In a recent sweep of rankings that shine a spotlight on the charm and livability of America's smaller urban gems, a handful of Wake County towns have scored top marks. Apex and Wake Forest notably lead the pack in North Carolina, securing positions as the state's premier small cities, as revealed in a report from CBS 17. Not to be overshadowed, Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina have also garnered acknowledgment for their idyllic suburban vibes and community-centric living.
The study in question, conducted by WalletHub, didn't simply to pick cities out of a hat; rather, it methodically compared 1,318 cities across the nation, using a comprehensive blend of 45 key indicators of desirable living. These ranged from "housing costs to school-system quality to the number of restaurants per capita." According to the report which The News & Observer dissected, WalletHub weighted categories such as economic health, affordability, safety, quality of life, and education and health—each a pillar to prop up a satisfying suburban existence.
But it's not all about rankings—though let's be honest, everyone loves a good list. The move towards small-city living reflects a growing trend among Americans who seem to increasingly covet the balanced pace that these places ostensibly offer. As WalletHub's study underscores, nearly one-third of the country's population would now prefer to nestle into the suburbs rather than hustle in the urban grindstone or roam the rural expanses.
This shift is not to quietly sweep under the rug the very real trade-offs involved: yes, you might have to forgo that 24/7 sushi joint on the corner that you're used to in a megacity. But in return, families can significantly cut their living expenses. To put it in perspective, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that a family of four could spend a mere $7,000 a month in a small New York town—less than half of what that same family would to shell out to reside in Manhattan.
