The 20 best small cities in the US

Carmel, Indiana.Michael Godek/Getty Images
Personal-finance company Wallethub has identified the best small cities in America. 
It compared more than 1,321 cities across five key metrics, including affordability and quality of life.
The list is dominated by cities in the Midwest, with Carmel, Indiana taking the top spot. 
Sky-high home prices and a limited supply of available homes in larger, more popular cities have driven many buyers to smaller towns, where they can enjoy a relatively more affordable cost of living and tighter-knit communities.WalletHub has released an annual report ranking the best small cities in the US. The personal finance company compared more than 1,321 small US cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across five key metrics: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety.The Midwest region — with its strong manufacturing and agricultural roots — boasts the most cities on the list. At the top is Carmel, Indiana, a suburban town just 35 minutes north of Indianapolis, home to several wineries, vineyards, gardens, and walking trails."Having lived in Carmel for nearly a decade I can safely say that town is amazing," A resident wrote on neighborhood and school ranking website Niche. "The people are kind and there is always something to do down in the arts center. Having the Monon Trail running through the center of town means there are lots of opportunities to walk around and enjoy the community."Here are the 20 best small cities in the US, as ranked by Wallethub. Business Insider has also included the median home sale price for each city as of November, sourced from Redfin, along with population data based from the latest available Census figures.20. Arlington, MassachusettsArlington, Massachusetts.Demetri2K/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $1,100,000Population: 46,30819. Needham, MassachusettsWellesley, Massachusetts, pictured here, borders Needham.Denis Tangney Jr./Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $1,375,000Population: 32,09118. Downers Grove, IllinoisDowners Grove, Illinois.Patricia Ybarra/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $483,000Population: 49,70617. Saratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, New Yorkrobertcicchetti / iStockMedian housing cost: $742,500Population: 28,54416. Kaysville, UtahKaysville, Utah.raclro/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $754,500Population: 32,94115. Castle Rock, ColoradoCastle Rock, Colorado.ShutterstockMedian housing cost: $656,000Population: 81,41514. Noblesville, IndianaThe Hamilton County courthouse building in Noblesville, IndianaPurdue9394/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $394,500Population: 73,91613. Leesburg, VirginiaLeesburg, Virginia.Gerville/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $741,250Population: 49,31212. Fair Lawn, New JerseyPaterson, New Jersey, pictured here, borders Fair Lawn and is a 20-minute drive from New York City.iShootPhotosLLC/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $630,000Population: 35,56411. Milton, MassachusettsBoston, Massachusetts, pictured here, is a 20-minute drive from Milton. ShutterstockShutterstockMedian housing cost: $1,025,000Population: 28,63010. Westfield, IndianaWestfield, Indiana.Michael Sinclair/The City of WestfieldMedian housing cost: $421,000Population: 57,7469. Bozeman, MontanaBozeman, Montana.Hannah Lorsch/ShutterstockMedian housing cost: $685,000Population: 57,3058. Lancaster, PennsylvaniaLancaster, Pennsylvania.Christian Hinkle/ShutterstockMedian housing cost: $236,000Population: 18,6777. Brentwood, TennesseeBrentwood, Tennessee.Brentwood, Tennessee. Facebook/City of Brentwood, Tennessee Local GovernmentMedian housing cost: $1,200,000Population: 45,2656. Apex, North CarolinaA home in Apex, North Carolina.Malcolm MacGregor/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $660,000Population: 72,2255. Appleton, WisconsinAppleton, Wisconsin.Appleton Downtown/FacebookMedian housing cost: $260,000Population: 74,7194. Fishers, IndianaFishers, Indiana.Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $415,000Population: 104,0943. Lexington, MassachusettsLexington, Massachusetts.bpperry/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $1,600,000Population: 34,4542. Brookfield, WisconsinBrookfield, Wisconsin.Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $462,500Population: 41,8841. Carmel, IndianaCarmel, Indiana.Michael Godek/Getty ImagesMedian housing cost: $479,500Population: 102,296