You might be surprised to learn that many famous people actually choose to live in their hometowns, despite the glamour and allure of cities like New York and Los Angeles. For some, there's simply no place like home, and the slower pace and close-knit community of their childhood town is where they feel most comfortable. From musicians and actors to athletes and politicians, famous people can be found living in all corners of the country. And while the spotlight may not shine as brightly in these small towns, the sense of community and connection they offer is priceless.
A small group of
celebrities who still live in their hometown, whether they moved back after succeeding or just never left (albeit in way fancier digs). We're talking about locations like Yellow Springs, Ohio; Leiper's Fork,
Tennessee; and Kentwood,
Louisiana—all places far from the flash and
glamour of Hollywood. Continue reading to find out whether your favorite
celebrity does live nearby. These
famous people living in their hometown might be seen here. #1 2 Chainz - College Park, Georgia
Source: Shutterstock/Jamie Lamor Thompson
The multi-necklaced rapper 2 Chainz has such a strong connection to his city that he even considered running for mayor in 2015. Even if the offer was unsuccessful, he said that the possibility had "everybody wishing."
#2 Bruce Springsteen - Monmouth County, New Jersey
Source: Jack Fordyce/Shutterstock
Bruce Springsteen is one of the few celebrities that is as strongly linked to his home state of New Jersey. The Boss was raised in Freehold, New Jersey, and as most of his music can attest, he never roam too far from home. He and his wife Patty Scialfa live in Colts Neck, in the same county as the home where the celebrity grew up, on a horse farm. And their daughter Jessica Springsteen, an Olympic equestrian who participated in the most recent Olympic games, is proof that investing in horses was a wise decision.
#3 Chance The Rapper - Chicago, Illinois
Source: EW
Chance the Rapper, a Grammy-winning artist, returned to his hometown after a short stay in Los Angeles that he referred to as "ungodly" in the foreword to a poetry collection, according to DJBooth. The rapper has frequently donated to neighborhood initiatives and has entertained the idea of running for mayor. Chance tweeted "thinking maybe I should," referring to a line in one of his songs where he examines his chances with voters, following then-mayor Rahm Emanuel's unexpected declaration in 2018 that he would not run for reelection.
#4 Dave Chappelle - Yellow Springs, Ohio
Source: Shutterstock
While Dave Chappelle attended middle school and frequently spent the summers in the tranquil Ohio hamlet of Yellow Springs, he was raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. His father was a professor at Antioch University, which was close by. The comedian returned to his hometown as an adult and bought a farm there as a haven from the frantic Hollywood lifestyle. For a local audience, he has even been performing regular comedy concerts there.
#5 Drake - Toronto, Ontario
Source: Shutterstock/Kathy Hutchins
Drake was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, and has maintained a strong connection to his homeland. According to reports, the actor and rapper are constructing his ideal house in the city. According to rumors, it will have a 10-car garage, rooftop hot tub, trophy room, and a basketball court that is almost NBA-regulation size.
#6 Eminem - Detroit, Michigan
Source: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Rapper Eminem has never been hesitant to say how much he loves his hometown, and he has never actually left it. For more than 20 years, the rapper has owned two sizable homes outside of Detroit; he only recently sold one of them. The same burglar recently broke into both, according to The Sun.
#7 Hugh Jackman - Sydney, Australia
Source: Shutterstock/Twocoms
Hugh Jackman was born in Sydney, and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness bought a nearly $6 million estate there in 2016. The pad is undoubtedly swankier than the one he grew up in, but he still stays close to his roots—literally.
#8 Jamie Lynn Spears - Kentwood, Louisiana
Source: Shutterstock/Tinseltown
Jamie Lynn Spears was raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, alongside her sister Britney, and she continues to live nearby. She revealed to
Entertainment Tonight last year that she and Jamie Lynn's daughter went back home to quarantine with her sister.
#9 Jeff Daniels - Chelsea, Michigan
Source: Shutterstock
Famous actor Jeff Daniels makes his home in Chelsea, Michigan, where he also has a wife and three kids. He can be seen managing the Purple Rose Theatre, the business he started in the little town, in addition to running errands.
#10 John Cusack - Chicago, Illinois
Source: Shutterstock/taniavolobueva
John Cusack was raised in the suburbs of Chicago with his famous sister Joan. But after he became a movie star, the actor decided to stay put and bought a place of his own in the city. And he takes great satisfaction in himself, saying "I live in Chicago—always have" in response to a Twitter user who called him "one of the few good ones in Hollywood."
#11 John O'Hurley - Kittery, Maine
Source: Shutterstock/Sterling Munksgard
Contrary to what his fictional J. Peterman might have you believe, the real J. Peterman is significantly less well-off than his alter ego. John O'Hurley was raised in Kittery, Maine, and he still lives there.
Source: Shutterstock/Denis Makarenko
Justin Timberlake returned to his hometown in 2016 after spending years in Los Angeles. He bought a house in Tennessee and gave it the name "Millville" in tribute to the Tennessee suburb where he grew up, Millington. The residence doubles as the creative headquarters for the artist's apparel brand and artist development firm despite its modest setting.
