15 Small Town Shows to Watch After When Calls the Heart

These whole series will make you wish you lived in a place where everyone knows your name (and probably your business, too).

1. Cedar Cove (2013–2015)

Welcome to Cedar Cove, where Judge Olivia Lockhart reigns supreme, not just in the courtroom but in matters of the heart as well. Olivia's life is a whirlwind of legal dilemmas, family dramas, and romantic entanglements. It's not just about gavels and court cases; there's plenty of love in the air, too. From her relationship with newspaper editor Jack Griffith to dealing with her daughter's own complicated love life, Cedar Cove is a delightful blend of legal drama and soapy goodness.

2. Hope Island (1999–2000)

Hope Island takes us to a charming Pacific Northwest island where Daniel Cooper, a former big-city stockbroker, becomes the local pastor. It's all about second chances and quirky townsfolk here. Daniel's efforts to adjust to small-town life and win over his new parishioners make for some heartfelt and often amusing moments.

3. Ed (2000–2004)

After losing his job in New York and discovering his wife's infidelity, a lawyer, named Ed Stevens, returns to his hometown and buys a bowling alley. He starts practicing law there too. It's a story about rediscovering yourself in the place you thought you'd left behind. Ed's high school crush, Carol Vessey, spices things up, giving us a 'will they, won't they' vibe that keeps us hooked.

4. Everwood (2002–2006)

Dr. Andy Brown, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, moves his family from New York City to the tiny town of Everwood, Colorado, following his wife's tragic death. This isn't just a career change – it's a life change. He opens a free clinic, much to the chagrin of the town's only other doctor. But it's not just about medicine; it's about healing his relationship with his children, too.

5. Men in Trees (2006–2008)

Anne Heche stars as Marin Frist, a relationship coach who finds herself in a relationship pickle of her own. After discovering her fiancé's infidelity, Marin ends up stranded in Elmo, Alaska, and decides to stick around. Why? Well, it's full of single men! This show serves up a hearty stew of romance, self-discovery, and the kind of quirky community dynamics that can only happen in a small town.

6. Hart of Dixie (2011–2015)

Dr. Zoe Hart, a New York City doctor, high-tails it to Bluebell, Alabama, after her dreams of becoming a heart surgeon fall apart. In Bluebell, she inherits half of a medical practice and quickly learns that southern hospitality isn't always so hospitable. Zoe struggles to fit in and often butts heads with fellow GP Dr. Brick Breeland. She also finds herself entangled in a love triangle with lawyer George Tucker and bad-boy bartender Wade Kinsella.

7. Bunheads (2012–2013)

Michelle Simms, a Las Vegas showgirl, impulsively marries a man she barely knows and moves to his sleepy coastal town, only to find him dead the next day. Stuck in a town she doesn't understand, Michelle ends up teaching at her mother-in-law Fanny's dance school. Here, Michelle forms an unexpected bond with a group of young, talented ballerinas.

8. Sweet Magnolias (2020–Present)

Set in the charming town of Serenity, South Carolina, Sweet Magnolias follows the lives of three lifelong friends: Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen. Maddie is dealing with a divorce and reentering the dating world, Dana Sue is a chef trying to balance her professional and personal life, and Helen is a successful lawyer with unfulfilled personal dreams. They decide to open a spa together, which becomes a focal point for drama and gossip in their tight-knit community.

9. Virgin River (2019–Present)

Melinda "Mel" Monroe answers an ad to work as a nurse practitioner in the remote California town of Virgin River, hoping to start fresh after a series of traumatic heartbreaks. But she quickly discovers that small-town living isn't quite as simple as she expected. She forms a complicated relationship with Jack Sheridan, a local bar owner and former Marine, who has his own past to contend with.

10. Chesapeake Shores (2016–2022)

Abby O'Brien, a high-powered career woman and divorced mother of two, returns to her hometown of Chesapeake Shores after receiving a panicked phone call from her younger sister. Once there, she is drawn back into her complicated, sprawling Irish-American family and reacquaints with Trace Riley, her first love whom she left years ago. Abby must balance her own needs with those of her family and face the unresolved issues from her past.

11. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)

This four-part miniseries revisits the beloved town of Stars Hollow and its eclectic inhabitants, catching up with the lives of Lorelai, Rory, and Emily Gilmore after nearly a decade. Each of the four 90-minute episodes represents a different season of the year. Lorelai, still running the Dragonfly Inn, faces her own set of personal challenges, including her relationship with Luke. Rory, now in her 30s, struggles to find her footing in her journalism career. Emily, grieving the loss of her husband Richard, undergoes a significant life transformation.

12. Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011)

Set in the 19th century, this British series contrasts life in the small hamlet of Lark Rise with the more affluent neighboring town of Candleford. The story centers around Laura Timmins as she moves to Candleford to work at the post office under her cousin, Dorcas Lane. The series focuses on the daily lives, loves, and struggles of the people living in both communities.

13. Doc (2001–2004)

Doc follows Dr. Clint Cassidy, a country doctor from Montana who moves to New York City. He starts working at a busy Manhattan medical clinic where his down-to-earth style often clashes with the fast-paced city environment and its residents. Clint struggles to adjust to life in New York while maintaining his inherent good-hearted nature and dedication to patient care.

14. Avonlea (1990–1996)

This Canadian series, set in the early 20th century, is centered around the King family living in the small town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. Sara Stanley, a wealthy young girl, is sent to live with her mother's relatives in Avonlea after her father's financial scandal. The show follows Sara's adjustment to rural life and her relationships with her extended family and other town residents.

15. Privileged (2008–2009)

Megan Smith, a Yale graduate with ambitions of becoming a journalist, finds herself working as a live-in tutor for two wealthy teenage granddaughters of cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges in Palm Beach, Florida. Megan navigates this new world of wealth and privilege while trying to achieve her own career goals. She becomes a mentor and sister-figure to the twins, Rose and Sage, who are more interested in their social status and love lives than their studies.