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How do you discover a good metropolis to boost a household? Essentially the most superb spots present protected neighborhoods, high quality schooling, recreation alternatives, and affordability. Weighing all these elements and extra and discovering the fitting locale amongst practically 20,000 included cities, cities, and villages throughout America will be daunting, so Stacker collected 2023 knowledge from the nationwide evaluation and rating website Area of interest to compile an inventory of the highest 100 cities to boost a household. To be included, every metropolis needed to have at the very least 100,000 residents.
One of the best cities to boost a household span the complete nation, and differ in dimension from simply over 100,000 residents to greater than 1,000,000. Whether or not you might be on the lookout for a quiet city to cool down or loads of big-city facilities for your self and your youngsters, there may be an choice for you.
Whereas California has 5 cities within the prime 20, and Texas has 4, an Illinois metropolis 33 miles west of Chicago claims the highest spot. Six of the ten cities within the nation with populations over 1,000,000 made the record, displaying that massive cities are an awesome place to boost a household, providing a wealth of historic websites, museums, prime faculties, and parks to entertain dad and mom and kids alike.
Excessive walkability scores, quickly bettering college methods, and falling crime charges place vibrant cities like Dallas and New York among the many nation’s finest for households. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia are represented, whereas Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, West Virginia, Mississippi, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, and Alaska are absent.
In the event you’re trying to find the proper place to put down roots, make sure to maintain studying to find the 100 most extremely rated cities for elevating a household, together with a number of proper right here in Virginia.
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#100. San Jose, California
– Inhabitants: 1,013,337
The Bay Space California metropolis of San Jose is without doubt one of the most various communities within the nation. Thought of the hub of the area’s Silicon Valley, San Jose additionally has one of many highest prices of dwelling within the nation, with median family incomes within the triple digits and considerably greater than the nationwide common. The median dwelling worth is upwards of $986,700, additionally manner over the nationwide common. With greater than 31,000 college students, San Jose’s college district is dwelling to many extremely regarded elementary and excessive faculties.
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#99. Provo, Utah
– Inhabitants: 113,538
Positioned just below an hour south of Salt Lake Metropolis, Provo presents households a suburban way of life with an inexpensive value of dwelling. The town’s median lease is decrease than the nationwide common at $973, whereas median dwelling values are a bit greater than the nationwide common at round $330,000. It’s also a protected city, with violent and property crime charges nicely under the nationwide common. Provo is dwelling to 68 highly-rated public faculties and 17 personal faculties.
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#98. Peoria, Arizona
– Inhabitants: 187,733
– Closest main metropolis: Phoenix
A suburb of Phoenix, Peoria boasts a median revenue of about $10,000 greater than the nationwide common, although the price of dwelling can also be about 10% above the nationwide common. Nonetheless, with greater than 224 public faculties with excessive rankings, the city is ranked as one of many locations with the very best public faculties in Arizona. Households gained’t run out of enjoyable actions both, due to Peoria’s many parks, together with Lake Nice Regional Park.
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#97. Tallahassee, Florida
– Inhabitants: 195,057
The capital metropolis of Florida, Tallahassee, gives a bunch of alternatives for households to remain in form, with over 100 miles of in-town biking trails, aerial impediment programs, and canoe and paddle amenities amongst them. Leon Excessive Faculty, one of the various within the metropolis, is rated #2 of the very best excessive faculties within the Tallahassee space. The town is barely safer than 6% of U.S. cities, nevertheless, with against the law fee of 37 per 1,000 residents, in response to knowledge reported from NeighborhoodScout.
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#96. Meridian, Idaho
– Inhabitants: 115,227
– Closest main metropolis: Boise
Area of interest ranked Meridian the highest suburb to reside in throughout the state, and it’s clear why. This fast-growing city presents high-quality private and non-private faculties and loads of family-focused leisure actions, together with the Youngsters’s Museum of Idaho and Roaring Springs Water Park. Professionals shall be glad to listen to that the median family revenue in Meridian is about $15,000 greater than the nationwide common, and jobs are plentiful each domestically—due to corporations like Scentsy Perfume and Jacksons Meals Shops—and in close by Boise.
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#95. Murrieta, California
– Inhabitants: 111,096
– Closest main metropolis: Riverside
The Southern California city of Murrieta is located between Los Angeles and San Diego, however with a inhabitants of simply over 100,000, it presents a way more relaxed tempo than close by metros. Like a lot of Southern California, median dwelling costs are excessive—greater than $200,000 above the nationwide common. Nonetheless, the median family revenue can also be excessive, at nearly $100,000. The city ranks 158th amongst cities in California with the very best public faculties and a hundred and first among the many most various suburbs within the state.
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#94. Elk Grove, California
– Inhabitants: 175,510
– Closest main metropolis: Sacramento
Elk Grove was ranked the eleventh finest suburb to reside in close to the capital metropolis of Sacramento, and it’s additionally only a two-hour drive from the bustling San Francisco metro. The city is ranked extremely for range each in California (seventeenth) and throughout the nation (208th). Its crime fee just isn’t the very best on our record, however NeighborhoodScout nonetheless studies it’s safer than 24% of U.S. neighborhoods, with an annual crime fee of 19 per 1,000 residents.
