The 20 best small cities in the US
Personal-finance company Wallethub has identified the best small cities in America.
It compared more than 1,321 cities across five key metrics, including affordability and quality of life.
The list is dominated by cities in the Midwest, with Carmel, Indiana taking the top spot.
Sky-high home prices and a limited supply of available homes in larger, more popular cities have driven many buyers to smaller towns, where they can enjoy a relatively more affordable cost of living and tighter-knit communities.
WalletHub has released an annual report ranking the best small cities in the US. The personal finance company compared more than 1,321 small US cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across five key metrics: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety.
The Midwest region — with its strong manufacturing and agricultural roots — boasts the most cities on the list. At the top is Carmel, Indiana, a suburban town just 35 minutes north of Indianapolis, home to several wineries, vineyards, gardens, and walking trails.
"Having lived in Carmel for nearly a decade I can safely say that town is amazing," A resident wrote on neighborhood and school ranking website Niche. "The people are kind and there is always something to do down in the arts center. Having the Monon Trail running through the center of town means there are lots of opportunities to walk around and enjoy the community."
Here are the 20 best small cities in the US, as ranked by Wallethub. Business Insider has also included the median home sale price for each city as of November, sourced from Redfin, along with population data based from the latest available Census figures.
20. Arlington, Massachusetts
Median housing cost: $1,100,000
Population: 46,308
19. Needham, Massachusetts
Median housing cost: $1,375,000
Population: 32,091
18. Downers Grove, Illinois
Median housing cost: $483,000
Population: 49,706
17. Saratoga Springs, New York
Median housing cost: $742,500
Population: 28,544
16. Kaysville, Utah
Median housing cost: $754,500
Population: 32,941
15. Castle Rock, Colorado
Median housing cost: $656,000
Population: 81,415
14. Noblesville, Indiana
Median housing cost: $394,500
Population: 73,916
13. Leesburg, Virginia
Median housing cost: $741,250
Population: 49,312
12. Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Median housing cost: $630,000
Population: 35,564
11. Milton, Massachusetts
Median housing cost: $1,025,000
Population: 28,630
10. Westfield, Indiana
Median housing cost: $421,000
Population: 57,746
9. Bozeman, Montana
Median housing cost: $685,000
Population: 57,305
8. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Median housing cost: $236,000
Population: 18,677
7. Brentwood, Tennessee
Median housing cost: $1,200,000
Population: 45,265
6. Apex, North Carolina
Median housing cost: $660,000
Population: 72,225
5. Appleton, Wisconsin
Median housing cost: $260,000
Population: 74,719
4. Fishers, Indiana
Median housing cost: $415,000
Population: 104,094
3. Lexington, Massachusetts
Median housing cost: $1,600,000
Population: 34,454
2. Brookfield, Wisconsin
Median housing cost: $462,500
Population: 41,884
1. Carmel, Indiana
Median housing cost: $479,500
Population: 102,296
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