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $161,025

Value index: 9.2

Population 65+: 19%

7. Altoona, PA
Snow-covered houses and brick buildings fill a small town below wooded hills in winter.
Altoona, Pennsylvania.

catnap72/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $115,035

Value index: 8.1

Population 65+: 19%

6. Rio Rancho, NM
Modern building complex and parking lot sit in a desert landscape with mountains under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $311,135

Value index: 6.2

Population 65+: 19%

5. Spring, TX
Downtown Houston skyline rises beyond a tree-lined bayou under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Spring, Texas, is a suburb about 25 miles outside Houston.

John Coletti/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $249,404

Value index: 8.6

Population 65+: 12%

4. The Woodlands, TX
Large waterfront houses line a calm lake at sunset in a landscaped residential neighborhood.
The Woodlands, Texas.

raeva/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $472,814

Value index: 6.6

Population 65+: 15%

3. Weirton, WV
American flags hang over a quiet road lined with buildings and dense green hillside vegetation.
Weirton, West Virginia.

Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $124,681

Value index: 7.6

Population 65+: 26%

2. Homosassa Springs, FL
An airboat carries passengers across a calm river bordered by dense green vegetation.
Homosassa Springs, Florida.

: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $219,352

Value index: 8.8

Population 65+: 30%

1. Midland, MI
Aerial view of a downtown district with brick buildings, streets, parked cars, and surrounding green tree canopy.
Midland, Michigan.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

Housing costs 2025: $206,176

Value index: 8.7

Population 65+: 21%

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We live on a 'family compound' with my parents and siblings. These 7 things have surprised me most about the arrangement.

29 October 2026 at 13:24
Taylor, her husband, and their daughter stand in front of their house.
We live on the same property as my parents and siblings, and have encountered some surprises along the way.

Taylor Bunting

  • My husband and I live in a separate house on the same property as my parents and siblings.
  • Our unique living arrangement has come with lots of surprises along the way.
  • Even though we live so close to each other, we have boundaries and our own separate lives.

In 2024, my husband and I began building our own house on the same property as my parents, siblings, and sister-in-law, creating a "family compound." In total, there are two separate houses, nine family members, and three adorable golden retrievers on the property.

Our family has always spent a lot of time together, but before moving into our new home in April, I don't think I truly understood what day-to-day life would be like.

Here are the biggest surprises I've encountered so far.

My family and I still have our own separate lives.
Taylor sits on a large chair and smiles at her young daughter.

Taylor Bunting

Although my husband, daughter, and I live next door to the rest of my family, we still have our own houses, routines, and lives. Some days, when we all happen to be on different pages, we don't see each other at all.

I think this balance is a huge part of what makes our setup successful. No one feels as though they are on top of each other, and my husband and I can simply take our daughter to our house, close the door, and be our own little family.

Privacy and boundaries are still possible, even when living so close together.
Taylor and her husband hold their young daughter in front of their house.

Taylor Bunting

For us, one of the keys to making our living arrangement successful is respect for personal space and boundaries.

For example, my younger siblings don't come over to my house after about 8:00 p.m. because they know my daughter is asleep and my husband and I are likely settling in for the night. This isn't something we ever had to ask them to do, they just respect our privacy and nightly routine.

The same goes for my parents. They text my husband and me before popping over to visit and always avoid walking into our house unannounced.

A lot of people don't seem to understand multigenerational living.
Taylor and her family stand around a kitchen island.

Taylor Bunting

Since sharing our family compound on social media, I was taken aback by how many people assumed that our family was part of a religious group or separate "community," rather than our setup being an example of multigenerational living.

I knew that "family compounds" aren't incredibly common nowadays, at least in the United States, but I definitely didn't think they were so widely misunderstood.

People appear to confuse our setup with communal living, rather than our family simply living as neighbors next to each other.

Casual get-togethers and dinners happen spontaneously.
Taylor's husband and sister carving Jack-O-Lanterns in the kitchen.

Taylor Bunting

I've been pleasantly surprised by how much easier casual get-togethers, dinners, and hangouts are.

I can just pop over to my parents' house and then "head home" whenever I want to. I don't need a reason to leave or an excuse to use if I'm just not feeling social.

We also don't typically find ourselves planning get-togethers; they just kind of happen. I can wake up on a Saturday morning with no plans, and within an hour, everyone is hanging out by the pool, playing yard games, and cooking food together.

Having my family around has really improved my mental health.
Taylor sits on the couch with her mom. They're both smiling at Taylor's daughter.

Taylor Bunting

As a stay-at-home mom, having my siblings and parents around throughout the week makes day-to-day life with a toddler so much more enjoyable.

Our setup gives me other adults to interact with, another set of hands when I need them, and simply remedies any of the aspects of motherhood that can otherwise feel lonely.

It's also a game changer for me to have my own mom as a resource. Rather than turning to Google, I can walk across the driveway and pick my mom's brain for parenting advice as a first-time mom.

My marriage has actually gotten even stronger since living here.
Taylor's brother and husband play basketball together.

Taylor Bunting

One of the many perks that I did not anticipate was how much the support of a village would benefit my relationship with my husband.

With other people around to lend a hand with our daughter, direct access to girl time with my mom and sister, and my husband having the ability to go watch a football game with my dad or play basketball with my brothers, we have easier access to hobbies and self-care outlets as parents. This leaves more quality time for us as a couple.

Our setup felt 'normal' pretty quickly.
Taylor, her husband, and their daughter in the pool.

Taylor Bunting

It's taken me by surprise how after only living in our home for six months, this setup already feels so natural and "normal." I can't imagine going back to living even 15 minutes down the road from our family.

Sometimes it takes people asking questions or sharing their opinion on our living arrangements to remind me that our setup is a whole lot less common than I think.

When I think back to my expectations surrounding a 'family compound' prior to moving into our home, I had only really envisioned the more overarching concepts such as family dinners, lots of quality time and no longer having to drive to visit each other.

However, I didn't realize how many of the small details would make such a positive impact on our day-to-day lives.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Every US state's fastest-growing small town you probably have never heard of

29 October 2026 at 11:17
Aerial view of a leafy suburban town with roads, low buildings, homes, and a partly cloudy sky.
Wendell is the fastest-growing town in North Carolina, according to US Census data.

OakCityDrone/Getty Images

  • US Census data shows population growth in small towns across every state from 2020 to 2025.
  • Many of the towns are in proximity to major cities, often within 25 miles.
  • They range from rural mountain towns to desert communities.

The US population has grown by roughly 58 million since 2000, but the nation's biggest cities aren't the only areas seeing increases.

Whether it's suburbs next to urban areas or towns that have become hot spots in their own right, all 50 states are seeing population growth in small- and medium-sized towns.

Business Insider used the latest five-year Census population estimates, covering July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, to calculate the population growth percentage for each state's towns and cities over the period.

Census population estimates are revised every year, so some 2020 figures differ slightly from estimates published in previous years.

To avoid municipalities with negligible populations, we considered only places with more than 1,000 residents in the 2020 population estimates. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 places, most have populations under 20,000.

Here's each state's fastest-growing city or town.

Triana, Alabama
Downtown Huntsville skyline overlooks Big Spring Park ponds and lit walkways at dusk.
Huntsville, Alabama, roughly 15 miles northeast of Triana.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 3,003

2025 population: 5,244

Percentage growth: 75%

Sitting in the northern region of Alabama along the Tennessee River, Triana was named the fourth-best suburb to live in Alabama by Niche, a real-estate and education ranking platform.

Wasilla, Alaska
Lakeside homes reflect in calm water below autumn trees and snow-covered mountains.
Wasilla, Alaska.

Jan Miracky/Getty Images

2020 population: 9,113

2025 population: 10,556

Percentage growth: 16%

Wasilla sits roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, the state's largest city. As of 2020, Wasilla had just 732 residents per square mile, according to Census data.

Coolidge, Arizona
Adobe ruins stand beneath a large protective metal canopy in a sunny desert landscape.
The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, Arizona.

apollob66/Getty Images

2020 population: 13,425

2025 population: 19,959

Percentage growth: 49%

Coolidge sits between Phoenix and Tucson and is home to the site of the Casa Grande Ruins, containing fragments of Native American structures. Sitting in the Sonoran Desert, the town sees frequent daily temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

Highfill, Arkansas
Street view of The Walmart Museum and Walton's 5-10 storefronts with outdoor seating and parked vehicles.

Roberto Galan/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,672

2025 population: 3,676

Percentage growth: 120%

Highfill is about 15 miles away from Bentonville, Arkansas, and is near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.

Paradise, California
Evacuation zone signs stand beside a rural road near a fire station and cleared gravel lot.
Paradise, California.

Chris Allan/Getty Images

2020 population: 5,090

2025 population: 10,023

Percentage growth: 97%

The rapid growth can largely be attributed to Paradise's recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, which ravaged the community. Per the Census, the town had over 26,000 residents in 2010, and is still rebuilding after being at the heart of the deadliest fire in the state's history.

Elizabeth, Colorado
Roadside welcome sign for Elizabeth, Colorado, stands beside a rural highway under a clear blue sky.
Elizabeth, Colorado.

Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

2020 population: 1,710

2025 population: 2,957

Percentage growth: 73%

Elizabeth is about 40 miles from Denver, making it popular for those seeking a rural life while living within commuting distance of Colorado's economic hub, according to a report by Outside.

Woodmont, Connecticut
Waterfront houses line a sandy shoreline beside calm blue water under a clear sky.
Woodmont is a borough of Milford, Connecticut.

miroslav_1/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,554

2025 population: 2,391

Percentage growth: 54%

Woodmont, a borough of Milford, is a popular summer destination, according to the Connecticut Tourism Office. It is about 7 miles away from New Haven.

Cheswold, Delaware
Historic brick house with white lattice fencing stands along a tree-shaded brick walkway.

Rolf Karlsson/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,938

2025 population: 2,653

Percentage growth: 37%

In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census.

Westlake, Florida
Aerial view of a suburban sports park with baseball fields, tennis courts, roads, trees, and surrounding neighborhoods.

felixmizioznikov/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,048

2025 population: 9,042

Percentage growth: 763%

Westlake was formerly farmland before the land was purchased by Minto Group, a real-estate company with development plans for the area. The town only officially became a municipality in 2016.

Occupying over 6 miles of land, Westlake has thousands of single-family residential homes with more under construction, according to the town.

Hoschton, Georgia
Aerial view of a dense urban downtown with roads, brick buildings, trees, and cloudy sky.
Nearby Athens, Georgia.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 2,775

2025 population: 8,623

Percentage growth: 211%

Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens.

Hawai'i County, Hawaii
Aerial view of a coastal town with roads, buildings, green spaces, and a blue bay under scattered clouds.
Hilo, Hawaii.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

2020 population: 200,744

2025 population: 210,043

Percentage growth: 4.6%

Hawaii holds the distinction of being the only US state without official incorporated municipalities. The state's towns are governed at the county level.

Of the five counties — Hawai'i, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kaua'i, and Maui — Hawai'i County, commonly known as the "Big Island," reported the largest population growth from 2020 to 2025.

Star, Idaho
Autumn trees and flowers overlook a downtown skyline with a capitol dome and foothills in the background.
Boise, Idaho, about 15 miles southeast of Star.

christiannafzger/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 11,488

2025 population: 20,874

Percentage growth: 82%

Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise.

Wonder Lake, Illinois
Ornate green gazebo stands in a landscaped park near a brick building with a domed tower.
Nearby Woodstock, Illinois.

EJ_Rodriquez/Getty Images

2020 population: 4,004

2025 population: 5,593

Percentage growth: 40%

Wonder Lake sits just below the Illinois-Wisconsin border, about 65 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Whitestown, Indiana
Aerial view of downtown Indianapolis skyline with surrounding residential neighborhoods and tree-lined streets under a clear blue sky.
Indianapolis, Indiana, is about 20 miles southeast of Whitestown.

