The Town Files

The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in America

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 7,696 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in the U.S.. #1 is University of California-Santa Barbara, CA.

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Numbers match the ranking.
The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in America1. University of California-S…100th pct2. Richmond Heights, MO100th pct3. Conshohocken, PA100th pct4. Hanover, NH100th pct5. Caldwell, NJ100th pct6. Maplewood, MO100th pct7. Brentwood, MO100th pct8. Villanova, PA100th pct9. Grandview Heights, OH100th pct10. Watsessing, NJ100th pct11. West Point, NY100th pct12. New Paltz, NY100th pct13. Rochester Institute of Te…100th pct14. Binghamton University, NY100th pct15. South Hill, NY100th pct16. Notre Dame, IN100th pct17. Contra Costa Centre, CA100th pct18. Swarthmore, PA100th pct19. Bryn Mawr, PA100th pct20. Newmarket, NH100th pct21. Elmwood, LA100th pct22. Pensacola Station, FL100th pct23. Bangor Base, WA100th pct24. Friendship Heights Villag…100th pct25. Quantico Base, VA100th pct

  1. 50Cazenovia, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,767 people · Madison County · median home $295,200 · income $92,857 · Jan low 11°F · 113 in snow

  2. 49Fairfield University, Connecticut

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,884 people · median home — · income — · Jan low 24°F · 34 in snow

  3. 48Arlington, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,010 people · Dutchess County · median home $315,300 · income $72,364 · Jan low 19°F · 52 in snow

  4. 47The Plains, Ohio

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,140 people · Athens County · median home $233,500 · income $59,688 · Jan low 22°F · 18 in snow

  5. 46Park Hills, Kentucky

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,162 people · Kenton County · median home $282,100 · income $99,861 · Jan low 24°F · 23 in snow

  6. 45Rosemont, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,507 people · Delaware County · median home $643,600 · income $88,322 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

  7. 44Toftrees, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,513 people · Centre County · median home $434,100 · income $73,721 · Jan low 21°F · 44 in snow

  8. 43Rutgers University-Livingston Campus, New Jersey

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,545 people · Middlesex County · median home — · income — · Jan low 23°F · 29 in snow

  9. 42St. Davids, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,604 people · Delaware County · median home $1,001,600 · income $163,173 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

  10. 41Frazer, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,635 people · Chester County · median home $611,700 · income $141,801 · Jan low 20°F · 31 in snow

  11. 40The College of New Jersey, New Jersey

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,701 people · Mercer County · median home — · income — · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

  12. 39Kirtland AFB, New Mexico

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,838 people · Bernalillo County · median home — · income $84,884 · Jan low 26°F · 8 in snow

  13. 38Cross Mountain, Texas

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,944 people · Bexar County · median home $580,700 · income $205,164 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

  14. 37Long Hill, Connecticut

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,948 people · median home $175,600 · income $84,201 · Jan low 24°F · 25 in snow

  15. 36University Center, Virginia

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,969 people · Loudoun County · median home $507,500 · income $120,533 · Jan low 25°F · 21 in snow

  16. 35Hamilton, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,107 people · Madison County · median home $264,200 · income $66,750 · Jan low 11°F · 77 in snow

  17. 34Bradley Beach, New Jersey

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,282 people · Monmouth County · median home $932,800 · income $97,005 · Jan low 25°F

  18. 33West Pleasant View, Colorado

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,327 people · Jefferson County · median home $489,400 · income $95,817 · Jan low 21°F · 58 in snow

  19. 32North Kansas City, Missouri

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,467 people · Clay County · median home $197,500 · income $49,682 · Jan low 22°F · 11 in snow

  20. 31Grantley, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,524 people · York County · median home $429,400 · income $167,069 · Jan low 21°F · 25 in snow

  21. 30Glendale, Colorado

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,613 people · Arapahoe County · median home $413,500 · income $71,250 · Jan low 21°F · 41 in snow

  22. 29Edinboro, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,964 people · Erie County · median home $222,700 · income $48,173 · Jan low 16°F · 104 in snow

  23. 28Mississippi State, Mississippi

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,968 people · Oktibbeha County · median home — · income — · Jan low 33°F · 1 in snow

