Most Livable Small Cities

The density, noise and expense of large cities may not always be optimal for each American household. Still, trading in the convenience of a large city often means a multi-person household may be split on what factors go into making a location a best-fit. In some cases, but not others, families may be willing to make cost tradeoffs for the sake of convenience. For instance, shorter commute times to spend more time at home, or more available facilities for extracurricular activities with friends and family. Ultimately, a local economy where infrastructure, business, financial prosperity and convenience all intersect may offer the best of all worlds for everyone in the household.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 279 cities with population sizes between 65,000 and 100,000 across seven metrics reflecting to what degree each city has a well-rounded spread of factors making it ‘livable’ for many, including housing affordability, poverty and unemployment rates, health insurance coverage, access to healthcare and entertainment facilities, and commute times.

Key Findings

Plymouth, MN is the most livable small city. Plymouth ranked as among the top 10% of cities for multiple factors. With 98.7% of the population covered by health insurance, the wider community has the most peace of mind for medical care. The housing market is relatively among the most affordable, with just 17.5% of the median $130,793 household income going to monthly payments. Poverty and unemployment were also among the lowest studywide, at 5.1% and 2.1%, respectively.
Housing costs make up just 16% of the annual income in these small cities. Ranking as the 23rd most livable small city overall, Bismarck, ND has the most affordable housing relative to incomes with the monthly average housing cost of $1,012 accounting for just 16.0% of the annual household income of $75,856. Closely following are Lakeville, MN (16.1%); Apex, NC (16.4%); Livonia, MI (16.4%); and Redmond, WA (16.8%).
Poverty is lowest in Eastvale, CA. As a whole, the residents tend to have a base level of financial security, with just 1.9% below the poverty line. This is despite a relatively high monthly housing cost of $2,874, and a modest 4.4% unemployment rate. Still, Eastvale ranks 102nd overall due to long commute times and a low concentration of healthcare and entertainment facilities.
Unemployment is less than 1% in Noblesville, IN. The city has a 0.98% unemployment rate, and ranks 13th most livable small city overall. Other cities with particularly low unemployment include Indio, CA (1.1%, 24th overall) and Lakeville, MN (1.2%, 6th overall).

Top 20 Most Livable Small Cities

Plymouth, Minnesota

Population: 77,638
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 17.51%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,909
Median monthly household income: $130,793
Poverty: 5.1%
Unemployment: 2.09%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 98.74%
Total number of businesses: 40,486
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.07503
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02050
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.13705
Average commute time (minutes): 20

Bloomington, Illinois

Population: 78,591
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 18.16%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,174
Median monthly household income: $77,577
Poverty: 8.2%
Unemployment: 2.35%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 96.48%
Total number of businesses: 3,481
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.12065
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02154
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.10542
Average commute time (minutes): 17.3

Livonia, Michigan

Population: 92,184
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 16.45%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,302
Median monthly household income: $95,003
Poverty: 6.2%
Unemployment: 1.62%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 97.44%
Total number of businesses: 33,699
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.10976
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01365
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.12860
Average commute time (minutes): 25

O’Fallon, Missouri

Population: 94,073
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 17.77%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,530
Median monthly household income: $103,301
Poverty: 4.0%
Unemployment: 1.92%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 96.65%
Total number of businesses: 8,946
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.09825
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02079
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.13424
Average commute time (minutes): 24.8

Ankeny, Iowa

Population: 74,455
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 17.38%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,533
Median monthly household income: $105,862
Poverty: 3.8%
Unemployment: 1.46%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 94.49%
Total number of businesses: 13,890
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.09150
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01814
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.11216
Average commute time (minutes): 19.1

Lakeville, Minnesota

Population: 76,235
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 16.07%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,982
Median monthly household income: $147,992
Poverty: 2.2%
Unemployment: 1.20%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 97.19%
Total number of businesses: 10,964
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.06977
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01787
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.12732
Average commute time (minutes): 25

Flower Mound, Texas

Population: 79,292
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 19.97%
Median monthly housing costs: $2,454
Median monthly household income: $147,490
Poverty: 3.3%
Unemployment: 1.95%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 96.88%
Total number of businesses: 20,025
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.10671
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01697
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.12709
Average commute time (minutes): 24.8

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Population: 70,469
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 18.61%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,058
Median monthly household income: $68,221
Poverty: 12.7%
Unemployment: 3.87%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 94.53%
Total number of businesses: 2,753
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.10715
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02106
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.15292
Average commute time (minutes): 17

Appleton, Wisconsin

Population: 75,861
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 17.20%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,053
Median monthly household income: $73,449
Poverty: 6.6%
Unemployment: 2.45%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 94.79%
Total number of businesses: 5,304
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.09483
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01828
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.11067
Average commute time (minutes): 18.5

