《2023中國(guo)中小城(cheng)市(shi)高質量發展指數研究(jiu)(jiu)》的研究(jiu)(jiu)對(dui)象界定為：縣(xian)(xian)級(ji)市(shi)、縣(xian)(xian)以(yi)及空間結構相對(dui)獨立的市(shi)轄(xia)區，以(yi)及發展基(ji)礎(chu)較好、已具城(cheng)市(shi)雛形(xing)或城(cheng)市(shi)形(xing)態的建制鎮(zhen)。其(qi)中，百(bai)強縣(xian)(xian)市(shi)為：縣(xian)(xian)級(ji)市(shi)、縣(xian)(xian)、自(zi)治縣(xian)(xian)、旗。

中小城(cheng)市綜合實(shi)力指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)研(yan)究指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)包括經濟發展(zhan)、創新(xin)(xin)驅動、生(sheng)態環境(jing)、民生(sheng)福(fu)祉、城(cheng)鄉(xiang)治(zhi)理5個一(yi)級(ji)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)，以及發展(zhan)水平指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)、發展(zhan)質(zhi)(zhi)量(liang)(liang)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)、創新(xin)(xin)投入指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)、污染(ran)治(zhi)理指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)、環境(jing)質(zhi)(zhi)量(liang)(liang)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)、生(sheng)活質(zhi)(zhi)量(liang)(liang)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)、行(xing)政效率指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)、社會安全(quan)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)等15個二級(ji)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)。