The Best Small Cities To Enjoy Amazing Quality of Life
Small cities can often offer all that a big city does—including culture, diversity, activities, shops, and housing choices—but without the higher price tags and quality of life issues such as crime and gridlock traffic that can plague a bigger city.
'Small cities can offer families a slower pace of life and more family-friendly amenities,' says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®. 'Many of these towns are near big cities, which can offer ample job opportunities without giving up access to small-town living.'
But which one might be right for you and your family to settle down in? The choices can be mind-boggling. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked 859 U.S. cities with populations below 100,000 to come up with a list of the 15 best small cities in the country.
The analysis evaluated data for desirability, quality of life, job market, and value, taking into account crime rates, cost of living, net migration, climate, quality of education, cost of housing, and more.
Johns Creek, GA, is no stranger to the 'best of' lists. It also recently ranked high on the list of the Top 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live in America compiled by Niche.com, a rankings and reviews site for schools and towns.
Local broker Ann Jensen, of Harry Norman Realtors, says that the Fulton County suburb (population 78,937) is cherished for its low crime, strong diversity, proximity to Atlanta (an hour away), small-town feel, plenty of shops, strong jobs market, and abundance of housing choices, from large single-family homes to condos to 55-plus communities.
'You see people of every ethnicity, and everyone gets along just fine,' she tells Realtor.com. She also mentions the high-quality hospitals and medical facilities, which have attracted plenty of retirees.
Adds Tony Money, a local agent with Re/Max Around Atlanta: 'This is as close to a small-town atmosphere as you'll ever get close to a big city. It's a community.'
To the southwest, Texas snags no fewer than four spots in the rankings.
'One of the reasons for the popularity of so many places in Texas is the price for housing,' Jerry O'Reilly of Houston-based Cash Home Buyers Crew tells Realtor.com.
'While the cost of living is a bit above the national average, housing prices in these areas average about 20% less than other places with comparable housing.'
Median home price: $865,000
With Atlanta less than an hour away, you get closeness to the big city and the high quality of life of the smaller town. Excellent schools (all rated 9 and 10 by Realtor.com), top medical facilities, low crime (it ranks No. 1 for the safest city in America), and a robust job market (Johns Creek Technology Park houses many tech companies) make Johns Creek one of the most coveted suburbs in the country.
Median home price: $623,340
Home to some of the country's best colleges, including North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Wake Forest University, Apex is in the top 10% for college-readiness and desirability for its low crime rates, according to the rankings. It also comes with a charming, historical downtown.
Median home price: $557,500
The secret is out on this Austin suburb, which grew by more than 123% from 2010 to 2020, and an additional 47.8% from 2020 to 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing cities on this list, coming in at No. 3 for net migration, according to U.S. News & World Report. A newer community, the area attracts a lot of tech workers.
Median home price: $514,900
This quiet Detroit suburb is known for its outdoorsy lifestyle with its 8.5-mile Paint Creek Trail, yet it's just a stone's throw from Rock City. It also ranked in the top 2% for environmental risk for its low chance of extreme weather events.
'It's a great town to live in,' says Detroit house flipper and resident Hunter Schattler. 'The quality of life is amazing. It has beautiful parks and community events. The education is top-tier even for the public schools. The community is strong and hosts a lot of events throughout the year. It's very safe to raise a family and has a very low crime rate.'
Median home price: $479,900
With a high median income of $118,274 here, residents can well afford the median list price, which is far below the national median. Home to several auto suppliers, manufacturers, and health care corporations, this Detroit suburb sits in the top 20% of cities for job market strength.
Median home price: $1.879M
Sitting between Lake Sammamish, Soaring Eagle Regional Park, and Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, this outdoorsy suburb is nevertheless close to major tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, contributing to its very high median income of $235,013.
Peter Kim, CEO of Odigo Real Estate Club in Seattle, extols the area's low crime rate, top schools, and scenic views.
'One of the biggest reasons why our clients are drawn there is the beautiful topography of the city, which the city works very hard to protect every year from developers,' he tells Realtor.com.
Median home price: $795,000
Offering a short commute to both Baltimore and Washington, DC, this suburb is No. 11 for overall quality of life thanks to its low crime rate and top-rated health care, according to the rankings.
Median home price: $691,750
This city offers commutability to the bustling, job-heavy Dallas-Fort Worth metro, but it also has the scenic shores of Grapevine Lake. Its name comes from the 175 species of wildflowers that bloom inside the 12.5-acre natural 'mound' at its center.
Talyn Provo, an agent with Douglas Elliman, grew up in Flower Mound and never left.
'The town's zoning is focused on single-family development with generous-sized private lots,' she tells Realtor.com.
Median home price: $441,000
The third Texas suburb on the list, Pflugerville offers 56 miles of trail systems, a strong local economy, and a 20-mile distance from downtown Austin. It is also in the top 5% of all cities analyzed for their air quality, according to the rankings.
'Pflugerville is a place for nature lovers,' says O'Reilly. 'The city and surrounding area have tons of parks and walkways, and cheaper housing is a key selling point for this city.'
Plenty of new construction means an easier time finding a place to call home and a reasonable $199 per-square-foot median price tag.
Median home price: $500,000
Sitting outside of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the area's plentiful industries in manufacturing, wholesale trade, and insurance keep its unemployment rate lower than the national average.
It also ranks in the top 5% for quality of life, despite its rather harsh winters.
Median home price: $379,900
Known for its robust local jobs market, Ankeny comes in at No. 5 on the list's employment ranking. It also came in at No. 9 for housing affordability.
The suburb, which is about an hour from Des Moines, has plenty of outdoor activities, including 40 parks and miles of trails. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in this Midwestern state, with D.R. Horton being a major builder offering up several new communities.
Median home price: $499,250
Sitting right next to the state capital of Hartford, this suburb is known for its wide-open spaces, charming historical homes, excellent school system, and vibrant cultural scene, including Celebrate! West Hartford, a two-day festival that draws nearly 40,000 visitors with vendors, food, and live music.
'West Hartford has a very diverse and progressive community and is very safe and family-friendly,' local agent Robert L. Levine, of ERA Hart Sargis-Breen Real Estate, tells Realtor.com. 'It's just got a little bit of everything, which is why people from all over the New England region like to come to visit our town.'
Median home price: $1.595M
This Washington, DC, suburb offers the bustle of a city, including being on the Metro, and has the No. 1 job market in the country, according to the rankings. But it also comes with greener spaces and less hubbub than the political town of DC.
Median home price: $439,840
With a low unemployment rate of 2.6%, this suburb of Oklahoma City offers two colleges, a strong job market, and overall affordability.
Median home price: $550,000
The fourth Texas suburb on the list, Cedar Park attracts techies who might be priced out of Austin. There are nearly 50 colleges nearby, plenty of sports (Austin Spurs, Texas Stars hockey), and high scores for air quality.
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