《2023中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)中(zhong)(zhong)小(xiao)城市高質量發展(zhan)(zhan)指數研(yan)究》的研(yan)究對(dui)象界定(ding)為：縣級市、縣以及空間(jian)結構相對(dui)獨立的市轄區，以及發展(zhan)(zhan)基礎較好、已具城市雛形或城市形態的建制鎮。其中(zhong)(zhong)，百強縣市為：縣級市、縣、自(zi)治縣、旗。

中小城市綜合(he)實力指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)研(yan)究(jiu)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標包(bao)括經濟發展(zhan)、創(chuang)新驅動、生(sheng)(sheng)態環(huan)境(jing)、民生(sheng)(sheng)福祉、城鄉治理5個一級指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標，以及發展(zhan)水平指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、發展(zhan)質量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、創(chuang)新投(tou)入指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、污染(ran)治理指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、環(huan)境(jing)質量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、生(sheng)(sheng)活質量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、行政效(xiao)率指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、社會安全(quan)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)等(deng)15個二(er)級指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標。