4 Houston neighbors ranked among best small cities the U.S.

Four Houston neighbors — with Friendswood at the top of the pack — have been rated among the best small cities in America for 2026.

WalletHub's annual survey compared over 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 residents based on 45 livability metrics categorized into five key dimensions: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Cities were then grouped by percentile, where the 99th percentile represents the very best.

Nineteen small U.S. cities were rated in the 99th percentile, with the top three spots occupied by Lexington, Massachusetts; Brookfield, Wisconsin; and Carmel, Indiana. No Texas city earned this rating.

Friendswood has been on top of the local list of best small cities in the Houston metro for the last three years, and it was rated in the 76th percentile of all small cities in the country in 2026.

North of Houston, Conroe's rating has remained consistent for the second year in a row and currently ranks in the 58th percentile nationally. Two more Houston suburbs, Deer Park and Missouri City, ranked in the 53rd and 52nd percentile, respectively.