Brookfield And Appleton, WI Among America's Best Small Cities

If you’ve ever daydreamed about packing up and moving somewhere quieter, apparently Wisconsin is where it's at! A new study just dropped, and it's giving the state some serious bragging rights.

In WalletHub's 2025 ranking of the best small cities in America, Wisconsin didn’t just earn a nod, they snagged two spots in the top five. How impressive is that?!

For comparison, Minnesota’s highest-ranked small city was Woodbury, all the way down at 38th place. Meanwhile, Ankeny took the crown for Iowa, but wasn't even in the top 50.

Also See: New Ranking Says These Are The 5 Worst Cities in Minnesota

To figure out which small cities outshine the rest, WalletHub didn't just guess. They went full deep-dive, comparing more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000. They scored them on a whopping 45 key indicators of livability, analyzing everything from housing costs and school quality to the number of restaurants you can find per capita.

Wisconsin Has Two of The Best Small Towns in America:

According to WalletHub, the best small city in America is Carmel, Indiana. Besides Wisconsin, Indiana was the only other state to land two cities in the top five, with Fishers ranking fourth.

Coming in at number two overall is Brookfield, Wisconsin - a Milwaukee suburb with a population just under 6,500.

Brookfield has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at just 3% and an equally low poverty rate. They have a homeownership rate most cities would envy. Oh, and the median credit score? A rock-solid 782.

But Brookfield’s appeal isn’t just financial. The city ranks among the healthiest in the nation, with over 98% of residents insured and a low percentage reporting poor health. Add in one of the lowest violent crime rates in the country, and you’ve got yourself a small-town dream. Not to mention, this extremely unique coffee shop!

Not far behind Brookfield is Appleton, WI, claiming the number five spot. Both are considered part of the top 1 percent of small cities in America, sealing Wisconsin’s reputation as a powerhouse for small-town living apparently! Who knew?