The 15 Best Medium-Sized Cities to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026

Big-city perks aren’t limited to the country’s largest metros. If you’re looking for career opportunities, cultural amenities and a high quality of life without the sky-high cost of living, these medium-sized cities deliver.

For the Top 250 Best Places to Live list, the U.S. News’ analysis evaluated data related to the desirability, quality of life, job market and value of 859 U.S. cities. This includes crime rates, cost of living, job market, net migration, climate, quality of education and more.

From that list, these 15 medium-sized cities – all with populations between 100,000 and 499,000 – stood out among hundreds of contenders. Each earned a spot in the top 60 overall. Here’s what makes them stand out.

15. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 60
Population: 135,876
Average Commute: 15 minutes
Median Home Price: $174,452
Median Monthly Rent: $715
Median Household Income: $70,160

Sitting at No. 60 in the Best Places to Live list and No. 15 for medium-sized cities is Cedar Rapids, also known as the City of Five Seasons. The fifth season capitalizes on Cedar Rapids’ short average commute (the lowest of this list), providing more time for residents to enjoy life. Cedar Rapids consists of neighborhoods nestled among farmland in the Cedar River’s shallow valley. It’s also the largest corn-processing city in the world, playing a major role in the agricultural economy. The city scored in the top 2% in the value category due to its affordability. Home prices are well below the national average – $174,452 compared with $370,489 nationally. While housing is affordable, the city has some of the highest tax rates in the country to help fund schools and other services.

14. The Woodlands, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 44
Population: 114,183
Average Commute: 23 minutes
Median Home Price: $454,872
Median Monthly Rent: $1,287
Median Household Income: $141,981

Located north of Houston, The Woodlands was founded in 1974 with a vision of an all-encompassing community where residents could live, work, learn and play surrounded by natural forests. Of the city’s 28,800 acres, 7,665 are devoted to green spaces in parks, golf courses, greenbelts and open space. Additionally, 28% of the community will remain undeveloped green space. The master planned community ranked highly for its value and quality of life. It placed No. 55 for value, with high marks for housing affordability, and within the top 15% of all cities for college readiness.

13. Laredo, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 41
Population: 256,842
Average Commute: 19 minutes
Median Home Price: $174,659
Median Monthly Rent: $795
Median Household Income: $63,802

Situated on the Mexican border in southern Texas, Laredo, known as the Gateway City, is considered the oldest independent settlement in the state. In the overall Best Places rankings, Laredo scored in the top 1% in the value category, thanks to its housing affordability and low cost of living. The median home price of $174,659 is much lower than the national average, although the city’s median income of $63,802 is also lower than the national median of $79,466.

12. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 39
Population: 206,536
Average Commute: 16 minutes
Median Home Price: $284,520
Median Monthly Rent: $860
Median Household Income: $76,443

Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota and named for the Sioux tribe and the waterfalls of the Big Sioux River, stands out as a hub for entrepreneurs. Its job market ranks in the top 5% and falls within the top 10% of all cities for net migration. Unemployment in Sioux Falls is 1.7%, which is well below the national average of 4.5%. The city also ranked in the top 12% of all cities in terms of housing affordability. The median household income is close to the national average, but residents here also enjoy lower housing costs.

11. McKinney, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 37
Population: 212,050
Average Commute: 22 minutes
Median Home Price: $458,574
Median Monthly Rent: $1,598
Median Household Income: $119,013

McKinney, a fast-growing city on the outskirts of Dallas, is not only expanding in population but is emerging as a hotbed for growth-industry jobs, particularly in health care, finance and manufacturing. McKinney stood out for net migration, which measures whether people are moving to or from each city, ranking in the top 7%, and its job market, thanks to its higher median household income and low unemployment rate. Residents also prioritize education, placing the city in 29th place for college readiness, and its low crime rate makes it one of the top 10% of cities for safety.

10. Frisco, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 30
Population: 217,343
Average Commute: 24 minutes
Median Home Price: $549,165
Median Monthly Rent: $1,618
Median Household Income: $151,510

Frisco, known as Sports City USA, is a popular destination for sports fans. The city is home to the Dallas Cowboys headquarters, the Dallas Stars’ practice area and FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium. Frisco also has an outstanding job market, which has helped draw more people to the city. The city ranked No. 58 for both its job market, primarily for its higher-than-average median household income, and its net migration rate. Frisco also placed in the top 20% for quality of life and outperformed more than 90% of other cities evaluated for its housing affordability.

9. Round Rock, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 28
Population: 128,111
Average Commute: 22 minutes
Median Home Price: $463,739
Median Monthly Rent: $1,427
Median Household Income: $101,663

Another sports capital made the list. Round Rock has numerous youth and recreational sports tournaments, not to mention America’s largest indoor water park, and is well-known in Central Texas for its golf courses. Outside of sports and recreational activities, Round Rock is also home to the world-famous 2-pound Texas-sized doughnut served up at Round Rock Donuts. In the overall rankings, Round Rock stood out for its quality of life, particularly for its outstanding air quality, placing No. 32, and college readiness, where it ranks it in the top 15% of all cities.