Wirestock/Getty Images

2020 population: 10,383

2025 population: 15,767

Percentage growth: 52%

Whitestown, which is just over 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to more than 50 acres of parks and 13 miles of trails.

Tiffin, Iowa
Aerial view of downtown Cedar Rapids along the Cedar River with bridges, Mays Island, and skyline buildings.
Nearby Cedar Rapids, just north of Tiffin, Iowa.

Aaron Yoder/Getty Images

2020 population: 4,625

2025 population: 7,156

Percentage growth: 55%

The fast-growing suburb sits F. W. Kent County Park, a sought-after destination in the state for outdoor activities. Tiffin is located 22 miles south of Cedar Rapids.

Maize, Kansas
Downtown Fort Wayne skyline with office buildings and the Allen County Courthouse under a pink and blue dusk sky.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 5,818

2025 population: 7,853

Percentage growth: 35%

It takes under 20 minutes to drive from Maize to central Wichita.

Elkton, Kentucky
Red brick courthouse with white clock tower stands on a decorated town square under a clear blue sky.
Elkton, Kentucky.

BOB WESTON/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 2,061

2025 population: 2,387

Percentage growth: 16%

Nashville is the nearest major city to Elkton, located about 60 miles south of the town.

Maurice, Louisiana
Cars drive under a DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE arch on a city street lined with trees and storefronts.
Nearby Lafayette, Louisiana, just 11 miles northeast of Maurice.

Laser1987/Getty Images

2020 population: 2,185

2025 population: 3,215

Percentage growth: 47%

Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana's fourth-largest city.

Greenville, Maine
Autumn foliage frames a dirt path overlooking a lake and broad mountain under a pale sky.
Greenville, Maine.

A Janick/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,440

2025 population: 1,743

Percentage growth: 21%

Far from the cities of Portland and Bangor, Greenville is located further inland at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, the state's largest freshwater body, according to Visit Maine. Greenville sits roughly 60 miles from the US-Canada border.

Trappe, Maryland
Brick sidewalk and garden entrance line a historic downtown street with storefronts, planters, and flowering trees.
nearby Easton, Maryland.

Grandbrothers/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,177

2025 population: 1,517

Percentage growth: 29%

Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe.

Bolton, Massachusetts
Downtown Worcester skyline at sunset with brick buildings, a clock tower, and modern high-rises.
Worcester, Massachusetts.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 5666

2025 population: 6477

Percentage growth: 14%

Bolton is about 18 miles northeast of Worcester and about 40 miles west of Boston.


Editor's Note: Amherst had the largest estimated population increase from 2020 to 2025, but Business Insider chose second-place Bolton because Amherst’s unusually low 2020 estimate could have been distorted by pandemic-era student departures.

Manton, Michigan
Downtown street lined with storefronts, traffic lights, and vehicles under a cloudy sky.
The downtown area in nearby Cadillac, Michigan.

Roberto Galan/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,271

2025 population: 1,626

Percentage growth: 28%

Manton was a finalist in Reader's Digest's "Nicest Place in America" ranking in 2021.

Dayton, Minnesota
A Dayton street banner reading "Live the difference." hangs from a black pole beside trees under a blue sky.
Dayton, Minnesota.

Melissa Kopka/Getty Images

2020 population: 7,432

2025 population: 11,402

Percentage growth: 53%

Dayton is a relatively wealthy suburb, with a high homeownership rate and a median household income of $148,947 in 2024, per 2024 Census data. Dayton is under 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Sumrall, Mississippi
Aerial view of Hattiesburg water tower beside brick campus buildings, parking lots, trees, and a cloudy sky.
Neaby Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

CRobertson/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,777

2025 population: 2,299

Percentage growth: 29%

Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi's fifth-largest city.

Rogersville, Missouri
Aerial view of a downtown area with low-rise buildings, streets, parking lots, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.
Nearby Springfield, Missouri, 20 miles west of Rogersville.

ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 3,897

2025 population: 5,754

Percentage growth: 48%

According to 2024 Census data, there are about 2.98 households per resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.

The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield.

Kalispell, Montana
Downtown commercial street with historic storefronts, parked cars, and a traffic light under a partly cloudy sky.
Kalispell, Montana.

GummyBone/Getty Images

2020 population: 25,263

2025 population: 31,851

Percentage growth: 26%

According to the 2024 Census data, Kalispell is the seventh-largest city in Montana by population and the eighth-largest by land area.

Hickman, Nebraska
Aerial view of the Nebraska State Capitol surrounded by downtown Lincoln streets, buildings, lawns, and autumn trees.
Lincoln, Nebraska.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

2020 population: 2,655

2025 population: 3,663

Percentage growth: 38%

Hickman's population has more than tripled since 2000, per the Census. The town is under 20 miles south of Lincoln, the state's capital city.

Mesquite, Nevada
Aerial view of a divided highway crossing red desert terrain toward snow-capped mountains under a clear sky.
A highway near Mesquite, Nevada.

Moiseii Production/Getty Images

2020 population: 20,608

2025 population: 24,001

Percentage growth: 16%

Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas, roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite.

Epping, New Hampshire
Snow-covered farm field with a red barn, small house, bare trees, and a pastel winter sky.
Epping, New Hampshire.

Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 7,153

2025 population: 7,973

Percentage growth: 11%

The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute attributed Epping's population growth to its proximity to major state highways and economic hubs in the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley, and Boston.

Seaside Park, New Jersey
Beachgoers relax on a sandy beach with a lifeguard chair and amusement park rides in the background.
Seaside Park, New Jersey.

Kena Betancur/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,445

2025 population: 2,135

Percentage growth: 48%

Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park.

Los Lunas, New Mexico
Colorful pole sculptures stand on a dry hillside with mountains and blue sky in the background.
Los Lunas, New Mexico.

Lily Kimei/Getty Images

2020 population: 17,454

2025 population: 20,572

Percentage growth: 18%

Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including its use as a bombing range after World War II, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation.

The town is about 20 miles south of Albuquerque.

Kiryas Joel, New York
Welcome to Kiryas Joel sign displays community dress and behavior guidelines in English and Spanish beside snowy woods.
Kiryas Joel, New York.

Jonathan Novack/Getty Images

2020 population: 33,507

2025 population: 47,147

Percentage growth: 41%

Kiryas Joel, coterminous with the town of Palm Tree, has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, according to the 2020 Census.

Wendell, North Carolina
Aerial view of a suburban housing development with rows of homes, streets, lawns, and surrounding trees.
Wendell, North Carolina.

zimmytws/Getty Images

2020 population: 9,997

2025 population: 19,687

Percentage growth: 97%

Wendell is within 20 miles of Raleigh, North Carolina's second most populous city. The growth is expected to continue, with 1,900 new homes under construction in the town, the area's ABC 11 reported.

Horace, North Dakota
Downtown intersection with brick and glass buildings under a vivid pink and orange sunset sky.
Downtown of the nearby Fargo.

Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images

2020 population: 3,249

2025 population: 7,001

Percentage growth: 115%

Horace is a suburb of Fargo, North Dakota's largest city by population, and is itself the 13th most populous city in the state.

South Bloomfield, Ohio
Downtown Columbus skyline and arched bridge reflected in the Scioto River under a blue sky.
Nearby Columbus, Ohio.

Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images

2020 population: 2,147

2025 population: 4,164

Percentage growth: 94%

South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus.

Newcastle, Oklahoma
Brick-lined canal district at sunset with water taxis, walkways, restaurants, and a tall glass tower in the background.
Oklahoma City is located just north of Newcastle.

RudyBalasko/Getty Images

2020 population: 11,171

2025 population: 15,198

Percentage growth: 36%

A suburb of Oklahoma City, Newcastle appeared on 24/7 Wall St.'s "The Best City to Live in Every State" list in 2019.

Estacada, Oregon
Snow-covered Mount Hood rises beyond evergreen forest and autumn foliage under a clear blue sky.
McIver Park, near Es

Demujin/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 4,531

2025 population: 5,814

Percentage growth: 28%

Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland.

Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania
Aerial view of a leafy residential neighborhood with houses, streets, hills, and a river under a partly cloudy sky.
Lancaster is about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Althom/Getty Images

2020 population: 2,765

2025 population: 3,734

Percentage growth: 35%


Lancaster Township is a small municipality in Butler County, western Pennsylvania, and is separate from the much larger city of Lancaster in southeastern Pennsylvania. It's about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Glocester, Rhode Island
Providence skyline and riverfront at sunset with downtown towers, trees, boardwalk, and dramatic clouds.
Nearby Providence, Rhode Island.

miroslav_1/Getty Images

2020 population: 9,984

2025 population: 10,612

Percentage growth: 6.3%

Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet.

Hardeeville, South Carolina
Wetland marsh with tall grasses, reflective water, moss-covered trees, and a clear blue sky.
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in Hardeeville, South Carolina.

Norm Lane/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 7,764

2025 population: 16,459

Percentage growth: 112%

Located under 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, Hardeeville has historically had the nickname "The Lowcountry Host" for its many hotels and accommodations for travelers, per the Hardeeville Police Department.

Harrisburg, South Dakota
Waterfall flows through rocky cliffs beside historic stone structures and trees under a cloudy blue sky.

GummyBone/Getty Images

2020 population: 6,845

2025 population: 10,405

Percentage growth: 52%

Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls, has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data.

Lebanon, Tennessee
Colorful brick storefronts, parked cars, a Route 231 sign, and flower beds line a sunny downtown street.
Lebanon, Tennessee.

csfotoimages/Getty Images

2020 population: 38,908

2025 population: 53,412

Percentage growth: 37%

Located 30 minutes east of Nashville, Lebanon is becoming a population hub in its own right. The town is home to the Nashville Superspeedway and Cumberland University.

Josephine, Texas
Dallas skyline at sunset with the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge spanning green parkland and water in the foreground.

Kruck20/Getty Images

2020 population: 2,283

2025 population: 10,208

Percentage growth: 347%

Josephine, 40 miles northeast of Dallas, is experiencing a major housing boom. Companies like D.R. Horton are constructing developments with hundreds of homes, and the low cost of living in the area is attracting a lot of millennial first-time homebuyers, Business Insider's Alcynna Lloyd reported.

Saratoga Springs, Utah
New houses under construction line a muddy residential development site with vehicles, workers, and mountains in the background.
Homes under construction in Saratoga Springs, Utah.

George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images

2020 population: 38,318

2025 population: 61,397

Percentage growth: 60%

Saratoga Springs sits along Utah Lake and is among Utah's 15 most populous cities. Saratoga Springs has a reputation for safety, with its total crime rate 69% below the national average, per Best Utah Real Estate.

Newport, Vermont
Small white lighthouse stands in a landscaped waterfront park beside a path, trees, and calm blue water.
Newport's neighboring eponymous city of Newport, Vermont.

vermontalm/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,581

2025 population: 2,583

Percentage growth: 63%

The town, a distinct municipality from the neighboring city of Newport, is just over 5 miles south of the US-Canada border and is one of Vermont's least populous municipalities.

Louisa, Virginia
Roadside signs mark Davis Hwy and Louisa corporate limits beside a 25 mph speed limit sign.
Louisa, Virginia.

krblokhin/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,993

2025 population: 2,244

Percentage growth: 13%

Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond.

Ridgefield, Washington
Curved elevated walkway with brown railings winds through green trees under a clear blue sky.
Ridgefield, Washington.

portgrimes/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 10,875

2025 population: 16,132

Percentage growth: 48%

Located near Vancouver, Washington, Ridgefield has a history as a Native American village site, which was visited during the Lewis and Clark expedition, the city says.

Charles Town, West Virginia
Downtown street with Bank of Charles Town building, American flags, parked cars, and lamppost banners under an overcast sky.
Charles Town, West Virginia.

Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

2020 population: 6,529

2025 population: 9,329

Percentage growth: 43%

Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city.

Lannon, Wisconsin
Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee skyline with surrounding neighborhoods, Lake Michigan, and the Milwaukee River at sunset.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jon Mattrisch/Getty Images

2020 population: 1,419

2025 population: 2,057

Percentage growth: 45%

Lannon's growth can largely be attributed to new investments in the town, such as housing developments, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reported. Lannon is located about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Alpine, Wyoming
A calm mountain lake bordered by grassy wetlands and forested hills under a clear blue sky.
Alpine, Wyoming.

htrnr/Getty Images/iStockphoto

2020 population: 1,229

2025 population: 1,382

Percentage growth: 13%

Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state's 10 most populous cities.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Oheka Castle, the 127-room Long Island estate that helped inspire 'The Great Gatsby,' has been sold. See inside.

29 October 2026 at 09:49
Aerial view of the Oheka Castle property  in Huntington, New York.
An aerial view of the Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York.

J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images

  • Oheka Castle, the second-largest private home in the US, has been sold for $72 million.
  • The estate is said to have inspired "The Great Gatsby" and has been used in film and TV.
  • It's also a favorite wedding venue for celebrities, such as Kevin Jonas, Megyn Kelly, and more.

If you've ever read or seen "The Great Gatsby," you know 1920s New York was home to extravagant mansions with owners who hosted lavish parties — and if you've watched "The Gilded Age," you know those parties began decades earlier in the 1870s.

And if you're a really dedicated fan, you just missed your chance to own a piece of F. Scott Fitzgerald history yourself. Oheka Castle, a sprawling, century-old estate said to have inspired the parties in "The Great Gatsby," went up for auction on October 27, via Concierge Auctions and Adam Modlin of The Modlin Group.

Its original homeowner was financier Otto Hermann Kahn, who built Oheka Castle — named after its owner (Oh-He-Ka) — in 1919 on Long Island.

Kahn's wife used to call the home "Otto's zoo," and it seemed to be an accurate description. A-listers of the time used to party at the 109,000-square-foot home, with Kahn as a Gatsby-like figure entertaining all his guests.

But Oheka's journey didn't end there. After Kahn's death in 1934, the property changed hands numerous times until it was abandoned in the '80s. Fires, vandalism, and theft devastated it.

According to Oheka Castle, land developer Gary Melius then purchased the estate and spent $40 million restoring it to its former glory. He defaulted on a loan over a decade ago, Forbes reported, and declared bankruptcy in July 2025 to forestall what happened this week: Oheka on the auction block.

Per Concierge Auction, seven bidders were competing for Oheka, but the eventual winner, Gold Coast Property & Estate Management LLC, is set to pay $72 million for the property, pending approval. The sale also includes a pre-approved plan to build a four-story condo building.

"This sale marks an exciting next chapter for Oheka and an opportunity for its next owner to preserve that legacy while bringing a new vision to the estate," said Modlin.

Today, Oheka is the second-largest private home in the US, behind only the Biltmore House in North Carolina. It's a popular venue for weddings, a restaurant, and a hotel, and has been featured in movies, TV shows, and music videos. Taylor Swift even filmed the "Blank Space" video there.

You can also tour the grounds for $30. I took the tour in April 2024 and was astonished by the beauty of Oheka Castle. Here's what it was like to visit.

Oheka Castle was built in 1919 by German-American financier Otto Hermann Kahn.
oheka castle and grounds
The grounds at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

He spent about $11 million, or about $213 million in today's currency, to build Oheka on 443 acres of land in West Hills, New York.
oheka castle front
The front of Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Oheka Castle has seen a lot in its 100-plus years, and for anyone who wants to learn more, tours are offered twice daily.
me at oheka
Sitting outside of Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

So, I decided to visit. All I knew about Oheka was that Kevin Jonas got married there and Taylor Swift filmed the "Blank Space" music video there.
taylor swift blank space
"Blank Space."

YouTube

But Oheka has a rich history. I learned all about it on a beautiful afternoon in April 2024.
me at the gazebo at oheka
Standing by the gazebo.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When you drive to the entryway, it's a bit intimidating. There's someone working the gate who must let you in.
front gate with tower
The front gate.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Then comes a long driveway. I felt like I was going back in time to the Gilded Age.
the driveway at oheka
The driveway.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

My first look at the main house was astounding — and yes, I mean house. Oheka Castle is the second-largest private residence in the US.
front door of oheka
The front door.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It's also on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added in September 2004.
the plaque
The plaque adding Oheka to the National Register of Historic Places.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When Kahn built this house, he had three requirements: He wanted to be high up, he wanted a view of the water, and he needed the house to be fireproof.
staircase
An exterior staircase.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

His previous house in New Jersey had burned down. Oheka, in contrast, is built largely out of stone.
side of oheka stone
Some of the stonework at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I went inside and waited in front of a grand staircase with the rest of my group for our tour to begin.
staircase
The staircase.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When it began, we saw photos of how the house looked before its current owner restored it. We'd learn more about this later.
the grand staircase in 1984
The grand staircase in 1984.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The first room we entered was this beautiful entryway with a mural of the sky on the ceiling.
entryway
The entryway.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The house itself is 112,895 square feet today and has 127 rooms.
stairs at oheka
More of Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Many of the rooms are dedicated to showing off the home's history, like the Chaplin Room.
chaplin room oheka
The Chaplin Room.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Charlie Chaplin was just one of the many '20s A-listers who hung out at Oheka. This photo shows Chaplin (right) with Kahn (center) and actor Douglas Fairbanks (left).
douglas fairbanks, otto kahn and charlie chaplin
Fairbanks, Kahn, and Chaplin.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

In fact, according to my tour guide, Jay Gatsby's wild parties in "The Great Gatsby" were inspired by what was going down at Oheka in the '20s.
the great gatsby party
"The Great Gatsby."

