The No. 1 small city in America for families is in North Texas and is ...

The North Texas community of Wylie boasts access to two lakes, affordable homes and top-rated schools -- all cited as reasons why it's the top small city in the U.S. for families, according to an analysis by NerdWallet.

The big state of Texas actually dominates NerdWallet's top 10 list, with communities near Austin and Houston also getting high marks. [Blog adds: Six of the top 10 list are in Texas, three of which are in the Dallas area, two in the Houston area, and one in the Austin area].

NerdWallet examined the most-recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, GreatSchools and NeighborhoodScout for 245 places in the U.S. with populations from 25,000 to 100,000. The analysis considers home values and affordability, median annual income, growth and factors that families consider, including school quality and crime. To see the full story and detailed methodology, click here.

If you are a homebuyer looking to narrow your choice of locations in a big or small city, try NerdWallet's home affordability calculator to learn how much you can pay toward a mortgage each month while also staying on top of debts, spending and savings.

Most of the small cities on the top 10 list are suburbs, with many less than 30 miles from the nearest big city. Families in these places will find the convenience of higher-paying jobs and other big-city amenities without long commutes.

Best small cities for families

1. Wylie, Texas (Dallas area)

This city, about 30 miles northeast of Dallas, is between Lavon Lake and Lake Ray Hubbard, which means it offers access to outdoor activities for families. The city of 44,000 residents has the second-most affordable homes in the top 10, with a median home value of $154,600 in 2014. Of all 245 cities analyzed, Wylie has the seventh-highest median annual income growth, which jumped over 19% from 2009 to 2014. Schools in Wylie earned a rating of 9 out of 10 by reviewers at GreatSchools.org.

2. Spring Hill, Tennessee

Spring Hill, which is about 30 miles south of Nashville, has experienced growth as a manufacturing hub, particularly for cars. It boasts the ninth-highest population growth of the 245 cities, with a 37% jump in residents from 2009 to 2014. In Spring Hill, nearly 50% of families, the third-highest in the top 10, have children under age 18. That's not the only reason this Tennessee town is family-friendly: Schools in Spring Hill are rated a strong 9 out of 10 by reviewers at GreatSchools.

3. Leander, Texas (Austin area)

Leander is a growing Austin suburb and the only one connected to the capital's downtown via light rail. Leander has the most affordable houses of the top 10 cities, with the median home value in 2014 at just $154,500 -- which is about half of the value of homes in Austin, according to Zillow. Of the 245 cities analyzed, Leander was No. 10 when it comes to the percentage of families (nearly 52%) with children younger than 18. This city's population grew over 34% from 2009 to 2014, as the Austin area booms.

4. Bentonville, Arkansas

Home to the headquarters of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, Bentonville is one of two cities in the top 10 that's not a suburb. Residents here experienced the highest income growth of all 245 cities analyzed, with median annual household incomes rising over 39% from 2009 to 2014. Schools in Bentonville scored a 9 out of 10 at GreatSchools.org, and homes here are the fourth-most affordable in the top 10 cities. The downtown boasts a free and extensive art museum funded by the family of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, and there's a Wal-Mart visitor center near the site of the original store.

5. Carmel, Indiana

The formerly sleepy suburb north of Indianapolis has become a growing, affluent Midwest city. Residents here earn the second-highest median annual household income ($107,916 in 2014) of the top cities. Incomes in Carmel have grown over 11% from 2009 to 2014, while the population jumped 25%. The city is home to many major employers, such as Geico, and over 40 corporate headquarters, according to the city. Carmel's schools earned a GreatSchools rating of 9 out of 10.

6. Pearland, Texas (Houston area)

Once a small agricultural town known for pears and other crops, this south Houston suburb has the biggest population of all 245 cities analyzed, with over 97,000 residents as of 2014. Residents of Pearland have the fourth-highest median annual household income in the top 10 cities at $94,653 in 2014. Families will find highly rated schools and many families -- 45% of families here have young children. Pearland is also home to the famous Killen's Barbecue, a favorite of Houston Texans player J.J. Watt.

7. League City, Texas (Houston area)

Located along Clear Lake and next to the Gulf Coast, League City is part of the Houston metro area, giving residents easy access to the nation's fourth-biggest city by population. The city attracts families who love fishing and boating with four marinas, and the schools are a lure, too: League City's schools were rated 8 out of 10 at GreatSchools. Residents here have the fifth-highest median annual household income among the top 10 at nearly $91,000 in 2014, and the median home value was $182,000 that year.

8. Allen, Texas (Dallas area)

Allen, 27 miles north of Dallas, was home to nearly 90,000 residents in 2014, making it the second-largest city in the top 10. This affluent Texas city also has the third-highest median annual household income ($102,120 in 2014) of the top 10 cities. Allen's schools received strong rankings, with a rating of 9 out of 10 at GreatSchools. Allen boasts nearly 50 miles of hiking and nature trails, along with almost 800 acres of developed parks -- and over 200 restaurants.

9. Little Elm, Texas (Dallas area)

There's no doubt Little Elm is family-friendly: Nearly 54% of families in this city of about 30,000 residents have children under age 18, the highest percentage in the top 10 cities. It's also growing quickly, with a 32% jump in population from 2009 to 2014. Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Little Elm -- and its over 66 miles of shoreline on Lewisville Lake -- is ideal for those who love being near the water. Homes in Little Elm are also the third-most affordable among the top cities, with a median home value of $159,200 in 2014.

10. Wildwood, Missouri

Although Wildwood, on the outskirts of St. Louis, has the highest median home value ($351,400 in 2014) in the top cities, residents also earn the highest median annual household income ($123,578). Residents in this affluent city, which was incorporated in 1995, enjoy 32 miles of trails, in addition to city, state and county parks. It's also just a few miles from the Hidden Valley Ski Area.

Best small cities for families in the Northeast

Shelton, Connecticut 
Melrose, Massachusetts 
Saratoga Springs, New York 
Milford, Connecticut 
Warwick, Rhode Island

Best cities in the Midwest

Carmel, Indiana 
Wildwood, Missouri 
Ankeny, Iowa 
Woodbury, Minnesota 
Dublin, Ohio

Best cities in the West

Syracuse, Utah 
Sammamish, Washington 
Maricopa, Arizona 
Lake Stevens, Washington 
Kaysville, Utah

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Original article by: Emily Starbuck Crone, NerdWallet, August 25, 2016. A link to the original article is here.