With almost one third of the population saying that they’d prefer to live in a suburban area, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best Small Cities in America, as well as expert commentary.
To help Americans put down roots in places offering good quality of life and affordability, WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across 45 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and school-system quality to restaurants per capita and the crime rate.
| Top 20 Small Cities in America | |
| 1. Carmel, IN | 11. Bozeman, MT |
| 2. Lexington, MA | 12. Apex, NC |
| 3. Brentwood, TN | 13. Redmond, WA |
| 4. Westfield, IN | 14. Needham, MA |
| 5. Fishers, IN | 15. Kaysville, UT |
| 6. Fair Lawn, NJ | 16. Zionsville, IN |
| 7. Milton, MA | 17. Appleton, WI |
| 8. Melrose, MA | 18. Portland, ME |
| 9. Saratoga Springs, NY | 19. Franklin, TN |
| 10. Brookfield, WI | 20. Arlington, MA |
Best vs. Worst
- Los Altos, California, has the highest median annual household income, $250,000, which is 11.2 times higher than in Isla Vista, California, the city with the lowest at $22,386.
- Commack, New York, has the lowest share of the population living in poverty, 1.80 percent, which is 39.7 times lower than in Isla Vista, California, the city with the highest at 71.50 percent.
- Isla Vista, California, has the fewest average hours worked per week, 23.90, which is 1.9 times fewer than in Fort Hood, Texas, the city with the most at 45.60.
- Castle Rock and Parker, Colorado, have the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health, 7.00 percent each, which is 4.3 times lower than in Eagle Pass, Texas, the city with the highest at 30.00 percent.
