October 9, 2025

Austin-Area Cities Shine in 2025 Best Small Cities Report

Georgetown, October 9, 2025

News Summary

WalletHub’s 2025 report ranks several Austin-area cities among the best small cities in America. Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Pflugerville impress with high rankings in economic health and quality of life. Leander excels as the second-best city for economic health and is praised for its affordability. Georgetown earns recognition as a sought-after suburb with a notable home value. The rankings reflect key indicators such as affordability, economic health, and safety, offering a glimpse into community livability.

Austin-Area Cities Shine in WalletHub’s 2025 “Best Small Cities to Live in America” Report

WalletHub has released its 2025 report ranking various Austin-area cities among the “Best Small Cities to Live in America.” This annual report analyzed over 1,300 U.S. cities with populations ranging from 25,000 to 100,000, focusing on key indicators that reflect community amenities and quality of life.

According to the report, a total of five major indicators were taken into consideration: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Additionally, the analysis assessed 45 more indicators that contribute to livability, such as housing costs, the quality of local school systems, and the number of restaurants per capita.

Leander, located northwest of Austin, emerged as a standout city, ranked No. 2 for economic health and No. 22 for affordability, achieving an overall percentile ranking of 97. Cedar Park also featured prominently, ranking in the 94th percentile, though it slipped from the 95th percentile in the previous year. Cedar Park received affordability and quality of life rankings of No. 134 and No. 201, respectively, and an economic health ranking of No. 205. Georgetown secured a place in the 86th percentile, holding ranks of No. 137 for safety and No. 153 for economic health. Pflugerville was represented in the 80th percentile, registering an affordability ranking of No. 164.

Leander maintained its ranking from WalletHub’s 2024 report and has also been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 10 best places to live in the U.S. Notably, the 78641 ZIP code in Leander has been ranked as the 4th hottest ZIP code to move to in America for 2025. Cedar Park, situated less than six miles from Leander, offers reduced commute times for residents travelling to nearby Austin. In a separate study, Cedar Park ranked as the 55th safest city in America, while WalletHub positioned it as the 459th best for safety among small cities.

Georgetown has recently attracted attention, making headlines as one of the top 30 most highly sought-after suburbs in the U.S. for 2025 and ranking 27th nationally. According to MoveBuddha, Georgetown ranks as the No. 3 best suburb to move to in Texas, following Boerne and Wylie. The suburb’s average home value is reported to be $435,491. Georgetown also celebrated the opening of a large-format H-E-B supermarket in September, which is now its third location in the city. The community is further known for its historic downtown square alongside various local attractions and festivals.

Other Texas cities that made the top rankings include Allen and Flower Mound, noted for their positions in the 96th and 93rd percentiles, respectively.

Summary of Key Rankings

City	Overall Percentile	Affordability Rank	Economic Health Rank	Quality of Life Rank	Safety Rank
Leander	97	22	2	N/A	N/A
Cedar Park	94	134	205	201	459
Georgetown	86	N/A	153	N/A	137
Pflugerville	80	164	N/A	N/A	N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What cities are ranked by WalletHub in the 2025 report?

WalletHub ranked multiple Austin-area cities in its 2025 list of “Best Small Cities to Live in America” based on community amenities and quality of life.

What key indicators were used for the ranking?

Five key indicators were used for comparison: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety.

Which city ranked highest for economic health?

Leander was ranked No. 2 for economic health.

What is Georgetown’s average home value?

Georgetown’s average home value is $435,491.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

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Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE GEORGETOWN

The GEORGETOWN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREgeorgetown.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Georgetown, Williamson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Red Poppy Festival, Georgetown Swirl, and Christmas Stroll. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Georgetown Association, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and tourism that power the local economy such as local wineries and historic downtown shops. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREaustin.com, HEREcollegestation.com, HEREdallas.com, HEREhouston.com, HEREgeorgetown.com, and HEREsanantonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.

STAFF HERE GEORGETOWN

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