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2020 Best Cities to Raise a Family in AmericaAbout this List

Explore the best cities to raise a family based on public schools, crime rates, cost of living, and family-friendly amenities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 231
Best for Families
231 results

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  1. Naperville

    • City in Illinois
    • 586 reviews
    #1 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Naperville is a nice town to grow up in! It's big enough where there are a lot of things to do but small enough that you get to know a lot of it's residents and make good connections with people. Unfortunately, the one thing that Naperville lacks is diversity. It has increased it's minority population within the last couple of years but it still lacks the ability to include all those people and make it feel like a more inclusive community
    Read 586 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 147,411 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. The Woodlands

    • City in Texas
    • 369 reviews
    #2 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: It isn't called the woodlands for nothing! The number of trees and greenery will never get old. This along with the mall, market street, and hughs landing provide endless shopping opportunities.
    Read 369 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 109,843 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Arlington

    • City in Virginia
    • 175 reviews
    #3 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: I have now lived in Arlington for 12 years. Their public schools and education system are wonderful, there are eco-friendly and healthy options for those living in the community. It is also very diverse! I would recommend more affordable options for its residents, there is a big population in Arlington that are underserved/in poverty.
    Read 175 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 231,803 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  4. Bellevue

    • City in Washington
    • 122 reviews
    #4 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: It is like Seattle's fancier little sister! There is always so much to do, whether it's going to the mall to shop or swimming in Lake Washington at one of the many public docks. The only thing that I wish would change is the amount of construction. Because the city is always developing and growing, there is nonstop construction, which can be quite the hassle and causes lots of traffic.
    Read 122 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 142,242 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  5. Columbia

    • City in Maryland
    • 343 reviews
    #5 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: The resources are plentiful and well funded - from Grassroots Crisis intervention for mental health & financial help; the library system's education resources and free programs for children/teens; Howard Banes Senior Center's free recreation and lunches; wonderful parks and walking trails; etc.
    The people care about Columbia as well. City council hearings are well attended by passionate people, and you'll find Board of Ed and state legislature campaign posters all over the place. Likewise, Columbia cares about its people (see above resources. They also have given out surveys at the library seeking our feedback).
    Like every American city, Columbia should do more about litter.
    Read 343 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 103,663 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Overland Park

    • City in Kansas
    • 389 reviews
    #6 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Overland Park is a great suburb of Kansas City. It has a terrific family atmosphere. There are plenty of places to eat and shop. OP also has great sports facilities including a world class youth soccer complex as well as several top notch sports academies. Sitting just 15 minutes outside of Kansas City, Overland Park also has access to world-class performing arts, KC Royals, KC Chiefs, the College Basketball Experience including the entertainment district Power & Light, Country Club Plaza, Crown Center (Hallmark), and much more. Of course being the BBQ capital of the nation we also are close to KC Joe's, Hayward's, Jack Stack, Gates and more!
    Read 389 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 188,687 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  9. Ann Arbor

    • City in Michigan
    • 463 reviews
    #7 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Niche User: A sweet and enjoyable small town! Ann Arbor offers everything that you need in your day to day life. The town is filled with restaurants, shops, music venues, fantastic schools, grocery stores and the best farmers market! I really enjoy the small town feel, but it is also nice that we have access to Detroit and if you are up to a big adventure Chicago is only 4 hours away! I am here as a graduate student and I am very glad I chose to come to Ann Arbor. Everyday you will see students, working professionals, and retirees walking around the town, eating at restaurants and truly enjoying life! Also, the ARBORETUM is to die for (trust me, you will want to go see this place). I can definitely see myself raising my kids here one day! DEFINITELY A MUST SEE TOWN!
    Read 463 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 120,641 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Plano

    • City in Texas
    • 777 reviews
    #8 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Plano, Tx is a Great Place to raise a family! People are very friendly and clean. I love parks and malls that surround Plano. Downtown Plano has a lot to offer for the nightlife; amazing spots to eat, walk and beautiful urban sightseeings are available as well. Plano is a quiet place to raise a family, they provide good public education, friendly environment, good food. One thing Plano lacks is diversity, which is getting better now. People are always involved in some activities, walking their dogs, jogging and most importantly they are active on neighborhood safety. Homeowners get together to keep the area safe(night-watch). Overall Plano is the best place to make long-lasting memories with your family and friends, I know I did!
    Read 777 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 284,579 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Irvine

    • City in California
    • 399 reviews
    #9 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Former Resident: I lived in Irvine for 20 years. From ages 8-28 years old and I generally believe that Irvine is a wonderful place to live. Increasingly, more diversity has entered into the city of Irvine and has brought really great culture and a livelier atmosphere. Before, there were not many restaurant choices or activities to do but now there are a wide variety of cuisines to try and a lot of investments to creating family-friendly places that I really appreciate. The only downside is that much of Irvine is hard to afford for even the middle class families. Many programs and extra curricular activities also weigh a heavy burden on families and can cause a lot of strain. Lastly, because of the academic progress of the public schools, many students have had serious problems with mental illnesses and deal with struggles over mental health and sanity. I hope that there can be a healthy balance between these factors.
    Read 399 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 265,502 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Cambridge

