Now that technology makes it possible to work just about anywhere, you don't need to live in the urban Internet hotbeds of San Francisco and New York to pursue a dotcom career. In fact, dozens of smaller cities and towns are brimming over with technology companies waiting to snatch up qualified employees. More than ever, you can escape traffic jams without missing great job opportunities.

Matt Harris, CEO of Village Ventures, a company involved with locally focused venture capital funds in smaller cities including Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Boise, Idaho, says there are plenty of upsides to living in more intimate locales. A lower cost of living, more natural amenities, less crime and a less hectic lifestyle are all benefits, according to Harris. The often prohibitive cost of living in Silicon Valley or Silicon Alley makes smaller places more and more appealing. For example, if you make $60,000 in San Francisco, you'll only need about $30,000 to live a similar lifestyle in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

While white picket fences and cleaner air may sound appealing, small-town life also has downsides. There won't be as many career options, and you may need to travel for cultural offerings. But the outlook for continued growth in these smaller cities is good, observes Harris. "Costs are much lower, and that's starting to be more important, as reality sets in for the technology world. Recruiting is actually easier, as there are already large tech companies in many of these places…just fewer startups."

Find these comparably off-the-beaten-path opportunities by conducting a job search by location on Monster. Then, look to see who is venture-backed by reading the local business journal's back issues. Harris also recommends talking to prominent local lawyers. "They always know what's up," he says. To help you settle on your next move, check out these smaller cities their offerings:

Ann Arbor, Michigan
This college community, located in the southeast corner of Michigan, has a population of about 110,000. If you don't mind cooler temperatures, this delightful collegiate enclave might be worth checking into. Ann Arbor has a big corporate presence; Borders and Pfizer are located there, but high tech companies are also popping up. Martha Johnson, who serves on the Ann Arbor Software Council, says people and businesses are drawn to Ann Arbor's emphasis on families, arts and good schools. She also notes that the city values its high tech companies, because it realizes their positive impact on the community. "The support for the entrepreneurial spirit is here. The workforce wins, and the community wins," she says.

A three-bedroom home in Ann Arbor averages $180,000.

Local tech Companies: Fry Multimedia
Search for jobs in Ann Arbor now.

Boise, Idaho
Boasting a diverse economic base, from agriculture to high tech, this state capital has more to offer than potatoes. "The technology community is extremely active and vibrant. With major tech firms such as Hewlett-Packard and Micron driving the area's employment opportunities and innovation, the community is ripe with talent and entrepreneurial startups," says Allan Karl, vice president of marketing at Wirestone.

Karl points out that in this great outdoor community many employees mix high tech with high touch, riding mountain bikes to work, and fishing and hiking. "With one of our offices on the river, some of our employees have been known to kayak to work. One of our clients sells kayaks on the Internet through a commerce site Wirestone designed and built," says Karl.

A three-bedroom house in Boise will run you $100,000 to $125,000.

Local Tech Companies: Micron Electronics, Netivation.com, Wirestone
Search for jobs in Boise now.

Madison, Wisconsin
Known for its academic, artistic and cultural offerings, Wisconsin's state capital is 76 miles west of Milwaukee and 41 miles north of Janesville. While the chilly weather may be a drawback, the beautiful lakes and quality of life could make up for winter's frequent sub-zero temperatures. In addition to major employers like the University of Wisconsin and state of Wisconsin, Madison is also home to many growing Internet firms. As for the cost of living, a three-bedroom house goes for $120,000 to $140,000 depending on square footage.

Local Tech Companies: Stratagem, Internet Marketing Services, Guild.com
Search for jobs in Madison now.

Nashville, Tennessee
"Come on down, as we say here," says David Condra, president of the Nashville Technology Council. Perhaps best known as the country music industry's recording and broadcasting center, Nashville offers a bevy of employment opportunities for tech-savvy job seekers.

This state capital has seen an influx of dotcom startups and harbors a number of e-health companies. According to Condra, the dotcom and tech industries are getting too big for their britches in his city, where the demand for qualified workers is threatening to exceed local supply. "The market is good in Nashville if you're a tech person," says Condra. "There are a substantial number of opportunities in Nashville in almost every category, from Internet all the way down to mainframe programming."

