America's Best Small Cities

Money Magazine lists the top 20 best 'small cities' (pop. 50,000 to 300,000). Located in all corners of the U.S., these cities offer small town charm with big city amenities.

1 minute read

August 23, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Andrew Gorden


Overwhelmingly suburban, Money's recently released list of America's Best Places to Live 2012 ranks America's best small cities, with populations between 50,000 and 300,000. Most of the cities lie within an hour's drive of a major city: Irvine, California, outside of Los Angeles; Overland Park, Kansas, outside of Kansas City; and McKinney, Texas, outside of Dallas.

Combining great schools, low crime, and quality health care, with big city economic strength and urban amenities, these 20 small cities rank as Money's best in the nation.

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