I grew up in Hammond, IN ~100,000 which at the time had the best schools in IN, and
a satellite campus of Purdue, where I did my BS. After the war I moved to Valparaiso, IN, pop 30,000 which has Valparaiso University, and excellent schools.
Every year I purchased season tickets to over 100 performances at VU for $40. At their Jazz festival, one year, I saw Dizzy Gillespie play the sax. What a great horn!
Look for a University town. There are plenty of them. The presence of the University will provide you with cosmopolitan attitudes not present in farming communities, with colleagues and friends who are educated, and with cultural opportunities not otherwise available.
INDY