Surprise: Connecticut City Just Made a National “Best Small Cities” List

MoneyGeek and MSN just released the results of a new study that checked out 211 small U.S. cities (populations between 63k and 100k) to see which ones are on the rise. It appears the lawless swamp (Florida) had a bunch of big winners, and in a lot of these top cities, people aren’t just moving in, they’re staying.

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While the Florida news is enough to make you discredit the whole thing, hold up, because the Northeast crushed it. Even though it had the fewest cities in the mix (only 28 made the list), a bunch still landed in the top 50. We’re talking Lawrence, Somerville, and Newton in Massachusetts; Nashua, NH; Portland, ME; Pawtucket, RI; and one Connecticut city.

Did you guess Stamford? Too big. WE-HA, NAH! It was Norwalk, Connecticut. That’s right, Norwalk — where dinner for two might cost you as much as a month’s rent on a two-bedroom in Buffalo.

These places are seeing some serious income growth — over 22% in most of them. Basically, if you're looking for small-city vibes with big potential, these spots are worth a look. Norwalk's overall ranking was #43.

My Beige Flag: I’ve walked through cities and towns and said, “Wow, this place is really on the rise.” You might think that only happens in those Progressive ads about becoming your parents — but nope, I’ve genuinely said it, out loud, more than once. These “insightful observations” were based purely on gut instinct. You know, just like they do at NASA.

What's a Beige Flag? Copilot says: "A beige flag refers to a trait or behavior that is neither good nor bad, but makes you pause and think when you notice it. It is often described as a quirky or eccentric characteristic exhibited by a romantic partner that doesn't raise immediate concern but isn't necessarily a positive trait either."