Some people like the hustle and bustle of big city life. Others crave a small-town atmosphere to raise a family. Westfield offers the benefits that small-town living provides. But it’s located close enough to Manhattan to enjoy everything a big city has to offer. Wallethub looked at over 1,200 US cities with 25,000 to 100,000 residents to come up with their Best Small Cities in America list. Westfield came in at the #30 spot for the entire country, making it one of the top three New Jersey towns on the list.

How Wallethub Determined Ranking

Wallethub ranked each of the 1268 cities they looked at by comparing statistics in five distinct categories:

• Affordability
• Economic Health
• Education & Health
• Quality of Life
• Safety

They looked at the median household income compared to the cost of living and homeownership rates. Unemployment, rate of growth of population, income, and jobs, debt, and even credit scores were considered from city to city. The local school systems, the overall health of the residents, commute time, hours worked per week, entertainment options, and crime rates were also factors in deciding how each city ranked on the list. Those cities in the 99th percentile were in the top 1% of the small cities on their list. Our city fell in the 98th percentile.

Why Westfield Made the List

Out of all the cities on Wallethub’s list, Westfield tied with Holly Springs, NC for the city with the least amount of residents living below the poverty line (just 2.2%). We were also recognized for our low crime rate and great economy. From my own personal experience, I can attest that we also have some amazing restaurants with incredibly talented chefs creating mouth-watering meals for the public on a daily basis. Visit Wallethub’s Best Small Cities in America list online to read more about their methodology as well as what the experts who put the list together have to say.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes