This Pennsylvania city named one of the ‘Best Small Cities in America’

Lancaster ranked 8th in the 2024 “Best Small Cities in America” list compiled by WalletHub.

While many think of Amish Country when Lancaster is mentioned, it seems that it’s not just members of the plain clothing sect who like to settle there.

Lancaster came in 8th in the new “Best Small Cities in America” ranking released by financial services company WalletHub.Carmel, Indiana came in first, followed by Brookfield, Wisconsin, and Lexington, Massachusetts.

WalletHub compared more than 1,300 cities across the nation with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on 45 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs to school-system quality to the number of restaurants per capita.

Lancaster is considered quite affordable compared to major metropolitan areas. According to Apartments.com, the average rent in Lancaster is currently $1,428 per month, which is 9% lower than the national average. 

According to the City of Lancaster, the area has at least 1,700 affordable housing units, and more than 225 additional affordable units in production.

The cost of living for a family of four in Lancaster is around $5,000, according to Movers & Co., a Pennsylvania-based commercial and residential moving company.

Among the categories WalletHub used to rank the best small cities, Lancaster ranked 10th in quality of life. Chalk that up to the city’s numerous museums, eclectic shopping options, outdoor attractions, and historical places. The city is also home to a rich food scene, ranging from the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country, Lancaster Central Market, to the French-inspired restaurant Passerine, which just made the New York Times’ list of the 50 best restaurants in America, despite only being open since June.