Methodology

To create the list, WalletHub evaluated 1,318 cities with population sizes between 25,000 and 100,000 using 45 metrics across five key dimensions:

• Affordability, which includes median household income, cost of living, and homeownership rate
• Economic health, which includes population growth, income growth, and unemployment rate
• Education and health, which includes school system quality, share of insured population, premature death rate, and share of adults in poor or fair health
• Quality of life, which includes average commute time, average weekly work hours, and number of attractions
• Safety, which includes violent crime rate, property crime rate, and motor vehicle crash deaths per capita

Data for the ranking was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI, County Health Rankings, and more. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions.

The best small cities in America

In the final list, cities were grouped by their percentile, with the 99th percentile representing the top 1% of small cities in America. The cities included in the 99th percentile were:

• Carmel, IN
• Brookfield, WI
• Apex, NC
• Lexington, MA
• Westfield, IN
• Fishers, IN
• Brentwood, TN
• Saratoga Springs, NY
• Appleton, WI
• Lehi, UT
•  Leesburg, VA
• Arlington, MA
• Kaysville, UT
• Castle Rock, CO
• Franklin, TN
• Milton, MA
• Lancaster, PA
• Holland, MI
• Noblesville, IN

In comparison, the cities in the 1st percentile, representing the bottom 1%, were:

• Chamblee, GA
• Stonecrest, GA
• Flint, MI
• Albany, GA
• Chicago Heights, IL
• Pueblo West, CO
• Texarkana, AR
• North Little Rock, AR
• Marrero, LA
• Pahrump, NV
• Jacksonville, AR
• Gary, IN
• Greenville, MS
• Monroe, LA
• Wasco, CA
• West Memphis, AR
• Isla Vista, CA
• Pine Bluff, AR
• Alexandria, LA
• Bessemer, AL

Commentary

According to 2024 Ipsos poll, almost half of Americans say they would prefer to live in the suburbs, much higher than those who said they wanted to live in urban areas (24%) or rural communities (23%).

Lei Zhang, an associate professor of real estate at Old Dominion University's Strome College of Business, said that small cities typically have a lower cost of living, which can reduce financial pressure and allow people to save more.

"The pace of life is generally slower, allowing for a better work-life balance as less time is spent commuting," Zhang said. "This means more quality time with family, pursuing hobbies, or engaging in personal development."

Gerit-Jan Knaap, a professor of urban studies and planning at the University of Maryland's National Center for Smart Growth, highlighted certain drawbacks of small cities, including fewer job opportunities, less career diversity and advancement, and limited options for healthcare, cultural amenities, and entertainment.

When evaluating a small city, Zhang listed five indicators to pay attention to, including cost of living as a percentage of net income, climate, easy access to an airport, quality of the K-12 education system, and quality and easy access to healthcare.

"The availability and quality of healthcare facilities are essential for ensuring a good quality of life," Zhang said. "Cities with well-equipped hospitals, a variety of healthcare providers, and short wait times contribute to a community’s overall well-being and attractiveness."