Thinking of Living in a Small City? Which One is the Best?

May be you’re just not cut out for Urban life or are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city not to mention the cost of living, or the higher cost of homeownership.

Living in a small town does it have it advantages such as less people, shorter drive to work and it just may cost you a lot less in living expenses.

To help Americans put down roots in places offering good quality of life and affordability, WalletHub compared more than 1,200 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across 40 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs to school-system quality to restaurants per capita.

Best vs. Worst

• McLean, Virginia has the highest median annual household income, $190,258, which is 9.7 times higher than in Carbondale, Illinois, the city with the lowest at $19,515.
• Plainfield, Illinois, has the lowest share of the population living in poverty, 1.90 percent, which is 27.1 times lower than in Statesboro, Georgia, the city with the highest at 51.50 percent.
• East Lansing, Michigan, has the fewest average hours worked per week, 28.4, which is 1.7 times fewer than in Fort Hood, Texas, the city with the most at 49.3.
• Castle Rock and Parker, Colorado, have the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health, 8.29 percent each, which is 4.2 times lower than in Eagle Pass, Texas, the city with the highest at 34.91 percent.

Does it matter if you live in a big city or small city? What are the advantages and disadvantages of small ciity living? Peter S. Reinhart, Esq., Director, Kislak Real Estate Institute, NJAR/Greenbaum/Ferguson Professor of Real Estate Policy, Monmouth University, Leon Hess Business School and WalletHub expert answered this question.

Benefits of living in a smaller city include:

1. Feeling like you are part of a community, rather than just a number.
2. Housing less expensive.
3. Ability to get to know your neighbors.
4. Less congested.
5. Walkability.
6. Generally, fewer tall buildings in small city that allows more natural light to reach streets.
7. With technology, workers can work from home in a smaller city without having to commute to large city.

Drawbacks:

1. Fewer cultural and entertainment opportunities.
2. Usually less mass transit options.
3. Smaller cities usually less diverse.
4. May be more at risk in a recession.
5. May not have airport hub.

To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-small-cities-to-live-in/16581/

Photo Courtesy: Thomas R. Machnitzki CC-BY-SA 3.0 from Wikimedia Commons