Warner Bros. Pictures

This was Kahn's wife Adelaide's favorite room. Adelaide wasn't as big of an entertainer as her husband, but this sunny room was perfect for guests.
adelaide kahn's favorite room
Adelaide's favorite room.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This ballroom is the only room that's not original to Kahn's time inside Oheka today.
grand ballroom at oheka
The ballroom.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

But as you can see from the ballroom's windows, Oheka met Kahn's requirement for a view of the water. He used to dock his yacht there.
view of the water
That's Cold Spring Harbor in the background.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Kahn, who was Jewish, also built a golf course on his property — country clubs at the time wouldn't admit Jewish people or allow them to play.
golf course at oheka
The golf course next to Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

After Kahn's death in 1934, the property was shuffled between owners. From 1948 to 1979, it was the Eastern Military Academy.
Otto Kahn in 1933.
Otto Kahn in 1933.

NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images

During those days, what is now the breakfast room was used as a gym.
breakfast room
A breakfast room.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

From that room, we made our way to this huge library.
library at oheka
Oheka's library.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

A portrait of Kahn hung above the fireplace.
otto kahn
Otto Hermann Kahn.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Our final stop on the first floor was this room, which also houses a bar. Press clippings about Oheka adorned the walls.
news room and bar
The bar.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Among the displayed articles was Danielle and Kevin Jonas' wedding spread in People. They got married at the estate in 2009.
kevin and danielle's wedding
Kevin and Danielle Jonas' wedding spread in People.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Then we went upstairs to check out the hotel and bridal suite.
hotel hallway
The hallway at Oheka's hotel.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The bridal suite, which is on the fourth floor, opens with this mural-covered entryway.
bridal suite entryway
The bridal suite entryway.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

A beautiful open room with windows allows wedding parties to take in the view of Oheka's well-manicured grounds.
bridal suite
Bridal suite.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The gardens at Oheka are breathtaking from above.
gardens from above
The garden from the bridal suite.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Here's the main bedroom of the bridal suite.
bedroom of bridal suite
The bedroom in the bridal suite.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The primary bathroom has a bathtub and a shower.
bridal suite bathroom
The bridal suite bathroom.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Then it was time to check out the gardens — and to learn what happened to Oheka.
gardens at oheka
The gardens.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When the Eastern Military Academy went bankrupt and vacated its premises in 1979, Oheka was left abandoned.
oheka castle in 2014
Oheka Castle in 2014.

John Paraskevas/Newsday RM/Getty Images

Residents who lived nearby were concerned about vandalism. One neighbor even took this statue for safekeeping and returned it when Oheka was restored in the '80s.
oheka statues
A statue at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Land developer Gary Melius purchased Oheka in 1984 and spent $40 million restoring it to its former glory.
Huntington, N.Y.: Businessman Gary Melius during an interview in his office at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York on August 6, 2014.
Huntington, N.Y.: Businessman Gary Melius during an interview in his office at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York on August 6, 2014.

Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/Getty Images

The gardens were originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers, best known for helping with Central Park.
gardens at oheka
The front yard at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Melius used those original sketches to restore Oheka.
gazebo at oheka
The gazebo at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These statues were tracked down at an auction and are thought to date back to the Renaissance.
renaissance statues at oheka
A statue at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Now, it's a beautiful wedding venue, hotel, restaurant, and home — Melius keeps an apartment on the third floor.
oheka restaurant
The restaurant at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

As I left the grounds, I got one more look at the restaurant and its courtyard.
courtyard oheka
The courtyard.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I would highly recommend taking a tour of Oheka. As I viewed its stunning surroundings and learned about its unique history, I felt like I was traveling back in time.
me at the fountain
Sitting at the fountain.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in September 2026 and most recently updated in October 2026.

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Budget 2026: Healey hikes taxes on banks and landlords to fund £100 handouts to 20m households

Few surprises as chancellor uses low-key speech blaming ‘global economic storms’ for stoking energy prices and cost of living crisis

John Healey raised taxes on banks and landlords to fund a £100 winter handout for 20 million families as official forecasts made clear there is no end in sight for the cost of living crisis.

In his first budget, the chancellor blamed “global economic storms” for the grim outlook, as the war in Iran drives up oil and gas prices.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty Images

Beyoncé and Jay-Z own one of the most expensive mansions in California history. See all the homes in their real-estate empire.

28 October 2026 at 19:38
Jay-Z and Beyoncé pose together in formal attire before a branded event backdrop with Deloitte and Disney logos.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have built a six-figure portfolio of real estate properties.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

  • Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a home that set a record for the priciest home in California in 2023.
  • The $190 million Malibu mansion is just one of the many properties they own around the country.
  • Here are the homes they're linked to, from a former church in New Orleans to a Hamptons estate.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z break music records — and real-estate records.

The couple, whose combined net worth is nearly $4 billion as of publication, according to Forbes, is linked to numerous partnerships and deals, including Jay-Z's upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance, as well as several multimillion-dollar homes across the United States.

In 2023, they bought a 42,000-square-foot Malibu estate with a minimalist concrete aesthetic, designed by famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The price? $190 million — one of the largest sums in California history.

In New Orleans, the "Cowboy Carter" singer and the rapper-turned-entrepreneur have been linked to a former Presbyterian church that has been transformed into a mansion.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z's impressive property portfolio also includes another mansion in the Los Angeles area and several homes in New York. They are also reportedly in talks to purchase a 58-acre plot of land in the Cotswolds that they plan to develop in the future.

Take a look at Beyoncé and Jay-Z's homes across the country.

Beyoncé came from humble beginnings in Houston.
One of Beyonce's Houston area childhood homes.
One of Beyonce's Houston area childhood homes.

Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images

Beyoncé's rise to stardom began in a modest, middle-class neighborhood in Houston's Third Ward.

