Top 10 Best Small Cities in the United States

Best cities in the US. Photo: KnowInsiders

The personal finance website WalletHub, October 2021, released a report that found the best small cities in the U.S.

WalletHub analyzed more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000.

The website compared each of those 1,300 cities based on 43 metrics within five categories: affordability, economic health, education & health, quality of life and safety.

WalletHub also noted how cities performed within specific measurements. For example, Southlake, Texas, was found to have the lowest housing costs, while Isla Vista, California, was found to have the highest housing costs.

Five California cities -- Redmond, Los Banos, Pleasant Hill, Belmont and Bay Point -- all tied for the highest income growth, while Charleston, West Virginia, was found to have the lowest income growth.

The small city with the lowest crime rate was Lancaster, Pennsylvania, while Bessemer, Alabama, was found to have the highest crime rate, according to WalletHub.

Which are the 10 Best Small Cities in the US?

1. Sammamish, Washington

2. Carmel, Indiana

3. Brentwood, Tennessee

4. Lexington, Massachusetts

5. Reading, Massachusetts

6. Zionsville, Indiana

7. Portland, Maine

8. Milton, Massachusetts

9. Melrose, Massachusetts

10. Dublin, Ohio

***

Top 10 Best Small Cities in the US

1. Sammamish, Washington

Photo: Vicaso

Sammamish is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 45,780 at the 2010 census and an estimated 65,892 in 2019. Located on a plateau, the city is bordered by Lake Sammamish to the west and the Snoqualmie Valley to the east.

Sammamish ranked just 1,228th out of 1,300 small cities in quality of life, and 178th in affordability, it was the third-ranked small city for economic health, 57th for education and health, and 30th in safety.

Coming in just behind Sammamish was Carmel, Indiana, which ranked 30th in safety, 31st in affordability, 36th in economic health, 160th in education and health, and 275th in quality of life.

A separate ranking from Safewise in May 2021 also crowned Sammamish as the safest place to live in all of Washington state, based on rates of violent crimes and property crimes per 1,000 residents.

In 2018, MONEY magazine ranked Sammamish among the top 10 best places to live in the entire country. Washington also grabbed the top spot on the list of best states in the country for the second year in a row in 2021 as part of an annual ranking from U.S. News.

2. Carmel, Indiana

Photo: WISH-TV

The 91,065 residents of the city of Carmel, Indiana have a reason to celebrate today. Their suburban community just north of Indianapolis has just been named the best place to live in the entire United States.

There are numerous tourist attractions in Carmel. The Carmel City Center and historic Arts & Design District is the place to experience the music and magic of Central Indiana. With the Center for The Performing Arts located across the street, dozens of restaurants, bars, and nightlife destinations within walking distance, and the action in Indianapolis an easy drive away, Hotel Carmichael places you at the center of it all. Discover our favorite Carmel attractions and things to do in nearby Indianapolis.

3. Brentwood, Tennessee

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Brentwood is the suburb directly south of Nashville and Davidson County. The residential community was once home to many farms—including a widely popular horse farm—which is still evident today in its open spaces, large property lots, and gorgeous parks.

The city of Brentwood has an estimated population of over 42,000 and is part of Williamson County. The median household income is nearly $159,000 and the median home value is $602,000.

Brentwood, like the surrounding area, has experienced a lot of growth in recent years. As Nashville continues to expand and jobs are created, more and more people are choosing to find homes in the nearby suburbs. What is the main draw to this area? Here are just a few reasons people love living in Brentwood.

The city is well known for being a clean, friendly, and safe suburb, with several famous celebrities and corporate executives having family homes in the area. Along with being one of the most desired residential locations in the state, Brentwood is also home to a number of things to do, such as dining on delicious food at restaurants like Mere Bulles or taking a look at the stars at the Dyer Observatory. Certain attractions may be temporarily closed or require advance reservations. Some restaurants are currently offering pickup only. Hours/availability may have changed.

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4. Lexington, Massachusetts

Photo: TripAdvisor

Lexington is a medium-sized city located about 30 minutes outside of Boston. The town is steeped in history and is known for its beautiful homes and award-winning schools. For those who love history, Lexington is bound to be a remarkable experience. The city has rich historical and cultural activities, and in May each year, the month-long Revolutionary Revelry festival is a favorite.

Lexington, MA is home to nearly 33,000 people today. The median age in the city is 45, 70% of residents are married, and more than half the population is made up of families with school-aged children.