Mild weather, a heated job market, attractive rent and no state income tax make this town an enticing place to settle, and local companies are reaching out to pull in workers. According to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the median price for a one-family home is $120,500, and a 950-square-foot, two bedroom apartment (unfurnished) rents for an average of $602 per month.

Local Tech Companies: Dell, Weberize, HealthTrio
Search for jobs in Nashville now.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee
According to a recent profile in Computerworld magazine, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is an emerging tech hub. The area's Internet companies include Internet Pictures Corp., AllMeds, SAIC, Media Pulse and many more. This small eastern Tennessee community came into existence as part of the Manhattan Project during WWII. Oak Ridge was one of three secret areas for A-bomb ntesting. Today, it caters to a much different kind of technology -- IT. It is among the most advanced technological communities due mostly to government facilities, including the Oak Ridge National Lab. Missy Acosta of New Century News Bureau recommends Technology 2020 and the Technology Business Alliance as good resources for those considering a move to this area.

Oak Ridge has a population of 27,500, and a three-bedroom house can run about $60,000 for 1,100 square feet and $110,000 for 1,600 square feet.

Local Tech Companies: AllMeds, Internet Pictures Corp., Media Pulse.
Search for jobs in the Oak Ridge area now.

Providence, Rhode Island
Another state capital, Providence is located 43 miles south of Boston. According to Homefair.com, the city "boasts cultural diversity, art appreciation, renowned beaches and gourmet cuisine, along with all the colors and flavors of spring, summer, fall and winter."

BX.com, an Internet development company, moved to Providence from Needham, Massachusetts in April, 2000 as part of the Mass Exodus Program sponsored by Rhode Island's Economic Council. Kim Testa, an account executive with BX.com says Providence is a "big city miniaturized," with a metropolis's perks but none of the frustrations. Providence has nightlife, great restaurants and shopping, but leaves traffic jams and out-of-control property prices for Beantown. A three-bedroom home in Providence averages $95,000.

Dotcoms and high tech companies have started moving to Providence to avoid Boston and New York's high costs, and to capitalize on the talent coming out of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Local Tech Companies: Context Media, Bungo.com, BX.com
Search for jobs in Providence now.

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Brimming with Southwestern arts and crafts, this state capital sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains on New Mexico's Santa Fe River, 60 miles north of Albuquerque. "The industry here is very broad, and there's a range of potential jobs," says Nelson Ward, director of the New Mexico Internet Professionals Association. Ward says Santa Fe has seen steady growth not only in Web-based companies, but also in other tech-related fields, like the biomedical industry. "There's a significant demand for IT people here," he says.

Anne Bingham, communications coordinator for Panorama Point, a Web development firm based in the city, says her company searches bigger Internet markets like New York and Silicon Valley to find tech-minded people who dream of living in a place where the only skyscrapers are mountains.

At last count (1996), Santa Fe had about 66,500 people, and these days, a three-bedroom house costs roughly $175,000.

Local Tech Companies: Panorama Point
Search for jobs in Santa Fe now.

Tucson, Arizona
Looking for a beautiful environment, hot weather and plenty of cacti? Tucson's your spot. At the foot of the Catalina Mountains, Tucson is 117 miles south of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the Mexican border. An informal survey of 175 local businesses conducted by the Tucson Chamber of e-Commerce showed 7 percent of local businesses described themselves as "Web-based." The city also enjoys a 2.7 percent unemployment rate, and a 6 percent job growth rate.

Stephanie Lemme, director of economic development for the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, says this desert city has started to sprout in the technology arena, and local HR managers are scrambling to attract good people to their companies.

"Their only hindrance for growth is getting people here," Lemme said. Companies like AOL, IBM and Texas Instruments have a presence in this metro area, home to approximately 870,000 people. In addition to the lovely terrain, the cost of living is reasonable by most standards. You can buy a three-bedroom house for roughly $122,500.

Local Tech Companies: JustGoDirect.com
Search for jobs in Tucson now.

Sources: Homefair.com, Britannica.com