Fueled by expanded roads, affordable homes and the promise of a more relaxed lifestyle, small communities are thriving.

Most of us weren't born in a small town. But more and more people are taking singer John Mellencamp up on the virtues of living, working and dying in the type of place he extolled in his 1982 hit "Small Town."

The 2000 U.S. Census laid out this phenomenon, which is being seen in new growth and vibrancy in southeastern Wisconsin's small towns. Census results show that metropolitan areas grew about 14 percent in the 1990s, but rural America is coming on strong at about 10 percent.

The growth is fueled by quicker commutes on improved highways, a demand for affordable housing and the desire for a slower-paced life. That combination has resulted in significant growth.

Nostalgia aside, small towns in southcentral Wisconsin are thriving, with many experiencing double-digit population booms in the last decade. While some of the interest in small towns is fueled by the less tangible factor of living in a place where everybody knows your name, the bottom line points to more affordable housing.

Better, safer schools are also motivators. While the problems of drugs and alcohol are pervasive everywhere. The difference is in the higher percentage of parental involvement with the schools and other parents. Crime compared to a big city is almost nonexistent.