《2023中(zhong)國(guo)中(zhong)小城市(shi)高質量發展(zhan)(zhan)指數研究(jiu)》的研究(jiu)對(dui)象界定為(wei)：縣級市(shi)、縣以(yi)及空間結構(gou)相對(dui)獨(du)立的市(shi)轄區(qu)，以(yi)及發展(zhan)(zhan)基(ji)礎較(jiao)好、已具城市(shi)雛形(xing)(xing)或城市(shi)形(xing)(xing)態的建(jian)制鎮(zhen)。其(qi)中(zhong)，百強縣市(shi)為(wei)：縣級市(shi)、縣、自治(zhi)縣、旗。

中小城市綜合實力指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)研究指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標包(bao)括經(jing)濟發(fa)展、創(chuang)新驅(qu)動、生態環境、民生福祉、城鄉治理5個一級指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標，以及(ji)發(fa)展水平指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、發(fa)展質量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、創(chuang)新投入(ru)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、污染治理指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、環境質量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、生活質量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、行政效率指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、社會安全指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)等15個二(er)級指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標。