One Dallas-area city continues to attract the national spotlight: namely Flower Mound, whose latest accolade comes from SmartAsset, the financial technology company, which ranks it as the No. 7 most livable small city in the U.S. for 2025.
This ranking represents a big jump for this family-focused suburb less than 30 miles from Dallas, which skyrocketed into the top 10 after coming in at No. 29 on the same list last year.
SmartAsset's annual study compared 279 U.S. cities with populations between 65,000 and 100,000 residents across seven metrics, including a resident's housing costs as a percentage of household income; average commute times; the percentage of residents living below the poverty line; and the proportions of entertainment, food service, and healthcare establishments.
Flower Mound boasts a population of more than 79,000 residents who earn a median $147,490 in yearly household income, the report found. These residents spend just under 20 percent of their income on their housing costs, which add up to a median $2,454 per month.
The city is sprawling with employment opportunities on both local and corporate levels, comprising more than 20,000 businesses, and nearly 97 percent of Flower Mound residents have health insurance. Residents spend about 25 minutes on average commuting to their jobs.
Flower Mound has the second-lowest unemployment rate out of all 20 Texas cities in the report, at just 1.95 percent. The report also added that only 3.3 percent of the city's population is living below the poverty line.
Earlier this year, Flower Mound's appealing size and relative affordability landed the No. 1 slot on Livability.com's list of best places to live in the U.S. in 2025.
Flower Mound has nearly 1,000 acres of parks for families and visitors to enjoy.Town of Flower Mound, Texas-Government/Facebook
According to the city's website, Flower Mound prides itself on being a tight-knit, family-oriented community that embraces its small-town feel while still encouraging "a dynamic economic development environment."
Flower Mound came in as the highest Dallas-Fort Worth city to earn a spot in the top 50, but three other cities also made the list including North Richland Hills, which took a major leap from its 2024 ranking at No. 139 and is now the 48th most livable small city nationwide.
The two other Dallas-Fort Worth cities that earned spots among the 279 most livable small cities in the nation: Mansfield (No. 138) and Rowlett (No. 181).
Reducing household expenses or escaping from noise pollution are just a few of the many reasons Americans may choose to move to a smaller city. But the report says not all families are willing to trade a lower cost of living for the convenience of living in a major urban epicenter.
"Ultimately, a local economy where infrastructure, business, financial prosperity and convenience all intersect may offer the best of all worlds for everyone in the household," the report's author wrote.
The top 10 most livable small U.S. cities in 2025 are:
- No. 1 – Plymouth, Minnesota
- No. 2 – Bloomington, Illinois
- No. 3 – Livonia, Michigan
- No. 4 – O'Fallon, Missouri
- No. 5 – Ankeny, Iowa
- No. 6 – Lakeville, Minnesota
- No. 7 – Flower Mound, Texas
- No. 8 – Eu Claire, Wisconsin
- No. 9 – Appleton, Wisconsin
- No. 10 – St. Charles, Missouri
