Home
/
Market news
/
Latest updates
/

Uncovering rewards in understaffed towns: badge insights

Mayorship Controversy | Small Towns and Low Rewards Spark Debate

By

Carlos Gomez

Nov 26, 2025, 02:26 AM

Edited By

Ella Martinez

2 minutes reading time

A resident in a quiet town is engaged in passing parcels, indicating the process of community involvement in local activities.

A recent discussion on user boards highlights concerns about the value of holding a mayorship in less populated towns. Many users question the benefits versus their effort, especially when it comes to earning badge income and atlas bucks.

The Real Deal on Mayorship

Users shared their experiences with small towns, where earning potential appears inconsistent and largely dependent on location and traffic. One participant noted they had a town with just 25 parcels, which occasionally yields four or five badges each month. In contrast, another user reported a significantly larger town with 104 parcels, generating just one badge every two months.

"Itโ€™s mostly luck, in a sense," one comment read, reflecting the uncertainty many face in their roles as mayors.

The Impact of Location on Earnings

The discussion illuminated three key themes among participants:

  • Traffic is Key: Towns that attract visitors tend to generate more atlas bucks. "I get badge income on big tourist weekends, thatโ€™s all," one mayor mentioned.

  • Parcel Count Not Everything: Users highlighted that simply having more parcels doesnโ€™t guarantee higher rewards. Some small towns proved truly disappointing in terms of income, with one user saying they only received atlas bucks twice in a year.

  • Mixed Sentiments on Small Towns: Opinions varied widely. While some find their small-town mayorships lacking, others appreciate a slower pace, even if the financial return is meager.

Earnings Uncertainty

One user has four small town mayorships yet only reported modest gains: "I get a little bit here and there, but itโ€™s nothing to write home about."

The sentiment towards small town mayorship is largely skeptical, with users unsure if their investments in parcels will pay off.

Key Points to Consider

  • โš ๏ธ Earnings are often minimal: Small town mayorships can yield inconsistent income.

  • ๐Ÿ’ก Tourist draw matters: Locations that attract visitors can lead to more consistent earnings.

  • โ“ Is it worth the effort? Many users are left questioning their roles as mayors in lesser-known towns.

In closing, the debate around the value of mayorships in smaller areas continues. While there is potential for some, many experience more disappointment than success, raising the question: Are small-town mayorships a worthwhile investment?

Stay tuned as user perspectives evolve and new strategies surface.

What Lies Ahead for Small Town Mayors?

Thereโ€™s a strong chance that many towns will see varying levels of interest as people seek to maximize their earnings in mayorships. Experts estimate that in the next year, towns with higher tourist appeal could witness a 20% boost in badge income, while others may continue to struggle. As more people share their experiences on forums, itโ€™s likely that strategies will evolve, leading to better insights on which towns offer real value. This could shift the focus away from mere parcel count to a more nuanced understanding, where community engagement ushers in a more profitable outcome for mayors.

A Look Back to Local Businesses

Looking back to the rise of food trucks in urban areas, we see a striking resemblance to the small-town mayorship discussions. In cities, certain neighborhoods attracted food trucks like moths to a flame, driven by foot traffic and events. However, others remained barren, leaving vendors questioning their worth. Just as these food entrepreneurs adapted to their local context, mayors in smaller towns are beginning to rethink their strategies in order to cultivate a sense of purpose and profitability, even as the playing field remains uneven.