    • City in Massachusetts
    • 88 reviews
    #10 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Everything about Cambridge is great! It's a very pretty city with remarkable history. It has one of the best colleges in the world; Harvard, which helped the city to be highly educated, even if they weren't Harvard students. There’s a significant number of highly intellectual people all around. Also, the city is rich in museums & galleries that encompasses a significant number historical artifacts & valuable knowledge. I also love how clean and environment friendly the city is. Plastic bags are prohibited & paper ones are charged to minimize waste. Recycling is really emphasized. Restaurants & cafes are endless! There are many highly reviewed places that are worth traveling to. Shopping is great at Cambridge! There are unlimited shopping options and there are many vintage and hand-made gift stores all around. People are nice and super friendly. The MBTA works well in Cambridge and connect it to the greater city of Boston, which makes commuting much easier.
    Read 88 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 115,665 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  13. Berkeley

    • City in California
    • 150 reviews
    #11 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Moving to Berkeley is undoubtably the best decision I have ever made! This particular city is wildly diverse and full of vibrance and excitement. Overlooking the high-cost of living that comes with the Bay Area -- the weather and college atmosphere are unprecedented. I highly recommend living here. After all, everyone deserves the happiness and opportunity this community offers to its residents.
    Read 150 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 120,926 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Raleigh

    • City in North Carolina
    • 1,091 reviews
    #12 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Raleigh is simply an amazing place to live. There’s always something to do and something new to see! In Raleigh, you don’t have to go out of your way to find anything because it’s all right here. Despite being a big city, Raleigh still keeps its southern charm and hospitality without feeling too overwhelming. The people here will always welcome you with open arms! Another thing to add, Wake County Public Schools is consistently ranked in the top 10 school districts in NC. My children love growing up in Raleigh and we couldn’t have picked a better city to live in!
    Read 1,091 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 457,159 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Richardson

    • City in Texas
    • 267 reviews
    #13 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Living in Richardson has been a thrill for the past several months. Not only do I feel safe in my home, there are plenty of parks and trails nearby to take my dog on a walk. While I am not too big into nightlife so it's not a concern, there is not a 'hit spot in town', but we are only a 20 minute drive to Dallas! While my commute is only 4 miles, I cannot explain how light the traffic is, even on Monday mornings or Friday evenings!
    Read 267 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 114,402 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Sunnyvale

    • City in California
    • 220 reviews
    #14 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Works Here: Sunnyvale is the city I've grown up in, and I love it! Sunnyvale has some of the best public schools, starting from elementary all the way up to high school. There are a lot of different areas in Sunnyvale to shop, explore, and have fun. There are still small businesses in Sunnyvale, such as Zanotto's Family Market, the fruit stand, and others around the city. Sunnyvale is a rather big town, but it has that small town feel. You get to know your neighbors and everyone is super friendly. For nightlife, downtown is a great place to go, filled with many restaurant choices, bars, nightclubs, and an ice rink in December. Over the summer, downtown hosts different bands for free concerts on Wednesdays, bringing the community together even more. These are just a few things that make Sunnyvale unique - come visit and see for yourself!
    Read 220 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 152,323 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  17. Madison

    • City in Wisconsin
    • 650 reviews
    #15 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: I really enjoy living in Madison, WI. For one of the bigger cities in Wisconsin, it feels very open and comfortable. Everyone is really nice and there is so much to do! I love going to different markets, museums, and just walking through the pretty parts of the university campus. It is also in such a great position, between lake Mendota and Monona, because you can have your city life, but also your outdoors/lake life through hiking and kayaking, etc. The only difficult part about the quality of living is renting is super expensive in Madison. Also, if you are a student they almost scare you into renting as soon as possible, which is usually by October!
    Read 650 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 252,086 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  18. Boulder

    • City in Colorado
    • 291 reviews
    #16 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: I relocated to Boulder, CO for educational purposes. It seems to be a great town to study and focus in. I very much enjoy being so submerged in nature and having endless amounts of clean, safe and maintained trails at my fingertips to hike, bike or run on. I love the sense of safeness and healthy lifestyle that surround me here. I do however, miss the diversity of ethnicities and the rich art and creativity that brings to a community. If it is one thing Boulder could use more of, it would be diversity. Despite the feeling of living in a beautiful buble, there are many opportunities and much encouragement to get out and explore the midwest. I feel very much privileged and lucky for this opportunity to experience such a beautiful place on earth. I look forward to exploring what the midwest has to offer as a whole.
    Read 291 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 107,360 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Carlsbad

    • City in California
    • 323 reviews
    #17 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Former Resident: A wonderful, friendly coastal city! Plenty to do and beautiful oceanfront views. Attractions like Legoland and beach bluffs make it a tourist destination, and if you're lucky enough to live here you can enjoy its atmosphere year round!
    Read 323 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 113,670 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Round Rock

