Your votes could win Hillsborough the coveted title of “Coolest Small Town” in America.

With its thriving food scene, community spirit and a host of literary luminaries, Mayor Tom Stevens says Hillsborough sets an excellent example of how rich small town life can be.

“I like to think of it as setting a good example,” he says. “There’s a lot of cool places – it really is about neighborhoods and people coming together, and taking the good things that (we) have and (figuring out) how we can accentuate those and make things better.”

Hillsborough is currently in the lead in Budget Travel’s nationwide online contest ranking towns with populations under 10,000.

You can nominate a town until December 2. After that, the list will be narrowed down to 15 frontrunners. The winning town will be announced in February.

Stevens reminds all Orange County residents your vote can help shine a light on a local gem.

“Go vote for Hillsborough,” he says. “We’ve been in the lead for a good while – and you can vote every day.”

Click here to vote in the contest.