2021’s Best Small Cities in America

From Wallet Hub, Oct 19, 2021

Urbanization might be the trend for much of the population, but not everyone craves the bright lights and crowded spaces of big cities. In fact, city growth is slowing down while suburbanization is rising, and movement out of cities is spurred by fear of COVID-19 this year. In addition to providing a greater degree of social isolation during the pandemic, small-city life can be best for those who appreciate more wiggle room, fewer degrees of separation and shorter commutes, to name just a few of its advantages. Granted, these little urban areas demand some tradeoffs, too, such as fewer restaurant options or shorter business hours.

But one of the best perks of living in a city with a relatively smaller population? Affordability. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the cost of living for a two-parent, two-child family in Hanford, California, for instance, would be $6,221 per month, compared with nearly double at $12,370 for the same family in San Francisco.

No two small cities are made equal, though, so which ones outshine the rest? To find out, WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on 43 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs to school-system quality to restaurants per capita….

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