Architectural Digest names Oregon coast town among best in the U.S.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Architectural Digest released a list of the best small towns in the United States in 2025 – featuring one town with “miles of sparsely populated beaches,” on the Oregon coast.

Architectural Digest’s list, published June 4, ranks 55 of the “most visually stunning locales,” from coast to coast.

“The best small towns in America are often among the most beautiful, too. Though large metropolises like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Washington, DC, are often thought of as culture and beauty capitals, this doesn’t mean other locales can’t be beacons of these qualities too,” Architectural Digest said of the list.

Ranking 41st on the list: Manzanita, Oregon

“Along the Pacific Ocean shoreline in far western Oregon are miles of sparsely populated beaches, the town of Manzanita included,” Architectural Digest said. “With Neahkahnie Mountain off in the distance, you get beach dunes and mountains in one view.”

Another Pacific Northwest small town was also featured in the list, with Friday Harbor, Washington ranking 39th.

“The delightfully moody setting (cue fog and rain) of Friday Harbor, part of the San Juan Islands, is iconic to the Pacific Northwest but without the noise of an urban locale. Whale watching is a huge draw here, and the arts thrive at places like the San Juan Islands Museum of Art,” Architectural Digest said.

The first small town named in the list was Rocheport, Missouri, followed by Decorah, Iowa; Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania; Cape May, New Jersey and Yellow Springs, Ohio, rounding out the top five towns on the list.