This Illinois City Just Ranked No. 2 on the List of America’s Most Livable Small Cities—And It’s Not Where You Think

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When you think of the most livable city in the Midwest, Chicago often tops the list. It offers everything you need: a coffee shop on every corner, beaches to relax on, and venues for live music almost every night of the week. Sounds appealing, right? While it’s certainly livable, the city can feel a bit overwhelming for some due to its size.

SmartAsset recently ranked the “Most Livable Small Cities in the U.S,” examining more than 270 cities with populations between 65,000 and 100,000 people.

Bloomington, Illinois, ranks No. 2

Bloomington, Illinois, was ranked as the second most livable city, according to a recent list by SmartAsset. The ranking considered several factors, including housing affordability, poverty and unemployment rates, health insurance coverage, access to healthcare, entertainment facilities, and commute times using data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 one-year American Community Survey.

One of the key factors contributing to Bloomington’s high ranking was its lower average housing costs and a commute time of approximately 20 minutes or less.

Of the top 15 cities on the ranking, 12 were in the Midwest:

1. Plymouth, Minnesota
2. Bloomington, Illinois
3. Livonia, Michigan
4. O’Fallon, Missouri
5. Ankeny, Iowa
6. Lakeville, Minnesota
7. Flower Mound, Texas
8. Eau Claire, Wisconsin
9. Eau Claire, Texas
10. Appleton, Wisconsin
11. St. Charles, Missouri
12. Maple Grove, Minnesota
13. Noblesville, Indiana
14. Oshkosh, Wisconsin
15. Cheektowaga, New York