Families move often and for various reasons. In fact, the average American can expect to move an estimated 11.7 times in a lifetime. Moving can be a sign of opportunity, such as a new job or long-term wealth accumulation, but people may also move because of instability such as foreclosure or job loss. During this period of high inflation, many families will consider moving to a place with a relatively low cost of living.

According to a recent study published by WalletHub, if you are looking for that suburban small-city lifestyle, you don’t need to look much further than Utah. The financial advising website said that almost a third of Americans would prefer to live in suburbs, particularly because of the cheaper cost of living over living in larger cities.

Although Kaysville residents already know, that recent WalletHub study found that Kaysville is the best small city in Utah and even one of the best in the nation. According to the study, Kaysville is in the Top 1% of small cities in the United States and is ranked particularly high across the nation for safety and affordability.

“We are honored to be recognized as the best small city in Utah,” Kaysville Mayor Tamara Tran said. “Our City Council works together to represent our community and it’s our goal to do everything we can to make sure that we preserve all the wonderful things that make Kaysville so desirable.” Tran said the City Council members are dedicated to serving the needs and interests of the residents and are committed to maintaining the high quality of life that Kaysville offers. “They work hand in hand with community organizations, businesses, and residents to foster a sense of belonging and unity.”

Tran said one of the main reasons why Kaysville received this designation is because of its strong sense of community. “We have a vibrant and active community that comes together to support one another and make Kaysville a great place to live.” 

Kaysville is also known for its excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and beautiful parks, she said. The City Council recognizes the importance of preserving historical buildings and landmarks, as well as maintaining a balance between growth and preservation. Tran said the Mayor, City Council and staff will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Kaysville remains a thriving and vibrant city for generations to come.

Kaysville wasn’t the only Utah suburb that made it onto the list. Overall, there were 28 Utah suburbs that were ranked. To find out which smaller cities outshine the rest, WalletHub compared over 1,300 United States cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000. With families in mind, comparatives included key metrics that consider essential family dynamics, such as safety, the cost of housing, the quality of local school and health-care systems, and the opportunities for fun and recreation. Eight other cities landed within the 90th percentile range of the best small cities to live in. Kaysville was joined by Lehi, Syracuse, Bountiful, Saratoga Springs, Spanish Fork, Herriman, Layton, and South Jordan. In comparison, Taylorsville, Murray, and Tooele were the three lowest-ranked Utah cities.

In order to determine which cities are most conducive to family life, WalletHub utilizes a methodology that considers and applies points for Family Fun (recreational and other types of family facilities and opportunities), Health and Safety (water and air quality, pediatricians per capita, share of uninsured children, public hospitals, infant mortality rate, pedestrian-fatality rate, driving fatalities, violent crimes and property crime rates per capita, and family homelessness), education and child care, affordability (including the cost of living, housing affordability, and wallet wellness), and socio-economics (share of two-parent families, separation and divorce rate, share of families living in poverty, unemployment rate, debt per median earnings, wealth gap, and foreclosure rate).

The full study can be found at wallethub.com