The small town in South Africa voted as the best to live in
Barrydale in the Western Cape has been voted as South Africa’s best small town to live in.
In December 2025, the Daily Maverick crowned the town its Small Town of the Year after it achieved an impressive score of 94%.
The title followed a months-long selection process that began with readers nominating their favourite towns across the country.
A total of 2,069 nominations were submitted to nine writers—one representing each province—who researched the towns and narrowed them down to a final provincial winner.
Towns were evaluated across seven categories. These included cleanliness, municipal performance, community spirit, safety, natural environment, family friendliness and connectivity.
However, the publication stressed that a defining element known as the “M-Factor”—described as the intangible energy that shapes a town’s character—played a decisive role.
The final stage required writers to visit each shortlisted town personally and compare their experiences before agreeing on the national winner.
Barrydale lies on the border between the Overberg and Klein Karoo regions and sits at the northern entrance of the Tradouw Pass leading toward Swellendam.
The town was named after 19th-century merchant Joseph Barry and traces its origins back to early 18th-century farmers who settled in the fertile valley in search of reliable water and farmable land.
Early residents established a school and formally built a church in 1878 at the junction of two regional roads. Agriculture was a major part of the area’s identity.
Farmers planted vineyards and orchards, which eventually led to the formation of the Barrydale Koöperatiewe Wynkelder in 1940.
This later led to the establishment of a distillery that anchored the town’s wine and brandy industry.
Local production later gained global recognition when Joseph Barry Brandy was named the world’s best brandy in 2003.
Over time, the village expanded steadily, becoming a municipality in 1921 and growing into a close-knit community of roughly 4,200 permanent residents today.
Semigration hotspot
Despite its small size, its popularity has surged as South Africans increasingly seek quieter lifestyles outside major cities like Cape Town.
Jaco Badenhorst, sales manager for Seeff Country and Karoo, told BusinessTech that the ranking reflects a broader semigration trend drawing buyers away from urban centres.
“Located under three hours from Cape Town on the popular Route 62, in the beautiful Cape Overberg on the edge of the Klein Karoo, Barrydale is a popular stopover and somewhat of a semigration hotspot,” he said.
It connects to the N2 via the scenic Tradouw Pass, which links Barrydale to the N2 between Swellendam and Heidelberg.
“It is particularly scenic and safe with good local governance and services, characterised by rolling farmlands and the dramatic Langeberg Mountains,” Badenhorst added.
He also said that tourism and agriculture underpin the local economy, while remote workers, retirees and young families are increasingly moving in search of a slower pace of life.
The property market is dominated by freehold homes averaging around R2.5 million, with larger houses suited to guesthouse conversions reaching about R3.4 million.
Entry-level buyers can still find vacant plots or smaller cottages closer to R1.5 million.
“Given the ongoing ‘flight to quality’ and the current shortage of well-priced stock, property demand is expected to remain robust throughout 2026,” he said.
Badenhorst explained that as of mid-2025, many landlords were reporting full occupancy, and rental prices are beginning to reflect the increasing demand.
Val Anderton and Marinda Roux, agents with Seeff Swellendam, explained that they have seen an increase in enquiries from Gauteng and Pretoria.
Many of these are young families looking to relocate due to the excellent schools and a wholesome environment for raising children.
Barrydale in photos
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