This Midwestern Suburb Was Named the Best Small City in the U.S.

There’s something undeniably charming about smaller cities. With less traffic, shorter commutes and a strong sense of community, they often offer a balance between convenience and calm that may be hard to find in major metropolitan areas. Add in more space and a slower pace of life, and it’s no wonder more and more people are drawn to these compact hubs.

In fact, a new study from WalletHub finds that 47 percent of Americans would rather live in the suburbs, while 24 percent prefer urban areas and 23 percent opt for rural communities. Given this increased interest, the personal finance site recently looked into which small cities in America are doing it best—and a Midwestern suburb came out on top.

The Best Small Cities in America, According to WalletHub

WalletHub recently released its annual “Best Small Cities in America” rankings, examining more than 1,300 communities across the country. To be considered a “small” city, WalletHub defined the population range as between 25,000 and 100,000 residents — they’re large enough to sustain amenities like restaurants, shopping centers and cultural attractions, but small enough to avoid the gridlock and congestion that are typical of bigger urban centers.

To compile its list, WalletHub used 45 indicators that fell into five broad categories: affordability, economic health, education and healthcare, quality of life and safety. Each city was vetted across these categories and given a combined overall score that helped determine its ranking.

This year, Carmel, Ind., claimed the top spot as WalletHub’s best small city in America, followed by Brookfield, Wis., Apex, N.C., Lexington, Mass., and Westfield, Ind. The suburb, with a population of just under 100,000 as of the 2020 census, is located in Indiana’s Hamilton County north of Indianapolis. It’s known for having a bustling arts scene, outdoor trails and more than 155 roundabouts that has earned it the nickname “Roundabout Capital of the U.S.”

Cities in Utah, Tennessee, New Jersey and Michigan, also made appearances on the list, showing that the appeal of small-city living stretches across the map. WalletHub’s findings highlight the unique strengths of small cities when it comes to offering residents a high quality of life at a lower cost than many larger metropolitan areas.

“The best small cities offer strong job markets, high-quality education, good health care, safe living conditions and plenty of local flair to help you achieve a high quality of life,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “While small cities may lack some advantages of big cities, like robust public transportation systems, they make up for these shortcomings in other areas.”