《2023中(zhong)(zhong)國中(zhong)(zhong)小(xiao)城市(shi)高質量發(fa)展指數研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)》的研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)對(dui)象界定為(wei)：縣(xian)(xian)級市(shi)、縣(xian)(xian)以及(ji)空間結構相對(dui)獨(du)立的市(shi)轄區，以及(ji)發(fa)展基礎較好(hao)、已具城市(shi)雛形或(huo)城市(shi)形態的建制鎮。其中(zhong)(zhong)，百強縣(xian)(xian)市(shi)為(wei)：縣(xian)(xian)級市(shi)、縣(xian)(xian)、自治縣(xian)(xian)、旗。

中小(xiao)城市綜合實(shi)力指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)研究指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)(biao)(biao)包括經濟(ji)發(fa)展、創(chuang)新驅動、生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)態環境、民生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)福(fu)祉、城鄉治理(li)5個一級指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)(biao)(biao)，以及發(fa)展水平指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、發(fa)展質(zhi)量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、創(chuang)新投(tou)入指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、污染治理(li)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、環境質(zhi)量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)活質(zhi)量指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、行政(zheng)效率指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)、社會安全指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)等15個二級指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)(biao)(biao)。