Lancaster Named No. 16 on Best Small Cities List, WalletHub

Lancaster was named no. 16 on the list of 2026 Best Small Cities from WalletHub, highlighted particularly for its quality of life and safety. 

Out of 1,318 small cities analyzed, Lancaster fell in the 99th percentile, scoring a total of 68.69 points. 

Notably, the city ranked no. 10 in the quality of life category, which measured factors like: 

• Average commute time 
• Average weekly work hours 
• Number of attractions 
• Restaurants, bars, clubs, coffee shops and museums per capita 
• Parks, fitness centers and bike rental facilities per capita 

Lancaster also ranked no. 35 in safety, which took into account the violent and property crime rates, motor vehicle crash fatalities per capita, pedestrian fatalities per capita and more. 

“Lancaster’s quality of life is something you really experience in the little things,” Christina Diehl, president of the Lancaster County Association of Realtors®, says. “I recently walked downtown for dinner at Double C and then headed to the Fulton Theatre for the premiere of ‘Ragtime.’” 

“That mix of great food, arts, walkability, community and the comfort of feeling at ease while enjoying it all is a big part of what makes Lancaster so special. It’s wonderful to see that recognized nationally.”