How Much Do the Most Livable Small Cities in America Cost?

With rent and mortgage rates skyrocketing and big-city cost of living on the rise, moving to a small city makes an increasing amount of sense in 2025. Small cities allow their populations to cruise on their income far more easily than do large metropolises, and they have a far more comfortable level of livability.

As SmartAsset has noted, housing in small cities is far more affordable, unemployment levels are lower, commute times are shorter and healthcare coverage is cheaper. There also might be a deeper sense of community with a smaller population in which everyone knows each other, as well as more opportunities for smaller businesses. Overall, small cities allow residents to spend less and save more.

With that in mind, here is a list of small American cities with some of the highest livability levels in the country, according to SmartAsset. See how much they cost.

• Median household income: $124,452
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 18.2%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,888
• Cost-of-living index: 106.1

• Median household income: $103,578
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 18.1%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,560
• Cost-of-living index: 86.6

• Median household income: $85,731
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 17.9%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,277
• Cost-of-living index: 86.6

• Median household income: $179,707
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 20.4%
• Median monthly housing costs: $3,058
• Cost-of-living index: 231

• Median household income: $61,836
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 17.7%
• Median monthly housing costs: $914
• Cost-of-living index: 75.9

• Median household income: $58,134
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 17.6%
• Median monthly housing costs: $855
• Cost-of-living index: 81.5

• Median household income: $92,125
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 15.1%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,159
• Cost-of-living index: 91.8

• Median household income: $106,858
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 18.9%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,684
• Cost-of-living index: 107.2

• Median household income: $126,583
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 16.6%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,752
• Cost-of-living index: 105.8

• Median household income: $75,262
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 16.7%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,046
• Cost-of-living index: 88.1

• Median household income: $152,851
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 18.1%
• Median monthly housing costs: $2,306
• Cost-of-living index: 158.1

• Median household income: $108,354
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 20.4%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,846
• Cost-of-living index: 139.4

• Median household income: $57,289
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 21.0%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,004
• Cost-of-living index: 90.6

• Median household income: $107,137
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 16.8%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,504
• Cost-of-living index: 104.9

• Median household income: $109,444
• Housing costs as a percent of income: 15.0%
• Median monthly housing costs: $1,365
• Cost-of-living index: 104.9

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations.