The good ones are good because they’re well-written and the acting is always Emmy-worthy. The great TV shows have both of those elements, but instead of filming on a sterile Hollywood sound stage, they’re filmed on location, in small cities that give their show a sense of realism and authenticity.
We found eight shows that went from being good to great, just by using their cities as essential elements of the narrative. While your budget might not allow you to live in the neighborhoods where “Sex and the City” and “Entourage” may have been set, you can totally afford to rent in these towns…
1. Jackson, GA (“Stranger Things”)
While “Stranger Things” is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, IN, in the ’80s, it’s actually filmed in Jackson, GA, about 50 miles south of Atlanta. The bedroom community of Jackson gives off a slightly sleepy town that perfectly sets the tone for what the middle-American suburbs were like in the mid-’80s.
2. Albuquerque, NM (“Breaking Bad”)
Could “Breaking Bad” be filmed anywhere else? Maybe, but then we wouldn’t have the iconic visualization of Walter White in his tighty-whities, flipping out in the barren Chihuahuan Desert of Albuquerque after he crashed his RV/meth lab.
Filmed 100 percent on location, you could call it a character in the show. And because of it, Albuquerque is officially a Hollywood-level tourist trap, even 10 years after its debut. A nice balance between steady construction and affordable cost-of-living has helped keep rent from rising to an out-of-control level.
3. Senoia, GA (“The Walking Dead”)
For a city with only around 5,000 people living in it, it’s interesting how much Senoia, GA, is used as the backdrop for big-budget Hollywood productions. “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Driving Miss Daisy” and maybe most famously, “The Walking Dead” have all depended on Senoia for its unique look.
If you rent in Senoia, there’s a good chance you either work at Raleigh Studios or your job is somehow affected by the movies and TV shows produced by Raleigh Studios. Renters will also appreciate how far their rent money can stretch here. It’s not impossible to find a luxurious complex for under $1,500.
4. Pflugerville, TX (“Friday Night Lights”)
Fans of “Friday Night Lights” will all tell you that Pflugerville was the perfect city to display the amount of reverence small towns in Texas give their high school football teams. Residents of Pflugerville probably think they’re watching home movies when they watch “Friday Night Lights,” considering the show is shot in a documentary-style filming technique and producers used the actual uniforms, cheerleaders, fans and stadium of the real Pflugerville High School.
In terms of renting in town, it might have been difficult finding a Pflugerville apartment in 1990 since the population was a mere 4,444 with little growth. But after “Friday Night Lights” debuted, the small town’s population spiked. There are now about 65,000 people who live there. And like so many other cities on this list, thanks to its relationship with the entertainment industry, it’s not difficult to find really nice complexes for less than $1,000.
5. Canton, GA (“Ozark”)
“Ozark” is one of the two productions on this list that frame their narratives in resort towns. Set on the shores of the Lake of the Ozarks, “Ozark” is actually filmed in Georgia locations like Canton, Woodstock, Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier. When you’re seeing scenes in the Blue Cat Lodge, you’re looking at The Little River Grill, an actual vacant café on the banks of Lake Allatoona.
Canton also has some of the best schools in Georgia, great news for families of future accountants — by the books, of course.
6. West Covina, CA (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”)
As someone who actually lived in West Covina for six years in the mid-’80s, it’s safe to say not much has changed since then. But that’s kind of what makes the city so livable. West Covina has stayed fairly consistent since then in terms of growth, too. In other words, you’re not going to find high rises or a bustling downtown.
WC is a sleepy suburb where you’re going to find a lot of ranch homes, mid-sized apartment complexes, outdoor malls and big parks filled with baseball diamonds peppered amongst the three. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” incorporates West Covina’s normal, everyday blue-collar vibe perfectly into the show’s narrative. Need an actual visualization? The show nailed it with this Broadway musical-take on the city.
7. Myrtle Beach, SC (“Eastbound & Down”)
Each of the seasons of “Eastbound & Down” were framed by their distinct locations. Shelby, NC, set the tone for the first season of the series and season two took place in Mexico. But fans will tell you the show reached new heights of inspiration when season three was based in Myrtle Beach, SC, or as Kenny Powers called it, “the Redneck Riviera.”
It’s a bit of an unfair nickname, though. It’s a beach town filled with people who love souped-up jet skis, big trucks and an overabundance of chain restaurants. In other words, a typical American Beach town. Just keep in mind that since Myrtle Beach is a tourist town, you might not have as many permanent neighbors as you would with nearby communities of Forestbrook and Socastee.
8. Portland, OR (“Portlandia”)
What can one say about “Portlandia,” other than how it’s made the weird, arty and insulated city of Portland much cooler and much more of a desirable place to live than ever. Filmed 100 percent all over the city, it’s probably common for Portlanders to see their neighborhoods regularly pop up in “Portlandia” skits.
While the show rides that fine line between intelligence and hilarity, Portland’s OGs probably wish the show never happened. According to Vulture, “rents have skyrocketed” and The Guardian said the rent crisis has “displaced the city’s creative soul.” While there are pricey options around the area, there are also deals to be had if you do your homework.