8. McAllen, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 20
Population: 144,628
Average Commute: 18 minutes
Median Home Price: $169,631
Median Monthly Rent: $783
Median Household Income: $59,255

McAllen, a vibrant multicultural city on the U.S.–Mexico border, is known as the City of Festivals thanks to its more than 800 events held throughout the year. With so much to do, thousands of tourists visit each year and it’s a worldwide destination for birders and nature photographers. McAllen is No. 23 for both value and quality of life. McAllen also has the lowest median home price of any of the 25 Best Places to Live. The city also placed No. 45 for desirability, thanks in part to its warm weather and low crime rate.

7. Sugar Land, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 16
Population: 118,143
Average Commute: 30 minutes
Median Home Price: $402,094
Median Monthly Rent: $1,556
Median Household Income: $135,514

Nestled on the outskirts of Houston, Sugar Land has a history as a former sugar plantation and has grown to one of the region’s most diverse cultural scenes. Numerous regional and international corporations have also picked Sugar Land as their headquarters. Sugar Land stands out for its value and quality of life, ranking No. 75 and No. 102, respectively, thanks to its higher median household income and overall safety. The job market also outranked 84% of other cities, and it placed in the top 10% for net migration.

6. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 12
Population: 116,677
Average Commute: 20 minutes
Median Home Price: $233,573
Median Monthly Rent: $1,000
Median Household Income: $86,442

Broken Arrow, Tulsa’s largest suburb, combines small-town charm with access to big-city amenities. It’s also home to some of the most scenic natural areas and miles of bike trails. Broken Arrow placed in the top quarter of cities for quality of life and in the top fifth in the job market category. Broken Arrow is ranked No. 13 for value, thanks to its affordable housing and lower cost of living.

5. League City, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 6
Population: 106,330
Average Commute: 28 minutes
Median Home Price: $327,511
Median Monthly Rent: $1,231
Median Household Income: $120,670

Located along Clear Lake, League City is a family-friendly waterside gem with several resorts and loads of recreation opportunities, including sailing, jet skiing, fishing and more. It’s also steeped in Southern charm and Texas pride, especially throughout the League City Historic District, where 19th-century homes sit beneath towering live oaks planted over a century ago. League City ranks in the top 10% in the culture and leisure subcategory, performing well in terms of the number of available retail shops and restaurants per capita. The Houston suburb also ranks No. 12 for value, led by its 99th percentile standing in housing affordability.

4. Cary, North Carolina

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 5
Population: 174,961
Average Commute: 20 minutes
Median Home Price: $542,079
Median Monthly Rent: $1,399
Median Household Income: $132,829

Part of the North Carolina Research Triangle, Cary, is a safe, diverse community just 17 minutes from downtown Raleigh. Cary offers more than 200 dining options and it has a variety of recreational amenities – 35-plus greenway trails and more than 70 miles for walking, jogging and cycling – in addition to sports, historical and cultural arts programs and services. Cary got its highest ranking in the job market category, earning the No. 35 spot for its higher-than-average household income and lower unemployment rate. Another notable mention is Cary’s No. 27 ranking in college readiness, pushing the city’s quality of life into the top 10% of all cities.

3. Fishers, Indiana

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 4
Population: 103,711
Average Commute: 25 minutes
Median Home Price: $378,953
Median Monthly Rent: $1,289
Median Household Income: $135,302

Fishers, an Indianapolis suburb, is one of the fastest-growing communities in Indiana. The city’s population exploded from 40,000 residents in 2000 to more than 100,000 today. While it continues to grow, Fishers has received national awards for entrepreneurship, livability and safety. In the overall rankings, Fishers holds the No. 7 place for its housing affordability. Not only is the median home price and rent lower than the national average, but residents also earn a median household income of just over $135,000 per year. Combined with low unemployment, this helped Fishers earn the No. 68 ranking for the strength of its job market.

2. Pearland, Texas

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 3
Population: 123,986
Average Commute: 31 minutes
Median Home Price: $319,753
Median Monthly Rent: $1,403
Median Household Income: $115,504

With over 540 acres of city parks, shopping, activities and events, there’s something for everyone in Pearland. Sitting just south of Houston, Pearland is close to the Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park, the 1940 Air Terminal Museum and NRG Park, home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Pearland balances affordability with a high quality of life, ranking in the top 5% of all cities for value and outperforming 92% of cities for quality of life.

1. Carmel, Indiana

Best Places 2025-2026 Rank: 2
Population: 105,606
Average Commute: 22 minutes
Median Home Price: $448,943
Median Monthly Rent: $1,355
Median Household Income: $146,220

First on the medium-sized cities list and second on the overall Best Places to Live in 2025-2026 list, Carmel offers an impressive mix of culture, shopping and outdoor recreation. Explore the Carmel Arts & Design District, catch a performance at The Palladium or shop at the upscale Clay Terrace Lifestyle Mall. Outdoor enthusiasts can hit the Monon Trail or tee off at top-rated golf courses like Plum Creek and Prairie View. It’s also the Roundabout Capital of the U.S., with more than 150 roundabouts throughout the city. Carmel stands out for its job market, placing No. 55 thanks to low unemployment and higher incomes. When it comes to safety, Carmel has a lower crime rate than 99% of other cities in the rankings, making it one of the safest and most desirable medium-sized cities in the U.S.