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Top 10 Best places to raise a family in the US with the Best quality of life – 2023

Last updated on: August 2, 2023

There are many places to raise a family in the US, and each has its unique set of benefits. The best places are not necessarily the most expensive. When choosing a place to live, it’s important to look at factors like safety, education, and affordability.

Here, we will discuss the top 10 best places to raise a family in the US in 2023!

Methodology

“Best” being a subjective word, below is our methodology to compile the best places.

We understand that deciding where to raise a family is one of the most difficult decisions to make. We’ve consequently built our ranking of the best places to raise a family in America on a study from Niche.com, which considered the following criteria: quality schools, affordability, access to family-oriented amenities (parks, libraries, etc.), and safety (property and violent crime rates).

In addition, we used the following data to rank the 10 best places to raise a family in the US while also taking into account their quality of life. Health, pollution, green spaces, and recreation, as well as climate, are the criteria involved in determining the quality of life.

1. Naperville, IL

Best for young adults

Naperville has been ranked as one of the best places to raise a family in America. The city has also won many awards, such as “Best Place to Raise Kids” from Business Insider in 2016, “One of America’s Best Cities” from Bloomberg L.P., and “Top 100 Best Places to Live” from Money Magazine in 2017.

The cost of living in Naperville is not too high at $2,101 per month, which makes it an affordable place to live, especially if you have children who are still in school or college. The average home in Naperville will cost you $435,000. Naperville has a population of about 149,000 people in addition to a low crime rate of 68.71 per 100,000 people. Naperville is home to many public libraries and restaurants, nature centers, spas, and shops located in downtown Naperville.

(*Realtor, Data Commons, Niche, Census.gov & Living Cost Org)

Naperville, Illinois

2. Plano, TX

Best for ambitious entrepreneurs

Plano is famous for being the headquarters of major companies like J.C. Penney, Pizza Hut, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, and Frito-Lay. Plano provides families with a suburban atmosphere, and the majority of homeowners own their houses. Plano has a crime rate of 138.67 per 100,000 people and a population of 288,253, which means you will have plenty of options when it comes to schools, churches, and other community resources. The median housing cost in Plano is $474,900, which is lower than some other places on this list, and the median cost of living is $2,066 per month.

(*Zillow, Data Commons, Niche, Crime Grade, Census.gov and Living Cost Org)

Plano, Texas

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3. Irvine, CA

Best for nature lovers & friendly neighbors

Irvine is a city in California and is famous for its high quality of life. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the US, with a crime rate of 165.50 per 100,000 population and a population of 309,031 people. Irvine was also ranked as one of the top 10 best places to raise a family in America by CNN Money Magazine. The ranking took into account factors such as housing costs, education, crime rates, and population density. In terms of housing costs, the median house price is $1,172,500.

The median cost of living in Irvine is $2,607 per month. On the other hand, Irvine offers a multitude of parks, friendly neighbors, great schools, and restaurants to enjoy on the weekend.

(*Zillow, Niche, Neighborhoodscout, Census.gov and Living Cost Org)

Irvine, California

4. Columbia, MD

Best for academic achievers

Columbia is a suburb in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is situated along the Patuxent River, and it is renowned for its excellent schools. The housing costs in Columbia are pretty affordable, with median prices at $416,800 for a single-family home. Columbia has a crime rate of 179.20 per 100,000 people and a population of 105,412 people.

Columbia is a great place to raise a family for many reasons, and the median cost of living is $2,586 per month. It has a high school graduation rate of 91%, which is higher than the national average of 87%. The population in Columbia, Maryland, has been growing steadily for the last few years. In fact, it has grown at an annualized rate of 1.4%. With many schools in close proximity to one another and such low housing costs, it’s no wonder why so many people are moving here because it is one of the best places to raise a family in the United States!

(*Zillow, Niche, Census.gov and Living Cost Org)

Columbia, Maryland

5. Fremont, CA

Best for walkability & coffee lovers

Fremont is a city in the Bay Area of California with a population of 227,514 and the median cost of living is $2,940 per month. It is located in Alameda County. The city has some of the best schools in the country, with Fremont Union High School District being ranked as one of the top 100 districts in California and among the top 10% nationally. In fact, it has been named one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools” for 11 consecutive years!

The median housing costs is $1,248,000, and the crime rate is considerably low with only 206.14 per 100,000 people. Fremont offers its residents an abundance of charming places to eat that can be accessed on foot, including parks and places of worship.

