For the second year in a row, several cities in Massachusetts made WalletHub’s list of 2024’s Best Small Cities in America.
Besides Lexington, three other Bay State communities ranked in the top 20.
WalletHub compared more than 1,300 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across five metrics, including affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life and safety. The cities were also compared across 45 key livability indicators, including housing costs, quality of school systems, number of restaurants per capita and crime rate.
Lexington ranked third on the list with a total score of 70.23, falling from last year’s No. 2 spot. It was also No. 1 in education and health, 12th for safety, 303th in economic health, 118th in quality of life and 518th for affordability.
Lexington boasts the fourth-lowest property crime rate and 37th lowest violent crime rate, according to the report. IT also has safe drivers with the 21st fewest car crash deaths and 17th fewest drunk driving fatalities per capita.
The town boasts one of the highest median annual household incomes in the country, exceeding $206,000. Its residents enjoy a median credit score of 783, ranking 19th nationally.
In terms of health, Lexington leads with the highest percentage of residents having health insurance, the eighth-lowest proportion of adults in poor or fair health, and ranks 22nd for fitness centers per capita.
Milton, Needham and Arlington also made the top 20 this year.
Milton was 11th on the list, falling from the No. 7 spot last year with a score of 68.99. It ranked 20th for education and health, 47th for safety, 229th for economic health, 178th for affordability and 758th for quality of life.
Needham ranked 19th with a score of 68.25, ranking 13th for education and health, 69th for safety, 156th for economic health, 362nd for affordability and 579th for quality of life.
For the second year in a row Arlington rounded out the top 20 with a score of 68.06, including third for education and health, 29th for safety, 220th for economic health, 636th for affordability and 266th for quality of life.
The report also found four Massachusetts communities had the highest percentage of insured residents. Lexington and Reading tied for second, while Needham and Milton were tied for fourth.