The 6 Best Cities to Raise a Family

Best Cities to Raise a Family: Where you live counts when you have a family. You, like everyone else, want to live in a safe neighborhood with inexpensive housing and good work. You also want to live in a neighborhood with strong schools, outdoor recreation, and family-friendly weekend activities. A good healthcare system and access to fresh, healthful food are also vital.

We considered all of these aspects when developing our list of the best cities to raise a family, with a focus on schools, things to do, and overall quality of life. These ten cities topped the list of the greatest places to live for families.

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Best Cities to Raise a Family in the US

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is ideal for the family who enjoys being out on the water, as it is surrounded by five lakes totaling more than 15,000 acres. Because boating is so popular here, many waterfront restaurants have docks where you may sail instead of driving to supper. The city also features more than 200 miles of hiking and bicycling trails, as well as the Dane County Farmers Market, the nation’s largest producer-only farmers market.

Madison’s schools provide a good education, although they can be hit or miss. Before settling in a new region, do some research. Van Hise Elementary School, Shorewood Hills Elementary School, and Memorial High School are among the best schools in the area.

Bentonville, Arkansas

Bentonville’s low cost of living—12.5% lower than the national average—combines with its small-town charm to make it one of the greatest locations in the country to raise a family. Schools in the well-funded Bentonville School District outperform those around the state, and there are numerous outdoor recreation options nearby, including hiking and camping.

The city also has a prominent public art program and is home to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, one of the country’s most prestigious art museums. The kid-friendly Amazeum, the Walmart Museum, and The Momentary, a new modern art museum, are among the other attractions.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City is the perfect destination for active families. In the summer, local canyons offer unlimited hiking and bike opportunities. In the winter, the mountains around the city are ideal for skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park are just two of the state’s outstanding national parks. These and other national parks are a fantastic weekend vacation from Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City is a little more family-friendly than most metropolitan regions because it is the global headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The town’s public library is one of the finest in the country, and it includes a creative lab where youngsters may try their hand at 3D modeling, video creation, and other digital media projects.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Considering that Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan, it should come as no surprise that the city actually values it. Both Ann Arbor Public Schools and Washtenaw Independent School District pride themselves on providing a top-notch education to their kids, and it shows. On the SAT, Community High School students got an average of 1209.

The community is highly diverse because the college accepts students from all over the world. You can find practically any cuisine you can imagine here, and if you’re looking for fresh produce, Ann Arbor’s downtown farmers market is second to none.

Arlington, Virginia

Yes, living here is expensive (the cost of living is 56 percent higher than the national average), but you get what you pay for. Arlington is located on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. On weekends, you can take your family to some of the top museums in the country or view the White House and the United States Capitol Building. Arlington is home to Arlington National Cemetery and boasts a fantastic park system, with more playgrounds than the national average.

The educational system in this city is superb, especially for younger children. For pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, Jamestown Elementary, Arlington Science Focus, and Arlington Science are among the best in the country. As students progress through middle and high school, the northern campuses of Arlington County Public Schools appear to do better than their southern colleagues.

Franklin, Tennessee

When it comes to housing, this enclave on the outskirts of Nashville is a touch pricy, but it’s well worth it. For starters, attractions such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Parthenon are only 20 miles away in Franklin. Franklin, a little closer to home, boasts fantastic restaurants and boutiques in its historic center, as well as surrounding Civil War battlefields. Hiking woodland trails, canoeing the Harpeth River, and riding at local mountain bike parks are all options for active families.

Franklin also features a number of excellent schools. When compared to comparable Tennessee high schools, Franklin High School students score nearly twice as high on standardized tests.

There you have it the best cities to raise a family.

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