Each small city comes with its own unique charm and sense of community.
While those are important factors in deciding where to call home, the livability of each small city also is a big component, including cost of living, quality of education and health care, the local economy and more.
A recent report from WalletHub ranked the best small cities in the United States in 2024, and three locations familiar to Delawareans made the list.
Best small cities in America
WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on “45 key indicators of livability.” Indicators are grouped into the following categories, with values based on U.S. Census Bureau data and other sources:
- Affordability
- Economic health
- Education
- Health
- Quality of life
- Safety
The 45 metrics across the six categories are weighted separately on a 100-point scale, with 100 being the most favorable conditions for small city residents. The weighted averages across all metrics determine each city’s overall score and their placement in the final ranking.