Indiana Has Three of the Top 10 Best Small Cities in America

Want to know where the good life is? Look no further than central Indiana.

Why Small Cities Are Winning Right Now

Big cities have their perks, but they're not for everybody. Nearly half of Americans (47%) say they'd rather live in the suburbs than in a major metro or out in the country. Smaller cities offer lower costs, shorter commutes, and a little more breathing room.

That's why WalletHub's annual look at the Best Small Cities in America is fun to check out. This year they compared more than 1,300 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000. They weighed 45 different factors, from affordability and economic health to education, health, quality of life, and safety.

And Indiana (once again) came out shining.

Hoosier Cities In The Spotlight

• Carmel: #3
• Westfield: #6
• Fishers: #10
• Zionsville: #19

That's four Indiana cities in the top 1% of small cities nationwide.

What Makes Carmel Stand Out

For the last two years, Carmel was #1 on the list, so just a slight drop in 2026, but being third-best in America is pretty amazing. So, why is it so great to live in Carmel? For starters, the unemployment rate is just 2.9%, one of the lowest in the country. The median household income is nearly $142,000, and rent takes up only about 15% of that income. Residents also have a median credit score of 775, which is excellent.

Carmel scores well on health and safety, too. It has one of the lowest shares of adults in fair or poor health, along with the third-lowest pedestrian fatality rate in the country.

The takeaway? You don't need a massive metro to enjoy a thriving, safe, and affordable community. Some of the best places in America are right here at home.

You can scroll over this interactive map to see the rest of the results, but your eyes might go crossed looking at all those dots. The results are a little bit easier to see HERE, along with any other information you might want about the study.