Lexington locals are highly educated; almost 80% of residents here have their Bachelor’s Degree, and 52% hold a Master’s Degree as well. Although 70% of people living in Lexington are white, 25% of residents here are of Asian descent, and another 3% identify as multicultural.

5. Reading, Massachusetts

Photo: Wikipedia

Located just north of other nice Boston suburbs like Woburn, Stoneham, and Wakefield, the town of Reading offers its residents a comfortable lifestyle with a safe atmosphere and easy access to nearby amenities.

Spanning an area of about 10 square miles, the town was originally settled in 1639 by a group of citizens from the nearby city of Lynn who wanted a place where they could establish a successful plantation. Due to its growth, Reading was incorporated as a town about five years later.

Between its great American history, fun local activities, and small-town feel, moving to Reading provides great opportunities for people of all ages and lifestyles.

With a fairly expensive housing market, the cost of living in Reading is about 32% higher than the average across Massachusetts. But you will find similarities to the state with expenses like healthcare, groceries, and home utilities. Reading transportation costs are even lower than Massachusetts standards on average.

6. Zionsville, Indiana

Photo: jhumbracht | photography

Zionsville is the perfect place for people seeking a city with small-town charm, a historic past, and an exciting future. With its brick-paved, village-style town center and 17 beautiful parks throughout the city, you nearly forget you are only 15 minutes away from downtown Indianapolis.

But while Zionsville is known for its historic downtown “Village” area, there are several other key aspects of this town that make it a very desirable place to live in central Indiana. These include a vibrant real estate market, several fun annual events, a respected business community, and an excellent school system that recently ranked No. 5 in the state according to Indianapolis Monthly, and No. 290 out of 31,242 U.S. public high schools listed in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools Rankings.”

7. Portland, Maine

Photo: Newagen Seaside Inn

In 2014, Portland, Maine, decided to officially declare what pretty much everyone knew. “Yes. Life’s good here” is a patented city brand that some might interpret as a little smug, if it weren’t for the fact that Portland keeps on working to make life even better. It being the smallest city, by population, among the Top 50 in our ranking is just one more confirmation. The city ranks #9 for our Parks & Outdoors subcategory, as part of its #42 ranking in our Place category, a measure of the natural and built environment.

There are six unfairly picturesque lighthouses in the area, and the city’s weathered wharfs, cobblestone passageways and historic buildings thrive in the fresh salt air, so much so that its waterfront Commercial Street was declared one of the 10 best streets in the country by the American Planning Association. That this classic American urbanism can be enjoyed without looking over your shoulder (the city is the 22nd-safest in the nation) just adds to Portland’s magnetism. And people are coming, even during the pandemic. This mighty mite ranks #12 nationally in our diverse Prosperity category despite a lack of Fortune 500 companies, and home prices are rising (#14 nationally).

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8. Milton, Massachusetts

Photo: Flickr

Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and an affluent suburb of Boston. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, and architect Buckminster Fuller. In 2007, 2009, and 2011, Money magazine listed Milton as 7th, 5th, and 2nd, respectively, on its annual list of the "Best Places to Live" in the United States.

Milton is located between the Neponset River and the Blue Hills. It is bordered by Boston's Dorchester and Mattapan neighborhoods to the north and its Hyde Park neighborhood to the west; Quincy to the east and south; Randolph to the south, and Canton to the west.

9. Melrose, Massachusetts

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Melrose is a city located in the Greater Boston metropolitan area in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Its population, per the 2020 United States Census, is 29,817. It is a suburb located approximately seven miles north of Boston. It is situated in the center of the triangle created by Interstates 93, 95 and U.S. Route 1.

The land that comprises Melrose was first settled in 1628 and was once part of Charlestown and then Malden. It became the Town of Melrose in 1850 and then the City of Melrose in 1900.

10. Dublin, Ohio

Photo: Visit Dublin, Ohio

Central Ohio has always been known as one of the best places to live in the Buckeye State, and a 2017 survey by Niche, a website that analyses school and neighbourhood data, proves it.

Perched at sixth place on the Niche list of best places to live in the United States was Dublin, Ohio, a suburb in Columbus with a little over 43,000 residents.

The place is famous for the Dublin Irish Festival and home to the “Field of Corn”, but it was catapulted to such soaring heights by more than that.

A fabulous school district with an impressive score of 8.67 on GreatSchools. A strong economy whose benefits trickle down to the residents who take home on average $114,183 per household. Close proximity to downtown Columbus, with a commute time of just 22 minutes.

Dublin is also big on golf, and the Muirfield Village Golf Club and Hayden Falls are especially popular.

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