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#93. Orlando, Florida
– Inhabitants: 302,968
A toddler’s dream come true, the Orlando space is dwelling to legendary theme parks and museums together with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Discovery Cove, Common’s Islands of Journey, and Walt Disney World Resort. The town’s college district options the Orlando Science Center/Excessive Constitution Faculty, ranked on the prime of Orlando’s finest public excessive faculties and the #1 total constitution college within the state.
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#92. Rio Rancho, New Mexico
– Inhabitants: 102,403
– Closest main metropolis: Albuquerque
Rio Rancho, New Mexico, is a suburb simply northeast of Albuquerque. The town is dwelling to 83 public and 57 personal faculties, together with Mountain View Center Faculty, which is ranked the 4th finest public center college in New Mexico. Rio Rancho can also be comparatively inexpensive, providing a price of dwelling 3% decrease than the nationwide common and a median family revenue simply above the typical.
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#91. Boise, Idaho
– Inhabitants: 231,537
Comply with the Boise River Greenbelt by means of the center of the capital metropolis of Idaho and neighboring communities for 25 miles of forested strolling and bicycling trails, with entry to downtown, Boise State College, and main parks. Boise Senior Excessive Faculty is ranked the second-best public highschool within the state. The town’s crime fee is available in under the nationwide common for many violent and property crimes.
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#90. Atlanta, Georgia
– Inhabitants: 492,204
Georgia’s capital and its most populated metropolis has greater than 3,000 acres of parkland accompanied by as much as 33 leisure facilities full of family-friendly alternatives. Area of interest charges Atlanta’s prime three college districts, Buford Metropolis, Forsyth County, and Decatur Metropolis, with an total grade of A+. USA At present studies how “historical past and artwork take middle stage” in Atlanta’s museums, whereas nice enjoyable and schooling are discovered on the Georgia Aquarium, the most important marine exhibit within the U.S. Add within the inexpensive value of dwelling, and Atlanta will get extra interesting.
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#89. Coral Springs, Florida
– Inhabitants: 133,693
– Closest main metropolis: Fort Lauderdale
Located close to the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Coast, Coral Springs presents lots to do for nature lovers and metropolis people alike. Discover the Tall Cypress Pure Space or drive over to close by Fort Lauderdale or Miami for city facilities. Coral Springs can also be one of the various locations to reside in Florida.
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#88. Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah
– Inhabitants: 199,153
Utah’s capital metropolis has a wealth of out of doors actions positive to please any household, which earns it the rank of #25 of 228 finest cities for outside actions in America. The town’s median dwelling value is $314,500, with median rents at $985.
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#87. Washington D.C.
– Inhabitants: 683,154
Washington D.C. presents an abundance of colleges and libraries. A few of its most inexpensive neighborhoods for younger households are Takoma Park, Catholic College Brookland, and Glover Park. Baby-care prices are excessive, however the district’s native authorities has provided free preschool to 3- and 4-year-olds since 2009. D.C. handed an intensive set of measures, the Delivery-to-Three For All D.C Act, in 2018, that included investments in toddler and toddler well being care providers, subsidies for early childhood studying, greater job requirements, and higher pay for early childhood educators.
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#86. St. Paul, Minnesota
– Inhabitants: 309,751
The capital of Minnesota, St. Paul is dwelling to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, positive to please all within the household, in addition to Fort Snelling State Park, with mountaineering and biking trails. The town’s residents are about evenly break up between owners and renters, with median dwelling values and lease hovering across the nationwide common. Amongst its prime faculties are foreign-language immersion amenities for Spanish, German, and Mandarin.
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#85. Fargo, North Dakota
– Inhabitants: 124,979
The Pink River Zoo, Plains Artwork Museum, and Fargo Air Museum are among the many family-friendly actions to take pleasure in in Fargo. Fargo Davies Excessive Faculty makes the grade as the very best public highschool in North Dakota, with a 94% common commencement fee.
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#84. Denton, Texas
– Inhabitants: 139,704
Denton is a part of the Dallas-Fort Value metropolitan space. The Argyle Unbiased Faculty District ranks #20 within the state. The district’s prime college, Argyle Excessive, boasts a 99% common commencement fee. Close by Lake Lewisville is a leisure haven, that includes parks, marinas, tenting, and fishing.
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#83. Arvada, Colorado
– Inhabitants: 122,903
– Closest main metropolis: Denver
Arvada presents a number of the highest-rated public faculties within the state, together with D’Evelyn Junior/Senior Excessive Faculty and DSST: Byers Excessive Faculty. NeighborhoodScout ranks the city safer than 6% of U.S. neighborhoods, with a median crime fee of 37 per 1,000 residents. The median dwelling worth is excessive, at round $450,000 in comparison with a nationwide common of round $245,000.
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#82. Fullerton, California
– Inhabitants: 142,964
– Closest main metropolis: Los Angeles
Located within the widespread Orange County about half-hour outdoors of Los Angeles, Fullerton has loads to supply households. For one, it’s lower than 5 miles from Disneyland. The price of dwelling is excessive, about 37% above the nationwide common, however the median family revenue can also be greater than common. The city additionally boasts highly-rated faculties, together with Troy Excessive Faculty, which is ranked second within the state.
