The 20 Best Small Cities in the U.S.
Recently released U.S. Census Bureau data showed that suburban population growth outpaced city growth in 2016. To help Americans put down roots in places offering good quality of life and affordability, WalletHub’s analysts compared more than 1,200 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across 33 key indicators of livability to compile its report on 2017’s Best Small Cities in America.
Top 20 Small Cities in America
1. Princeton, NJ
2. Lexington, MA
3. Leawood, KS
4. Milton, MA
5. Brentwood, TN
6. Los Altos, CA
7. Carmel, IN
8. Needham, MA
9. Holly Springs, NC
10. Littleton, CO
11. Newton, MA
12. Melrose, MA
13. Brookfield, WI
14. Sammamish, WA
15. Kirkland, WA
16. Saratoga, CA
17. Dublin, OH
18. Palo Alto, CA
19. Westfield, NJ
20. Fishers, IN
Best vs. Worst
- The Villages, Florida, has the highest homeownership rate, 96.25 percent, which is 108.1 times higher than in Fort Hood, Texas, the city with the lowest at 0.89 percent.
- Plainfield, Illinois, has the lowest share of the population living below poverty level, 1.90 percent, which is 27.5 times lower than in Statesboro, Georgia, the city with the highest at 52.3 percent.
- Fort Hood, Texas, has the shortest average commute time, 11.2 minutes, which is 3.9 times shorter than in Lake Elsinore, California, the city with the longest at 43.6 minutes.
- East Lansing, Michigan, has the fewest average hours worked per week, 28.2, which is 1.7 times fewer than in Fort Hood, Texas, the city with the most at 49.1.
- Castle Rock and Parker, Colorado, have the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health, 7.9 percent each, which is 4.7 times lower than in Eagle Pass, Texas, the city with the highest at 37.2 percent.