    • City in Texas
    • 335 reviews
    #18 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: I loved growing up in Round Rock. My parents chose to live here because the schools are good, it has a low crime rate and the cost of living is reasonable. Outdoor recreation is abundant such as boating, biking, running, fishing, hiking, swimming, outdoor theater and many, many others. There are lots of historic sites. The Chisholm Trail runs right through the center of town. The Sam Bass cemetery contains graves of people born before the American Revolution. Round Rock has the feel of a small town with easy access to larger cities. Round Rock is about 23 miles north of Austin proper. The food here is the best! Everyone knows about Texas barbecue; no food anywhere can even compare. The weather is fantastic, with Round Rock boasting about 300 days of sunshine per year. The people are friendly and there is a strong sense of community. All in all, Round Rock is a great place to live.
    Read 335 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 120,157 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Seattle

    • City in Washington
    • 762 reviews
    #19 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Seattle is the greatest city I've ever lived in. There is so much to do, indoors and outdoors. Lots of tourist attractions, easy access to both the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. Public transit is everywhere and it's cheap which makes getting around very easy. I live in Ballard and I can walk to dozens of restaurants, breweries, and more! The people are respectful and friendly, and I've found that traffic and driving in general is more pleasant here than in other cities I've traveled to. The city government itself seems to invest their money wisely in infrastructure and social programs.
    Read 762 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 708,823 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  24. Torrance

    • City in California
    • 233 reviews
    #20 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: The city of Torrance has an amazing feeling of home to it. Due to it being a smaller city, it is very easy to meet the people around you and live in a very connected community. Its location in comparison to other areas of Southern California is considered convenient and "in the middle of everything" by many. Although there isn't much to nightlife, the city has many beautiful and restaurants and places with unique qualities to them so one could still have an amazing night out. The city overall is a perfect place for families and even young individuals. Torrance has something to offer, no matter who you are!
    Read 233 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 146,392 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  25. Santa Clara

    • City in California
    • 189 reviews
    #21 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Lived in Maywood Park since 2005. Our son grew up here. Santa Clara has a surprisingly provincial compared to neighbor Sunnyvale which feels busier, or Mountain View which is, like Palo Alto, rather more elitist. Santa Clara is just... friendly in comparison. Bland initially, it has improved over the years with more trees and better retail. Climate is perfect. Gets a bit polluted during winter, like the rest of the bay area. Cupertino schools are truly top notch. Feel exceedingly safe. Excellent city services. Houses go for 1.5M+ in my neighborhood, but very little inventory year over year. Traffic is the main neighborhood concern due to Apple commuters. However residential streets are not really affected just avenues. Love to walk and run daily through all local streets. Busier Palo Alto feels too urban and busy for that. Overall we feel very blessed and fortunate to have landed in southwest Santa Clara!
    Read 189 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 126,209 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Alexandria

    • City in Virginia
    • 299 reviews
    #22 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Born and raised! Public schools have definitely improved over the years. Love the nightlife and Old Town is one of the few neighborhoods where I feel safe when out on the town. Rent and mortgages, however, are pricey. Job opportunities are best found in the District. Overall I would recommend for tourism and young professionals.
    Read 299 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 156,505 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Columbia

    • City in Missouri
    • 413 reviews
    #23 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: I have been in Columbia since the Spring of 2013. I love what this town has to offer. With big city dreams and a small town feel, Columbia, MO, is my new home. There are amazing eateries, niche shops in the downtown area, and opportunities galore! There is some pretty amazing colleges and universities in the area as well. Also, the hospitals have amazing experiences for those in the health science and business field. Did I mention the cost of living is pretty reasonable as it was rated in the top ten best places to live in America for someone starting out in their young adulthood.
    Read 413 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 120,248 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Rochester

    • City in Minnesota
    • 222 reviews
    #24 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: Beautiful city. People are extremely friendly and eager to help. Lots of jobs available, and lots to do. There is always something to do, and the library is amazing! Lots of community events going, including a year-long farmer's market (this surprised me when I moved here; I didn't know that was possible). Wonderful place to live.
    Read 222 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 113,913 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  29. College Station

    • City in Texas
    • 641 reviews
    #25 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America

    Current Resident: College Station is a rapidly growing college town with strong roots to Texas A&M University. While it's recently begun to gain lots of the accommodations of a bigger city with shopping centers like Century Square and Tower Point, it has maintained the quick and easy commutes, friendly smalltalk, and casual nature of a small town. The public high schools are excellent in both academic and athletic departments, and of course with a renowned university right in the backyard, the opportunities for jobs and education are endless. Housing is a bit pricey and apart from Hurricane Harry's and Downtown Bryan, there aren't many places for entertainment if you're under 21, but apart from those minor drawbacks, it's an overall excellent place to live. The students are friendly, the equal proximity to Houston, Austin, and Waco are incredibly convenient, and everyone in College Station just seems to be happy to be there. It's no wonder so many Aggie alumni move back to their college town!
    Read 641 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A
      Good for Families
    • 110,782 Population
    View Nearby Homes
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