Apex was ranked No. 4 in WalletHub’s 2026 Best Small Cities in America. The research compared over 1,300 small cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000, based on 45 key indicators of livability ranging from housing costs to restaurants per capita. This is the second year Apex has ranked within the top five.
Not everyone is drawn to the bright lights and crowds of big cities. In fact, almost half of Americans (47%) say they would prefer to live in the suburbs, compared with 24% who prefer urban areas and 23% who favor rural communities. For those who value more space, fewer degrees of separation and shorter commutes, small-city living can offer plenty of advantages. Of course, smaller cities come with some tradeoffs, too, including fewer restaurant choices and shorter business hours.
Affordability is another major perk of living in a city with a relatively small population. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a two-parent, two-child family in Hanford, California, would need $8,417 per month to cover the cost of living, compared with more than twice that amount $19,275 for the same family in San Francisco.
Of course, not all small cities offer the same quality of life. So, which ones stand out from the rest? To find out, WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000, using 45 key indicators of livability. These factors range from housing costs and school-system quality to the number of restaurants per capita.
“Moving from a bustling metropolis to a small city could drastically cut down your cost of living. On top of that, the best small cities offer strong job markets, high-quality education, good health care, safe living conditions and plenty of local flair to help you achieve a high quality of life. While small cities may lack some advantages of big cities, like robust public transportation systems, they make up for these shortcomings in other areas.” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
