BEST SMALL CITIES: Huntersville ranks No. 31

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — A Lake Norman town is racking up more recognition as a top place to live. Huntersville just ranked at No. 31 on Livability.com’s inaugural list of the “Top 50 Best Small Cities in America.”

Livability.com partnered with Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) to analyze more than 2,000 U.S. towns and cities to find which offer the highest quality of life at an attainable cost. Communities with populations between 15,000 and 75,000 were considered. The digital publication says its ranking focuses on day-to-day accessibility, economic sustainability and real-world livability.

Livability.com weighed 100 data points across eight categories: economy; housing and cost of living; amenities; transportation; environment; safety; education; and health. The housing and cost of living category carried a heavier weight. Only cities with a median home value under $500,0000 were included.

It’s the second time this year that Huntersville, about 15 miles north of Charlotte, landed in a national ranking of top places to live. In May, U.S. News & World Report put the Mecklenburg County town at No. 36 on its “Best Places to Live” list for 2026-27.

Read the full story on CBJ’s website here.