WalletHub published last week its analysis of the best small cities in America for 2026, evaluating more than 1,300 cities across the nation and comparing them across 45 main factors, such as housing costs, school system ratings, entertainment and cuisine access per capita and other quality of life factors. Among those, the highest rated here in Texas is a familiar face for Austin-area residents.
The North Austin suburb of Cedar Park earned a No. 58 rank nationally and the top honors here in the Lone Star State, landing in the 96th percentile of the best small cities in the United States. With an overall score of 66.22 out of 100, Cedar Park garnered specific kudos for its affordability (No. 129 rank), economic health (No. 87 rank) and quality of life standards (No. 200 rank), respectively. A perk for its 79,000 residents as of 2025, according to US Census quick facts.
It was nestled among some Texas hospitality, with the Dallas suburb of Allen ranked just below it at No. 59.
The Top 10 nationally largely comprised both East Coast and Midwestern communities, each receiving praise for their safety, economic health and quality of life offerings. Those nabbing top honors included:
Each of those were awarded with 99th percentile finishes, meaning they landed among the top 1% of all small cities nationally.
The City of Cedar Park highlighted the ranking in a social media post shared on Tuesday, October 6, writing in part: “There’s another reason to be proud to call Cedar Park home!”
“While rankings are always exciting, this recognition reflects something our residents experience every day: a community with a high quality of life, a strong local economy, outstanding amenities, and people who care about where they live,” the post read. “Thank you to everyone who plays a part in making Cedar Park a great place to call home!”