These qualities are nearly impossible to quantify. You can't plug income, real estate, crime, and school stats into a computer and expect it to spit out a bunch of neighborhoods. We went about our search the best way we could, by talking to folks. We followed their leads to hundreds of cottage communities around the country.

photography: Jerome Cookson

What truly inspired us were the comeback stories of residents whose older communities—the very places the TNDs model—had suffered post-World War II urban blight only to be revived by dedicated homeowners. Historic Kenwood in St. Petersburg and Cottage Home in Indianapolis are two places that have made remarkable turnarounds, as their rising real estate prices attest.

Which brings us to an important point: Home prices are up, especially in great cottage communities. When you buy into one of these neighborhoods, though, you're getting so much more than house and lot. In the broadest sense, you're getting a home.

Homes (30 percent): vernacular architecture, cottage-y scale (not sprawling, in line with original neighborhood design—no teardown zones), affordability (as related to regional income levels and real estate prices), walkability
People (30 percent): diverse and caring neighbors, well-organized community network, social events for fun and good causes
Shops and Hangouts (20 percent): colorful, independent retail stores and eateries within walking distance.
Greenspace (10 percent): parks, playgrounds, nature preserves.
Cottage Twist (10 percent): signature characteristic that brings a smile.