《2023中(zhong)國(guo)中(zhong)小城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)(shi)高質量發展(zhan)指數研究(jiu)》的研究(jiu)對象界定為：縣(xian)(xian)級(ji)市(shi)(shi)(shi)、縣(xian)(xian)以(yi)及空間結構(gou)相(xiang)對獨(du)立的市(shi)(shi)(shi)轄區，以(yi)及發展(zhan)基礎較好、已具城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)(shi)雛形或(huo)城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)(shi)形態(tai)的建制鎮。其中(zhong)，百強縣(xian)(xian)市(shi)(shi)(shi)為：縣(xian)(xian)級(ji)市(shi)(shi)(shi)、縣(xian)(xian)、自治縣(xian)(xian)、旗(qi)。

中小城市(shi)綜合實力指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)研究指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)(biao)包括經濟發展、創(chuang)新(xin)(xin)驅動、生(sheng)態(tai)環(huan)境(jing)、民生(sheng)福(fu)祉(zhi)、城鄉治理5個(ge)一級(ji)(ji)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)(biao)，以及(ji)發展水平指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、發展質量(liang)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、創(chuang)新(xin)(xin)投入指(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(liang)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、生(sheng)活質量(liang)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、行政效率指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)、社會安(an)全指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)(shu)等(deng)15個(ge)二級(ji)(ji)指(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)標(biao)(biao)。