(*Zillow, Niche, Census.gov and Living Cost Org)

Fremont, California

6. Overland Park, KS

Best for safety & nature lovers

Overland Park is home to many parks, including the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. It also offers many opportunities for children and adults alike in education, recreation, and employment. The city has great schools and an excellent safety record that it why it is one of the best places to raise a family in the United States. The schools are well-regarded with many being nationally recognized for their excellence. Overland Park has a crime rate of 208.28 per 100,000 people and a population of 197,106. The median home value is $435,000 whereas the median cost of living is $1,845 per month.

(*Census.gov, Zillow, LivingCost.org & Niche)

Overland Park, Kansas

7. Ann Arbor, Mi

Best for excellent educational amenities

Ann Arbor is a city in the state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. It is home to a top-ranked university known as University of Michigan and has a population of 121,536 people. Ann Arbor is famous for its public parks, waterfalls, and shopping districts. It has a booming economy, a vibrant atmosphere, a trendy downtown area and affordable housing. The housing costs are reasonable for families with children and the crime rate is low at 220.28 per 100,000 people. It is famous for its high-tech economy and low unemployment rate. The median cost to buy a house is $450,000 and the median cost of living is $2,176 per month.

(*Zillow, Data Commons, Niche, Census.gov, Living Cost Org & Niche)

Ann Arbor, Michigan

8. The Woodlands, TX

Best for starting a family

The Woodlands is a master-planned community in the U.S. state of Texas, located about 25 miles from downtown Houston and within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area with a population of 114,532. It is famous for its low crime rate of 224.40 per 100,000 people, great schools, and affordability. The housing costs are also very reasonable, and there are many neighborhoods that can accommodate any budget or need. The median cost of buying a home is $559,000, and the median cost of living here is $1,896 a month. The Woodlands is also equipped with grand parks, golf, schools, shopping, restaurants, and employment opportunities—perfect for starting a family.

(*Realtor, Niche, Census.gov and Living Cost Org)

The Woodlands, Texas

9. Cambridge, MA

Best for aspiring college & university students

Cambridge is a city of about 118,000 people, located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The city is best known for its world-class institutions of higher education and for being the home to the prestigious Harvard University. However, the housing costs in Cambridge are relatively high.

The city is considered one of the best places to raise a family in America; the crime rate in Cambridge is low with only 295.09 per 100,000 people. This means that this is indeed one of the best places to raise a family in the United States. Cambridge is the perfect spot for students, young professionals and families who want a relaxed life surrounded by an intellectual community. If you are planning to move here soon, you can purchase a house at a median price of $984,000 and the median costs of living here is $2,938 a month.

(*Niche, Movoto, Census.gov and Living Cost Org)

Cambridge, Massachusetts

10. Lancaster, PA

Best for safety & rich history

Lancaster, PA, is a city in the heart of Pennsylvania that is famous for its Amish farms and Dutch heritage. Lancaster has a population of about 60,000 people, and it has been growing steadily in recent years. The median home price is $289,900, and the population density is around 1,400 people per square mile, which makes it one of the most densely populated cities in Pennsylvania. The Lancaster School District has been ranked number one for three consecutive years by Niche.com‘s rankings system.

The cost of living in Lancaster is among the lowest in Pennsylvania, where the median is around $1,895 per month. The crime rate recorded here is 379.10 per 100,000 people. This makes it an ideal place for families to live and raise their children, along with its scenic farmlands, historical sites, and beautiful art scenes. These are the reasons why it is one of the best places to raise a family in the United States.

(*Zillow, Niche, Census.gov and Living Cost Org)

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Conclusion

This list is not a ranking, but rather a compilation of 10 great places to raise a family in the United States. The idea is to provide you with information about each place and the best way to make a decision about where you want to live.

The ideal way for you to decide where you want to live is by considering your personal situations, income, needs and the safety of your next neighborhood to raise a family!

Last year's ranking (2022)

1. Overland Park, KS
2. Naperville, IL
3. The Woodlands, TX
4. Ann Arbor, MI
5. Plano, TX
6. Columbia, MD
7. Cambridge, MA
8. Irvine, CA
9. Fremont, CA
10. Lancaster, PA

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The expert

Mathieu Paquette

The author of this article also acts as MovingWaldo’s booking agent. Matt, is an accomplished relocation specialist with over 6 years of experience in the industry. Matt has earned a CAM certification (Canadian Association Of Movers), Tariff Certification (Atlas Van Lines), and has an extensive business background. Before handing off everything you own, do your due diligence… or let Matt do it for you.

Provide Matt with your move criteria. He will calculate quotes from verified movers, using the same metrics. This will make it simple to compare and book your move.