hidden gem in atx
Lively Leander overtakes Pflugerville among most livable small U.S. cities
![Leander Texas](https://austin.culturemap.com/media-library/leander-texas.jpg?id=52951161&width=2000&height=1500&quality=65&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C1)
Leander residents are really livin' it up these days.
The Austin suburb of Leander is enjoying some time in the spotlight after ranking the No. 60 most livable small city in the country in 2024 — nearly brushing with the upper fifth of 281 total cities analyzed. The suburb made a gigantic leap into the top 100 after previously ranking No. 138 in SmartAsset's 2023 report.
Austin's neighbor to the northwest was among six total Texas cities that earned a top-100 ranking in SmartAsset's 2024 " Most Livable Small Cities" report. It compared 281 U.S. cities with populations between 65,000 and 100,000 residents across eight metrics, such as a resident's housing costs as a percentage of household income, the city's average commute times, and the proportions of entertainment, food service, and healthcare establishments.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Leander has an estimated population of more than 80,000 residents, whose median household income comes out to $129,684. SmartAsset calculated that a Leander household's annual housing costs only take up 17.5 percent of that household's income. Additionally, the study found only 3.1 percent of the town's population live below the poverty level.
Here's how Leander performed in two other metrics in the study:
- 1.6 percent – The proportion of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses as a percentage of all businesses
- 29.6 minutes – Worker's average commute time
But income and housing aren't the only things that make Leander one of the most livable small cities in Texas. The city prides itself on its adaptability to the ever-changing landscape of Austin, with the Leander government collaborating with business leaders to develop and protect the future of the local community.
"Over the past decade the City has committed itself to knowing that change is inevitable, so it matters what you do with it," the Leander city website says. "Leander's two award-winning land planning initiatives have provided a framework for sustainable development. We will build a community that lives, works, and plays together."
After ranking No. 50 in SmartAsset's 2023 report, Pflugerville took a surprising dip in the latest report and landed as the No. 78 most livable small U.S. city in 2024.
Here's how SmartAsset broke down Pflugerville's ranking:
- 19.3 percent – Annual housing costs represented as a percentage of household income
- 5.4 percent – Percentage of the population living below the poverty level
- 2.1 percent – The proportion of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses as a percentage of all businesses
- 24.7 minutes – Worker's average commute time
Meanwhile, Cedar Park ranked No. 85, moving up from No. 118 in 2023. Georgetown slipped into No. 162 in 2024, previously ranking No. 141 last year.
"Small cities may offer cost benefits for residents looking to stretch their income while enjoying a comfortable – and more spacious – lifestyle," the report's author wrote. "While livability is a subjective concept that may take on different definitions for different people, some elements of a community can come close to being universally beneficial."
The three remaining Texas cities that were among the top 100 most livable small cities in the U.S. include Flower Mound (No. 29), Mansfield (No. 69), and Missouri City (No. 77).
The top 10 most livable small cities in the U.S. are:
- No. 1 – Troy, Michigan
- No. 2 – Rochester Hills, Michigan
- No. 3 – Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- No. 4 – Franklin, Tennessee
- No. 5 – Redmond, Washington
- No. 6 – Appleton, Wisconsin
- No. 7 – Apex, North Carolina
- No. 8 – Plymouth, Minnesota
- No. 9 – Livonia, Michigan
- No. 10 – Oshkosh, Wisconsin
The report examined data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 1-year American Community Survey and the 2021 County Business Patterns Survey to determine its rankings.
The report and its methodology can be found on smartasset.com.