The 20 best small cities to live in across the US, ranked

Business Insider | 01-10-2026 03:40pm |

The article from Business Insider ranks the 20 best small cities in the United States to live in, based on a study by WalletHub. They looked at over 1,300 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000, using 45 different factors to measure livability. These factors included things like cost of living, job growth, education, health, quality of life, and safety. The top city on the list is Lexington, Massachusetts, known for its strong education and health metrics, even though it is less affordable compared to others. Other cities that made the list include: Brookfield, Wisconsin: Noted for its low unemployment rate and high credit scores. Carmel, Indiana: Recognized for its high median income and low unemployment. Apex, North Carolina: Ranked high for economic health and affordability. Saratoga Springs, New York: Valued for its quality of life despite being less urban. The rankings cover cities from various states, showing a mix of suburban and independent cities, each with unique strengths. Overall, the article highlights that these cities offer good living conditions based on various important criteria.

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