While it may not always feel like it, America is, at its core, "a nation of small towns." According to data from the U.S Census Bureau, over 200 million Americans live in incorporated places instead of cities. Of those incorporated places, 76% have fewer than 5,000 people, and 42% have fewer than 500.
Major cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston tend to get all the attention, and you can find plenty of lists of the best places in the country to live that focus on those population-dense destinations. In our opinion, however, small towns are rarely given their due.
There are endless reasons someone might choose to settle down in a small town over a larger city, including friendlier neighbors, safer streets, better schools, and a more laid-back pace of life. If you're a city dweller looking for these qualities, it might be time to consider a move. But with a seemingly endless number of options, where can you even begin?
To help narrow things down, Stacker compiled a list of the 20 best small towns to live in across America. To do so, we referenced Niche's 2025 Best Places to Live study, which ranked American towns by overall quality of life. The variables used by Niche include cost of living, health and fitness, and weather. Any town with more than 40,000 people was excluded.
The top places on this list range from long-established villages in the suburbs of New York City to planned communities in Virginia and Texas. They feature major university outposts and a wide array of community traditions that reflect the towns' roots.
Some communities are near major cities, giving residents easy access to the amenities and cultural institutions they provide. Others are entirely rural, offering the opportunity to spread out and experience nature.
Whatever characteristics define your ideal place to live, there's sure to be a small town that checks almost all of your boxes. Read on to find yours.