2414 Rosedale Street has three bedrooms and three bathrooms over 8,640 square feet, according to the listing from 2019.

According to the Associated Press, the Knowles family purchased the home in 1982, not long after Beyoncé was born, and moved out when she was about 5.

In 2019, the home was listed for sale for about $500,000. Because Texas is a non-disclosure state, it's unclear how much it sold for.

Beyoncé was spotted taking photos of the home in September 2023 during the Houston stop of her Renaissance World Tour, the AP reported.

The couple is linked to a Tribeca penthouse, where they married in 2008.
A streetview of 195 Hudson Street.
Jay-Z made one of his first large real estate purchases at 195 Hudson Street.

Business Insider/Julie Zeveloff

In September 2004, Jay-Z, who voiced his aspirations for success in his hit rap song 'Big Pimpin', made one of his first big real-estate purchases.

The native New Yorker, who was about 34 at the time, spent $6.85 million on a penthouse at 195 Hudson Street in the downtown Manhattan neighborhood of Tribeca.

Architectural Digest reported that the 8,000-square-foot apartment has an additional 3,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space. It's in a 27-unit building that was converted from a 1929 brick warehouse in 1999, real-estate listings site StreetEasy reported.

In 2008, he and Beyoncé held an intimate wedding ceremony at the penthouse, with 40 people in attendance. Architectural Digest reported in 2024 that the couple is believed to still own the home.

The couple rented out a Los Angeles mansion for $150,000 a month
A panoramic and aerial view of the Los Angeles skyline.
Los Angeles.

Michelle Smith/Getty Images

In 2014, the Carters house-hunted on the East Coast, considering several properties. One was an eight-bedroom, 15-bathroom Beverly Hills mansion that they were outbid for by Markus Persson, the billionaire creator of the video game Minecraft. (Persson listed the mansion for sale in October 2026 for $70 million.)

After being outbid on several other properties, the couple decided to rent a home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills, Architectural Digest reported. The 20,000-square-foot estate was valued at $4 million in 2015, according to Realtor.com. At the time, the couple paid a whopping $150,000 a month in rent. When the property was eventually sold in 2015, they moved on.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are also linked to a home in New Orleans that used to be a church.
An old newspaper image of La Casa de Castille.
La Casa de Castille was previously a Presbyterian church before being transformed into a residence decades later.

IMAGE VIA TIMES-PICAYUNE ARCHIVE"

Louisiana is where Beyoncé's mother, fashion designer Tina Knowles, was born and raised.

In 2015, multiple news outlets reported that the couple purchased a Spanish Baroque-style mansion in New Orleans' Garden District. The house on Harmony Street, locally known as La Casa de Castille, was listed for $2.6 million at the time of its purchase, but the exact sales purchase price remains a mystery due to Louisiana's non-disclosure policy.

NOLA.com outlined how the church became a residence: In the 1920s, Westminster Presbyterian Church built it, and 38 members of the Ku Klux Klan allegedly attended its groundbreaking ceremony. Following years of vacancy, dancer Harvey Hysell transformed it into a ballet theater in 1977. Finally, in the early 2000s, it was purchased and extensively renovated.

According to the old Zillow listing, it still has 16-foot ceilings and stained-glass windows. The 13,300-square-foot, three-story property, made up of a main residence and three separate apartments, has a total of seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a rooftop garden.

In 2021, there was a fire on the property, and it was listed for sale shortly after at $3.5 million, later increased to $4.45 million, TMZ reported. However, it was later taken off the market, according to Architectural Digest.

On Google Maps' Street View, La Casa de Castille is blurred, suggesting that it may still be a private residence.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z own a home in the Hamptons.
Pond House Rear Exterior

Jeffrey Collé

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have a New York state of mind when it comes to real estate.

In addition to the Tribeca penthouse and a midtown Manhattan condo — which Beyoncé owned prior to their marriage and sold in 2017 for $10 million — they have rented and owned several homes in the Hamptons.

In 2012, the year their daughter Blue Ivy was born, they leased a 31,000-square-foot vacation home in Bridgehampton for $400,000 a month.

Beyond the standard luxuries like a bar, a pool, and a tennis court, that mansion also featured a bowling alley, rock climbing wall, and skateboard half-pipe, according to Architectural Digest.

In 2017, the couple purchased the Pond House in East Hampton for $26 million.

Located at 81 Briar Patch Road, the 12,000-square-foot mansion with seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a separate cottage was designed by architect Stanford White, whose work includes the arch in Washington Square Park.

The couple's waterfront property sits across from Georgica Pond and a 17-acre meadow preserve, offering unparalleled privacy.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a 34,000-square-foot estate in Bel Air in 2017.
An aerial photo of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Bel Air mansion, showing several houses from above with swimming pools, separated by winding roads and greenery
An aerial view of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Bel Air mansion, pictured in the center of the image with the round driveway, just above the semicircular construction site.

USGS Explorer

Also in 2017, Beyoncé and Jay-Z bought an $88 million mansion in Bel Air. They welcomed twins Rumi and Sir that year, too.

The ultramodern 34,000-square-foot estate has eight bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, and a 90-foot infinity pool, according to its Zillow listing.

It has more than 10,000 square feet of outdoor living space and offers panoramic views of the Angeles National Forest.

In 2023, Beyoncé and Jay-Z bought the most expensive home in California history.
A sky view of 27712 Pacific Coast Highway.
A sky view of 27712 Pacific Coast Highway, the priciest residential property ever sold in California.

Anthony Barcelo

In 2023, Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a 40,000-square-foot mansion in Malibu's exclusive Paradise Cove neighborhood, which some have dubbed "Billionaires' Beach," for $190 million.

The sale set a record at the time for the most expensive property transaction in California. It was also the largest residential sale nationwide that year.

The estate's record-breaking price tag is attributed in part to its high-pedigree design and extensive array of amenities.

