Small towns are where it’s at right now, according to an entrepreneur, philanthropist and author who’s literally written the book on the subject.

“More and more I see this sense of pride emerge in leaders and citizens of small and mid-sized cities and towns. They’re realizing, ‘Hey, our community has a lot to offer, whether you want to live here, work here, invest here or start a business here,’ ” said Quint Studer, founder of the Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Pennsacola, Fla. focused on improving the quality of life there.

Studer also is author of “Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America.”

By embracing who they are, Studer said smaller communities can identify and showcase their bright spots and tell unique stories in compelling ways. “It’s all about coming from a place of confidence about who you are. When you don’t try to compete with other cities and towns and you play up your unique sense of place — quirks and all — people are drawn to you.”

Studer identified what he said are 10 reasons small and mid-sized towns are increasingly popular:

The cost of living is cheaper. People who would be priced out of the market in a big city can buy a house in a small town. Property taxes are lower, too.

Great downtowns. Small towns typically have quirky,  well-developed, livable, walkable downtowns that exude a real sense of place. Quite often there are old buildings with lots of character to renovate — to perhaps turn into a craft brewery, a wine or olive oil shop,  apartments or office space.

Great food. Many great chefs and entrepreneurs are setting up shop in downtown areas in smaller towns and finding they can prosper in those areas.

Downtown programming. Many small towns work hard on farmer’s markets, festivals and holiday events. They attract residents downtown and keeping them entertained.

Small town small businesses create awesome experiences for their customers. They have to compete with online and big box retailers. As a result, they earn fiercely loyal followers who come back again and again.

They attract young people. More and more young people are choosing small towns. This creates a great talent pool, which in turn makes smaller towns attractive for entrepreneurs and all types of business investors.

There’s a great balance between work and life. This is one big reason driving young people to choose small towns. Some has to do with lower cost of living, but they also want a slower pace and better balance so they can bike or mountain climb or pursue whatever their free-time passion might be.

A strong sense of community. At a time of increasing concerns about the rise in social isolation and the issues it causes, small town living could offer a remedy. Residents experience a feeling they know their neighbors and belong somewhere. People long for this at a time when life has become so tech-driven, impersonal and lonely.

More opportunity for meaningful civic engagement. In small towns, there are a lot of opportunities to be a part of something. There’s room for voices to be heard and talents to shine.

An abundance of cool green spaces. Small towns often like to focus on their outdoor spaces, including rivers, bike trails and parks. As more and more people embrace a more active, health-conscious lifestyle, this proximity to nature becomes more important.

“It’s great to see communities of all sizes start to revitalize, reinvent themselves and come back from the brink economically,” Studer said. “But when it’s a small town that turns itself around — when the young people who once couldn’t wait to leave home suddenly realize they want to return to their roots — that’s a really special feeling.”