WalletHub compared 1,268 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on 30 key indicators of livability. They range from “housing costs†to “school-system quality†to “number of restaurants per capita.†The City of Pensacola was #142 on the list with a total score of 63.01.
Last year, Pensacola was ranked 52 – Pensacola ranked 52nd Best Small City in America.
For the 2016 ranking, the City’s Quality of Life rank was 3, but the overall score was pulled down by Education & Health Rank (1091 out of 1268) and Safety (984).
Quality of Life included these factors:
Average Commute Time
Percentage of Residents Who Walk to Work
Mean Hours Worked per Week
Number of Restaurants per Capita
Number of Bars per Capita
Number of Clubs per Capita
Number of Coffee Shops per Capita
Number of Museums per Capita
Number of Performing Arts Centers per Capita
Number of Fitness Centers per Capita
Number of Department Stores per Capita
Education & Health included these factors:
School-System Quality
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s School Systems ranking.
High School Graduation Rate
Percentage of Residents with at Least a High School Diploma
Percentage of Population with Health-Insurance Coverage
Premature-Death Rate:
Note: This metric measures “Average Years of Potential Life Lost†rate.
Poor or Fair Health:
Low Birthweight
Adult Obesity
Physical Inactivity
Safety included these factors:
Violent-Crime Rate
Property-Crime Rate
Top Ten Small Cities
| Percentile | City | Total Score | ‘Affordability’ Rank | ‘Economic Health’ Rank | ‘Education & Health’ Rank | ‘Quality of Life’ Rank | ‘Safety’ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Westfield, IN | 69.93 | 29 | 1 | 49 | 1117 | 94 |
| 99 | Princeton, NJ | 69.63 | 937 | 2 | 216 | 71 | 30 |
| 99 | Leawood, KS | 69.48 | 2 | 130 | 36 | 634 | 89 |
| 99 | Littleton, CO | 69.23 | 600 | 53 | 171 | 20 | 300 |
| 99 | Brookfield, WI | 68.4 | 47 | 226 | 9 | 190 | 241 |
| 99 | Kirkland, WA | 67.94 | 692 | 4 | 149 | 359 | 222 |
| 99 | Holly Springs, NC | 67.51 | 22 | 19 | 224 | 833 | 43 |
| 99 | Milton, MA | 67.33 | 278 | 420 | 3 | 389 | 42 |
| 99 | Brentwood, TN | 67.29 | 20 | 78 | 249 | 363 | 32 |
| 99 | Southlake, TX | 66.98 | 1 | 335 | 299 | 303 | 54 |
In Florida, Pensacola was the fourth best small city, thanks to its high Quality of Life Rank. Last year, Pensacola was the highest ranked small city in the state.
54. Sarasota, FL
Total Score: 64.81
‘Affordability’ Rank: 67
‘Economic Health’ Rank: 662
‘Education & Health’ Rank: 513
‘Quality of Life’ Rank: 2
‘Safety’ Rank: 946
116. Oviedo
Total Score: 63.46
‘Affordability’ Rank: 116
‘Economic Health’ Rank: 274
‘Education & Health’ Rank: 301
‘Quality of Life’ Rank: 493
‘Safety’ Rank: 164
119. Boca Raton
Total Score: 63.41
‘Affordability’ Rank: 740
‘Economic Health’ Rank: 400
‘Education & Health’ Rank: 520
‘Quality of Life’ Rank: 54
‘Safety’ Rank: 9461
142. Pensacola
Total Score: 63.01; 2015: 52.77
‘Affordability’ Rank: 596; 2015: 601
‘Economic Health’ Rank:522; 2015: 767
‘Education & Health’ Rank: 1091; 2015: 510
‘Quality of Life’ Rank: 3; 2015: 8
‘Safety’ Rank: 984; 2015: not included