According to Architectural Digest, it took the previous owners, art collectors Bill Bell and his wife Maria Bell, a decade and a half to complete the building.

Spanning more than 8 acres, the compound is designed in the Japanese minimalist style for which its architect, Tadao Ando, is known.

According to E! News, the main residence has 8 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, while its living room features custom-made fixtures imported from Italy. Outside, there are four separate pools, a bar, and a private helipad.

The couple is reportedly in talks to purchase a 58-acre plot of land in the Cotswolds in England.
Stone village with a church tower sits among trees and green hills in a rural landscape.
The Cotswolds.

by Marc Guitard/Getty Images

The Cotswolds, a picturesque region spanning parts of southwestern and south-central England, is known for its rolling green hills, centuries-old villages, and historic estates.

With luxury properties often commanding multimillion-pound prices, the area has earned the nickname "the Hamptons of England." It has long attracted prominent British residents, including David and Victoria Beckham, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and supermodel Kate Moss.

More recently, the Cotswolds have also attracted wealthy Americans. Beyoncé and Jay-Z are reportedly among them, The Times reported in September.

According to the publication, the Carters are considering a £7.5 million ($8.54 million) 58-acre property in Wigginton, a village with fewer than 200 residents. Owain Jones, who is handling the sale, told The Times that their plans to develop the land could bring the project's total cost to about £18 million (or about $20. 5 million).

Should the Carters move forward with the purchase, they would not be far from the Beckhams and Simon Cowell, who reportedly own homes in the nearby village of Great Tew.

However, the proposed construction has upset some Wigginton residents, who are concerned about preserving the village's peace and quiet, House & Garden reported.

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I moved from Hawaii to the mainland United States. Here are 8 culture shocks I wasn't prepared for.

28 October 2026 at 13:34
Jana stands in front of lush, green vegetation.
I moved from Hawaii to the continental US and have experienced some culture shocks along the way.

Jana Soli

  • I lived in Hawaii for 13 years and moved to the continental United States in 2021.
  • Life on the mainland has come with many surprises, from heavier traffic to more air conditioning.
  • Hawaii doesn't observe daylight-saving time, so the time change has taken some getting used to.

After living in Hawaii for 13 years — my entire adult life — I decided to move to North Carolina in 2021 for my MBA. While in school, I met my husband, and together, we relocated to Atlanta to pursue our careers.

However, after spending so much time in Hawaii, moving to the mainland came with some surprises. Here are eight of the biggest culture shocks I've experienced.

On the mainland, I spend much more time in my car.
Traffic on a highway in Atlanta.

Barry Williams/Getty Images

When I lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, I rarely had to drive more than 30 minutes at a time. Everything from work to the grocery store to the beach was just a short car ride away. A trip across the island felt like a journey.

So, it took me some time to adjust to the longer commutes in mainland cities. Rush-hour traffic is now a regular occurrence, rather than something I see in movies. And now, driving an hour to work or to visit friends is standard where I live.

Even though driving isn't always my favorite activity, I love that I can get in my car and head to another state in just a few hours. It's given my husband and me a lot of fun weekend road trips.

Daylight-saving time is new for me.
The sunset over the ocean in Hawaii.

Jana Soli

Hawaii doesn't follow daylight-saving time, and instead stays on Hawaii Standard Time all year long. So when I first came to the mainland, the time changes twice a year really confused me.

I still have to look up when daylight-saving time begins and ends, especially when I'm referencing what time it is back in Hawaii. Thankfully, I keep a list of cities on my clock app to keep track of the time difference.

Experiencing four distinct seasons has changed how I observe time passing.
Fall foliage lines the street in Atlanta, with Bank of America Plaza in the background.

Sean Davis/Getty Images

Moving to a place with seasons meant buying winter clothing and seeing the leaves bursting into bright oranges and reds in the fall.

This is different from the islands, where the seasons are largely the rainy season and dry season. I now look forward to seasonal transitions and the festivities that come with each one.

Air conditioning is much more common on the mainland.
A jalousie window with horizontal glass slats.

Jana Soli

Many homes in Hawaii, including the one where I lived, use the trade winds for cooling. My home had jalousie windows with horizontal glass slats that let the breeze pass through.

In contrast, buildings here in the Southeast are typically climate-controlled using air conditioning and heating units.

If I'm being honest, I still have to carry a sweater around to keep warm when the air conditioning is strong. However, dependable air conditioning is especially nice during hot, humid summers.

Locally grown fruit is now a summer staple.
Jana carrying two bags of fresh peaches.

Jana Soli

In Hawaii, because the climate is pretty mild year-round, many fruits have multiple or continuous growing seasons. Plus, I always knew someone who was giving fruits away from their backyard.

Here in the Southeast, though, fresh fruits feel more seasonal. I now get excited for peach season and the long lines at local farmers markets.

On the mainland, the weather is harder to predict.
Clouds roll in and the wind blows on the coast of Hawaii.

Jana Soli

Where I lived in Hawaii, I'd look out over the ocean and be able to predict the next few hours of weather pretty accurately.

After years of living there, I understood the patterns of the clouds and wind, and could typically gauge the amount of time I needed to make it home from a run or the beach before the weather turned.

However, I have a much tougher time guessing what the weather will be like on the mainland. I now rely a lot more on weather forecasts to know what to expect.

The billboards took me by surprise.
A Miller Lite billboard.

Jana Soli

Billboards aren't allowed in Hawaii, so when I first moved to the Southeast, I couldn't believe how many huge signs dotted the skylines.

Now I get a kick out of reading them and analyzing the marketing, but it's always interesting returning to Hawaii and seeing how open the landscape is without them.

Fast-food restaurants on the mainland are missing Spam.
Spam musubi — grilled Spam wrapped with rice and seaweed.

Jana Soli

Chicken and burgers are staples of fast-food restaurants on the mainland, but Hawaii's famous chains often feature rice and Spam.

Now, when I visit my favorite chains, I miss getting Spam musubi — Spam wrapped in rice and seaweed.

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