Livability.com Launches Its First-Ever Ranking of the Top 50 Best Small Cities in America
New data-driven list spotlights 50 affordable U.S. communities with populations of 15,000 to 75,000
FRANKLIN, Tenn., Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Livability.com today released its first-ever ranking of the Top 50 Best Small Cities in America, recognizing communities that offer the highest quality of life at an attainable cost. Livability evaluated more than 2,000 cities with populations between 15,000 and 75,000 across nearly 100 data points. The inaugural list includes cities from 25 states.
"We wanted to celebrate the small cities that offer so much to residents but are often overlooked because of their size," says Amanda Ellis, Livability.com editor-in-chief. "If you want quality of life, affordability and a sense of community, this list points you to 50 outstanding options nationwide."
Data-Driven Methodology
Livability.com partners with the data experts at Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) to analyze quality of life in U.S. cities. Like Livability's annual Top 100 Best Places to Live ranking, the Top 50 Best Small Cities list draws on nearly 100 data points across eight categories: Economy, Housing & Cost of Living, Amenities, Transportation, Environment, Safety, Education and Health. Population figures are based on 2025 U.S. Census Bureau estimates and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Prioritizing Affordability
As Americans face rising living costs, Livability's proprietary algorithm weighs the Housing & Cost of Living category more heavily. To keep the list within reach for most buyers, we considered only cities with a median home value under $500,000. The analysis also compares average rents and home prices with local incomes, giving the most affordable places a competitive edge.
Representation From Across the Country
The list spans every region of the country, from established hubs like Lenexa, Kansas, to fast-growing communities like Waukee, Iowa, which grew nearly 10% in the last year. The top 10 are:
- Daphne, Alabama
- Madison, Alabama
- Homewood, Alabama
- Dublin, Ohio
- Chesterfield, Missouri
- Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
- Mason, Ohio
- Westfield, Indiana
- Pflugerville, Texas
- Friendswood, Texas
Other cities on the list include Bergenfield, New Jersey (No. 15); Downers Grove, Illinois (No. 17); Minnetonka, Minnesota (No. 22); Collierville, Tennessee (No. 30); Wake Forest, North Carolina (No. 33); Shelton, Connecticut (No. 37); Duluth, Georgia (No. 40); Dover, New Hampshire (No. 43) and Bentonville, Arkansas (No. 47).
The full list of 50 cities, detailed methodology and interactive community profiles are available at https://livability.com/best-places/top-50-small-cities-in-america/.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Amanda Ellis, Editor-in-Chief, Livability.com
[email protected]
About Livability.com
Livability.com highlights the best small to mid-sized cities and what makes them great places to live, work and visit. Through exclusive research and original content, we examine affordability, cultural amenities, talent attraction and more, celebrating cities' accomplishments through rankings, our annual Top 100 Best Places to Live and articles exploring the who, what, why and how behind the "where." Livability is a division of Journal Communications, Inc., based in Franklin, TN.
SOURCE Livability.com
Share this article