In a period of shifting economic tides and rising costs, looking for just the right place to live has become a daunting task for Americans.
Enter Livability.com's list of the 100 best small to midsize cities in 2026. In these locations, a paycheck goes further, commuting time is shorter and quality of life comes first.
"As Americans face consistently evolving work dynamics and a desire for the best quality of life possible amidst inflation and uncertainty, our list celebrates places where people can more realistically build families, launch businesses and lead meaningful lives," Amanda Ellis, the editor-in-chief, said in a statement.
For this year's list, Livability.com commissioned proprietary data on thousands of U.S. cities. Its researchers partnered with Applied Geographic Solutions to curate the results and to analyze more than 100 data points in eight essential categories to measure a city's overall health and "fun factor."
- Economy and housing: They prioritized affordability by comparing average rents and home prices to local incomes.
- Amenities and environment: They measured the "fun factor" alongside air quality and green space.
- Safety, health and education: They evaluated the vital infrastructure that keeps families safe and supported.
- Transportation: They looked for places where residents spend less time in traffic and more time going about their lives.
Researchers' 2026 algorithm gave extra weight to the housing and cost-of-living category to reflect today's economic climate.
See the accompanying gallery for the 12 best small and midsize U.S. cities in 2026.
© Touchpoint Markets, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.