  24. 27Wenham, Massachusetts

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,979 people · Essex County · median home $885,400 · income $194,781 · Jan low 20°F · 51 in snow

  25. 26Collegeville, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,043 people · Montgomery County · median home $443,000 · income $91,466 · Jan low 20°F · 13 in snow

  26. 25Quantico Base, Virginia

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,221 people · Prince William County · median home — · income $72,821 · Jan low 28°F · 12 in snow

  27. 24Friendship Heights Village, Maryland

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,360 people · Montgomery County · median home $484,300 · income $119,384 · Jan low 26°F · 6 in snow

  28. 23Bangor Base, Washington

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,482 people · Kitsap County · median home — · income $79,918 · Jan low 36°F · 3 in snow

  29. 22Pensacola Station, Florida

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,532 people · Escambia County · median home — · income $71,607 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

  30. 21Elmwood, Louisiana

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,649 people · Jefferson Parish · median home $188,100 · income $89,430 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

  31. 20Newmarket, New Hampshire

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,797 people · Rockingham County · median home $423,500 · income $87,196 · Jan low 14°F · 39 in snow

  32. 19Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,879 people · Montgomery County · median home $453,400 · income $92,961 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

  33. 18Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,543 people · Delaware County · median home $633,800 · income $152,361 · Jan low 26°F · 23 in snow

  34. 17Contra Costa Centre, California

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,808 people · Contra Costa County · median home $733,300 · income $121,313 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

  35. 16Notre Dame, Indiana

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,234 people · St. Joseph County · median home — · income $19,886 · Jan low 17°F · 65 in snow

  36. 15South Hill, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,245 people · Tompkins County · median home $353,800 · income $104,211 · Jan low 15°F · 63 in snow

  37. 14Binghamton University, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,261 people · Broome County · median home — · income — · Jan low 16°F · 87 in snow

  38. 13Rochester Institute of Technology, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,322 people · Monroe County · median home — · income $20,192 · Jan low 19°F · 102 in snow

  39. 12New Paltz, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,324 people · Ulster County · median home $414,500 · income $52,774 · Jan low 19°F · 59 in snow

  40. 11West Point, New York

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,341 people · Orange County · median home — · income $135,333 · Jan low 21°F · 36 in snow

  41. 10Watsessing, New Jersey

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    8,078 people · Essex County · median home $435,400 · income $103,378 · Jan low 25°F · 28 in snow

  42. 9Grandview Heights, Ohio

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    8,085 people · Franklin County · median home $583,300 · income $117,672 · Jan low 21°F · 28 in snow

  43. 8Villanova, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    8,213 people · Delaware County · median home $946,400 · income $250,001 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

  44. 7Brentwood, Missouri

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    8,233 people · St. Louis County · median home $299,700 · income $99,719 · Jan low 25°F · 10 in snow

  45. 6Maplewood, Missouri

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    8,269 people · St. Louis County · median home $237,000 · income $65,125 · Jan low 25°F · 14 in snow

  46. 5Caldwell, New Jersey

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    9,027 people · Essex County · median home $575,400 · income $96,824 · Jan low 21°F · 24 in snow

  47. 4Hanover, New Hampshire

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    9,078 people · Grafton County · median home $842,600 · income $153,281 · Jan low 13°F · 61 in snow

  48. 3Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    9,261 people · Montgomery County · median home $443,600 · income $122,721 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

  49. 2Richmond Heights, Missouri

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    9,286 people · St. Louis County · median home $358,700 · income $94,460 · Jan low 25°F · 17 in snow

  50. 1University of California-Santa Barbara, California

    Better for young professionals than 100% of U.S. towns

    9,710 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $452,900 · income $69,327 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

Price vs ranking

Median home value vs ranking, U.S. towns0255075100$37K$341K$645K$948K$1252KMedian home valuePercentile
Orange squares are the 50 towns on this list; green dots are other towns on The Town Files in the U.S..

More U.S. rankings

Same ranking, other places

Methodology. We ranked 7,696 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in the U.S. (2020 Census population; towns with 2,500+ people have pages so far). Lifestyle measures are The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025), shown as percentiles. Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources: