Cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 continue to see an influx of migrants lured by lower costs of living and high quality-of-life metrics.

According to an article by Zoe Manzanetti, a new report quantifies the factors behind the urban exodus that began before 2020 and was accelerated by the pandemic. The report compared key social and economic factors in small cities—those with populations between 25,000 and 100,000—around the country and measured how they score on a variety of metrics that include cost of living, commute time, crime rates, and urban amenities.
Manzanetti quotes Jerry Anthony, an associate professor at the University of Iowa, on the benefits of small cities:
"Usually lower-cost housing, a better sense of community and connectedness to events and activities in the community, more opportunities to make a tangible difference through civic engagement, a greater sense of fulfillment and life satisfaction [and…] much less time spent commuting or traveling within the city."
The article details the scores of the cities in the top and bottom percentiles of the study on measures such as affordability, economic health, and safety.
Small cities have experienced steady growth as new flexibility offered by remote work, coupled with a desire to escape the confines of crowded urban areas during the pandemic and the spike in housing costs in major cities, have pushed many Americans to move out of metropolitan areas altogether and embrace the opportunities presented by smaller towns. This, in turn, has led to a rise in home prices and a phenomenon known as rural gentrification that, like its urban counterpart, threatens to displace long-term residents by pricing them out of the local housing market.
FULL STORY: The Migration to Smaller Cities Will Continue Post-Pandemic

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions