《2023中(zhong)國(guo)中(zhong)小(xiao)城市(shi)高質(zhi)量(liang)發(fa)展(zhan)指(zhi)數研(yan)(yan)究》的研(yan)(yan)究對(dui)象(xiang)界(jie)定(ding)為：縣(xian)級市(shi)、縣(xian)以及(ji)空間結構(gou)相對(dui)獨立的市(shi)轄區，以及(ji)發(fa)展(zhan)基礎(chu)較(jiao)好、已具城市(shi)雛形或城市(shi)形態的建制鎮。其(qi)中(zhong)，百強縣(xian)市(shi)為：縣(xian)級市(shi)、縣(xian)、自治縣(xian)、旗(qi)。

中小城(cheng)市(shi)綜合實(shi)力指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)研究指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標包括經濟(ji)發(fa)展、創新驅(qu)動(dong)、生態環境、民生福祉、城(cheng)鄉(xiang)治(zhi)理(li)5個一級(ji)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標，以及發(fa)展水平指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、發(fa)展質(zhi)量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、創新投(tou)入指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、污染治(zhi)理(li)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、環境質(zhi)量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、生活質(zhi)量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、行政效率指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、社會(hui)安全指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)等15個二級(ji)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標。