#13 Kevin Jonas - New Jersey
Source: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
The eldest Jonas brother, Kevin, has lived in New Jersey where the Jonas brothers were raised for the entirety of their youth. He has resided in a few mansions in the Garden State with his wife Danielle and their kids, some of which were created by the custom home business Kevin co-founded.
#14 LeBron James - Akron, Ohio
Source: Shutterstock
LeBron James still has a house in Akron, Ohio, where he grew up, even though he currently plays basketball in Los Angeles. In addition to other ultra-luxurious advantages and amenities, the 30,000-square-foot estate is said to contain a recording studio, a bowling alley, a casino, and a barbershop.
#15 Ludacris - Atlanta, Georgia
Source: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
Ludacris, a rapper, and Fast & Furious star has lived in numerous locations. He was born in Champaign, Illinois, and later spent time growing up in Virginia and Chicago. His family resided in Atlanta, Georgia, where the star attended college and started making music during his last years of high school. Ludacris, who now lives on a 22-acre estate in Atlanta, has decided to establish roots where he spent some of his most formative years as a child. If it's hard to imagine how enormous that is, keep in mind that Ludacris recently claimed during an appearance on Ellen that he hadn't even seen some areas of his home before being stranded there during the lockdown.
#16 Mary Steenburgen - Little Rock, Arkansas
Source: Shutterstock/Kathy Hutchins
Along with living in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Mary Steenburgen is from, Ted Danson and his wife Mary also own South on Main with chef Matthew Bell. She expressed her profound love for her hometown in 2015, telling the Arkansas Times that "the friends I am the closest to are the friends who have come at some point with me to Arkansas."
#17 Michael Bublé - Burnaby, British Columbia
Source: Shutterstock/Kyle Beslar
The singer Michael Bublé spent his youth in Burnaby, British Columbia, where he fished and played hockey. His home base hasn't changed, even though his way of life may have. He and his family live on 2.3 acre Burnaby estate.
#18 Pitbull - Miami, Florida
Source: Shutterstock/Nick Biemans
Pitbull, a.k.a. Mr. 305, has lived in a mansion in Pinecrest while he wasn't on tour, staying close to his roots in the Miami area (and its 305 phone code). Sadly, his house has recently deteriorated badly, having supposedly gone since 2015 without any maintenance; it follows that the artist has relocated. But if his nom de guerre is anything to go by, it's not far.
#19 Rafael Nadal - Manacor, Spain
Source: Shutterstock/Christian Bertrand
Rafael Nadal, who was born in the little town of Manacor on the island of Mallorca, used his tennis winnings to buy a flat there where he now lives with his entire extended family. A famous person once said this year to abcMallorca, "It is my home. I am happy here and I can't imagine living anywhere else."
#20 Reese Witherspoon - Nashville, Tennessee
Source: Shutterstock/Denis Makarenko
Reese Witherspoon was raised by her doctor's parents in Nashville, Tennessee after being born in New Orleans. She returned to her hometown and bought three properties in the Nashville region with her husband, Jim Toth, using part of the hard-earned acting money she had saved up. They currently divide their time between one place and another property in Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades.
#21 Shawn Mendes - Toronto, Ontario
Source: Shutterstock/Tom Rose
Singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes lives in Toronto despite having been born nearby in Pickering, Ontario. In response to a fan's question about "how cozy" his property was in 2019, he posted a picture of a comfortable, candlelight flat with an outstanding city view.
#22 Steve Buscemi - Brooklyn, New York
Source: Shutterstock/Denis Makarenko
Steve Buscemi, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, resides in Park Slope, one of the borough's most well-liked and tolerant communities. In 2011, the actor's fame sparked a commotion in his neighborhood, mainly because of the odd items the actor would leave in his doorway. This led to a neighbor starting the now-defunct blog "What's On Steve Buscemi's Stoop?"
#23 Usher - Atlanta, Georgia
Source: Shutterstock/lev radin
Usher moved with his family from Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia when he was 12 years old. Soon after, the singer received his big break and, at the age of 14, was given a recording contract. Usher stayed in Atlanta despite having enough money to live wherever he wanted. He sold his last residence in 2018, following accusations of a stalker, so let's hope the location of his present estate remains quieter.
#24 Warren Buffett - Omaha, Nebraska
Source: Kent Sievers / Shutterstock
Warren Buffett, a titan of finance who ranks among the world's richest people, continues to call Omaha, Nebraska, home. Meanwhile, he paid about $250,000 (in today's values) for his house in 1958. It's just one of the many factors that continue to make Buffett one of the most adored and relatable billionaires in the world.
#25 Zach Galifianakis - Alleghany County, North Carolina
Source: Shutterstock
The actor-comedian was born and raised in Alleghany County, North Carolina, and now resides there on a sizable farm. (He doesn't mind providing media tours, by the way.) He intends to eventually convert the property into a retreat for writers.