NEW ULM–The City of New Ulm recently took the number one spot on a list of most affordable small towns in the United States.

The list was released by Realtor.com. The list was created using median home list prices, ownership costs, unemployment rates and crime rates to determine the most affordable. Since this was a list of small towns, Realtor.com only surveyed communities with a population under 50,000. The survey also listed one small town per state for geographic diversity.

Real.com website did acknowledge a pattern with the top 10 small towns. The midwest was heavily represented.

Other communities in the top ten list include Lexington, NE; Houghton, MI; Spencer, IA; Wahpeton, ND; Wapakoneta, OH; Los Alamos, NM; Lincoln, IL; Maryville, MO; and Seneca Falls, NY.

The site listed New Ulm’s median home price at $139,000. This was the fourth-lowest median home price on the list. Spencer, IA Lincoln, IL and Seneca Falls, NY had lower total median housing prices.

In promoting New Ulm, Realtor.com cited New Ulm’s German immigrant roots, music and festivals; specifically siting Oktoberfest. The list quotes realtor Joyce Krenz with Century 21 Red Shoe Realty, “There’s always something going on. In winter, a lot of the parks have snow hills for sledding, and there are several lakes close by for people who want to do ice fishing.”

In response to receiving the title of a most affordable small town in the United States, New Ulm area Chamber President Michael Looft said “New Ulm might be known for its German heritage and festivals, but we have other attractive features like an award-winning medical center, an innovate education system and even Martin Luther College. There is also a great ecosystem of entrepreneurs in New Ulm to cultivate future growth.”