St. Charles, Missouri

Population: 71,802
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 20.46%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,336
Median monthly household income: $78,359
Poverty: 7.6%
Unemployment: 1.63%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 93.51%
Total number of businesses: 8,946
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.09825
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02079
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.13424
Average commute time (minutes): 20.5

11. Maple Grove, MN

Population: 71,275
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 20.52%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,782
Median monthly household income: $104,200
Poverty: 3.8%
Unemployment: 2.26%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 98.13%
Total number of businesses: 40,486
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.07503
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02050
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.13705
Average commute time (minutes): 23.4

Redondo Beach, California

Population: 67,750
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 22.06%
Median monthly housing costs: $2,936
Median monthly household income: $159,676
Poverty: 3.8%
Unemployment: 4.88%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 97.59%
Total number of businesses: 304,988
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.08233
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.07016
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.12868
Average commute time (minutes): 28.1

Noblesville, Indiana

Population: 76,124
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 17.13%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,530
Median monthly household income: $107,177
Poverty: 8.4%
Unemployment: 0.98%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 94.19%
Total number of businesses: 10,446
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.07840
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02182
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.13373
Average commute time (minutes): 24.1

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Population: 66,184
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 18.73%
Median monthly housing costs: $970
Median monthly household income: $62,155
Poverty: 13.7%
Unemployment: 2.45%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 91.01%
Total number of businesses: 3,784
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.10861
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02246
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.13927
Average commute time (minutes): 17.9

Cheektowaga, New York

Population: 75,443
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 20.59%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,051
Median monthly household income: $61,246
Poverty: 11.3%
Unemployment: 2.35%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 96.84%
Total number of businesses: 22,497
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.10396
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01929
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.11908
Average commute time (minutes): 18.7

Sammamish, Washington

Population: 65,126
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 17.12%
Median monthly housing costs: $3,407
Median monthly household income: $238,750
Poverty: 2.9%
Unemployment: 2.87%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 98.08%
Total number of businesses: 70,376
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.09587
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01918
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.12450
Average commute time (minutes): 30.2

Woodbury, Minnesota

Population: 79,530
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 19.05%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,914
Median monthly household income: $120,588
Poverty: 4.2%
Unemployment: 2.59%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 97.15%
Total number of businesses: 6,542
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.07199
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.02430
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.13757
Average commute time (minutes): 26.2

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Population: 95,229
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 20.66%
Median monthly housing costs: $2,193
Median monthly household income: $127,357
Poverty: 4.2%
Unemployment: 1.29%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 96.08%
Total number of businesses: 15,801
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.10163
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01987
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.10208
Average commute time (minutes): 24.5

Troy, Michigan

Population: 87,338
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 17.25%
Median monthly housing costs: $1,538
Median monthly household income: $106,965
Poverty: 3.9%
Unemployment: 3.81%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 96.39%
Total number of businesses: 39,792
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.07840
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01575
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.14299
Average commute time (minutes): 24.6

Mountain View, California

Population: 81,790
Housing costs as a percentage of income: 20.67%
Median monthly housing costs: $3,130
Median monthly household income: $181,671
Poverty: 6.6%
Unemployment: 3.12%
Residents with health insurance coverage: 97.58%
Total number of businesses: 49,154
Concentration of food service and accommodation businesses: 0.10381
Concentration of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses: 0.01434
Concentration of healthcare businesses: 0.12938
Average commute time (minutes): 22.6

Data and Methodology

To find the most livable small cities in America, SmartAsset compared 281 cities with a population between 65,000 and 100,000 across the following metrics:

Housing costs as a percentage of household income. This is the median housing costs divided by median household income. Data comes from the Census Bureau’s 2023 1-year American Community Survey.
Percentage of residents below the poverty line. Data comes from the Census Bureau’s 2023 1-year American Community Survey.
Unemployment rate. County-level data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2024.
Percentage of residents with health insurance. Data comes from the Census Bureau’s 2023 1-year American Community Survey.
Average commute time. This measures a worker’s average commute time in minutes. Data comes from the Census Bureau’s 2023 1-year American Community Survey.

Half-weighted metrics come from the Census Bureau’s 2021 County Business Patterns survey and are at the county level.

Proportion of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments. Data comes from the Census Bureau’s 2023 County Business Patterns Survey.
Proportion of accommodation and food service establishments. Data comes from the Census Bureau’s 2023 County Business Patterns Survey.
Proportion of healthcare establishments. Data comes from the Census Bureau’s 2023 County Business Patterns Survey.

Questions about this study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

Photo credit: iStock/Jacob Boomsma