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#81. Aurora, Illinois
– Inhabitants: 183,447
– Closest main metropolis: Chicago
In the event you’re on the lookout for an inexpensive suburb to place down roots, look no additional than Aurora. Regardless of its location lower than an hour outdoors of Chicago, Aurora boasts a price of dwelling 3% decrease than the nationwide common. The median dwelling worth within the city hovers round $209,000, in comparison with a nationwide common of $245,000. The town can also be rated the ninth most various place to reside in Illinois.
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#80. Davie, Florida
– Inhabitants: 104,782
– Closest main metropolis: Fort Lauderdale
The second Fort Lauderdale suburb on our record, Davie is filled with family-friendly actions for all pursuits—from parks to botanical gardens and museums. The world presents loads of highly-rated faculties as nicely, together with The Faculty Academy at Broward Faculty, which ranks second within the state and permits college students to finish an affiliate’s diploma of their remaining two years of highschool.
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#79. Gainesville, Florida
– Inhabitants: 138,741
Nature and museums lead the family-friendly alternatives to share within the Gainesville space, with the Butterfly Rainforest, a part of the Florida Museum of Pure Historical past, on the prime of the record. Eastside Excessive Faculty is listed as #92 out of 702 public excessive faculties within the state.
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#78. Lewisville, Texas
– Inhabitants: 110,077
– Closest main metropolis: Dallas
Located within the bustling Dallas-Fort Value metro space, Lewisville is ranked the tenth most various suburb within the state. NeighborhoodScout studies town is safer than 20% of U.S. neighborhoods with a median crime fee of 21 per 1,000 residents. The city’s shut proximity to Lake Lewisville means there are many nice methods for households to spend their free time, as nicely.
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#77. Temecula, California
– Inhabitants: 109,376
The Southern California metropolis of Temecula ranks as #23 in cities with the very best public faculties in America. Nice Oak Excessive Faculty is the second finest in Riverside County with a 97% common commencement fee. Youngsters get a hands-on really feel for science whereas they play on the Temecula Youngsters’s Museum Pennypickle’s Workshop. The town’s crime fee is available in nicely under the nationwide common in all classes.
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#76. Charleston, South Carolina
– Inhabitants: 147,928
The port metropolis of Charleston is alive with its historic roots. The primary pictures of the Civil Battle have been fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Households with college students in or about to enter highschool may think about Tutorial Magnet Excessive Faculty, the second-best public highschool within the state.
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#75. Huntington Seashore, California
– Inhabitants: 198,735
– Closest main metropolis: Los Angeles
Huntington Seashore is actually an costly place to reside, with a price of dwelling greater than 40% greater than the nationwide common and a median dwelling value of over $845,000. Nonetheless, its beachside location and plentiful actions make it a preferred place for households. The median family revenue can also be considerably greater than the nationwide common, at round $105,000.
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#74. Murfreesboro, Tennessee
– Inhabitants: 148,970
Ripe with American Civil Battle historical past, Murfreesboro is dwelling to the Stones River Nationwide Battlefield and Oaklands Mansion, the place households can discover the world’s evolution over the centuries. The group ranks because the #6 most various suburb within the state.
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#73. Quincy, Massachusetts
– Inhabitants: 100,544
– Closest main metropolis: Boston
Quincy presents up a little bit slice of historical past: It’s referred to as the “Metropolis of Presidents” as a result of it’s the birthplace of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the second and sixth U.S. presidents. Ranked because the tenth most various suburb in Massachusetts, Quincy’s proximity to Boston means there is no such thing as a scarcity of actions and metropolis facilities for native households. NeighborhoodScout additionally studies the city is safer than 34% of U.S. neighborhoods, with a median crime fee of 15 per 1,000 residents.
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#72. Pasadena, California
– Inhabitants: 138,771
Residence to the Rose Bowl and the Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena presents a variety of instructional, inventive, historic, and backyard experiences for households to share. It’s ranked #9 among the many healthiest cities in america and locations to reside in America. However its facilities include a hefty price ticket: The town’s median dwelling worth pushes $863,000, and the median lease is $1,904.
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#71. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
– Inhabitants: 303,207
Sports activities fanatic households may think about Pittsburgh an excellent dwelling base, with the Penguins and Steelers each profitable quite a few championships. The town sports activities a median dwelling worth of $147,600, placing it at #12 of 228 finest cities to purchase a home in America and a median lease of $1,043. The Pittsburgh Science & Expertise Academy ranks #9 amongst magnet faculties within the state however is barely the second-best highschool within the metropolis.
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#70. Stamford, Connecticut
– Inhabitants: 134,820
Stamford is centrally positioned to greater than 332 miles of seashore entry on the Lengthy Island Sound in Connecticut. The town of about 128,000 options the Stamford Museum and Nature Heart with family-oriented lessons, displays, and particular occasions. The crime fee in Stamford is mostly a lot decrease than the U.S. common. However with median lease costs of $1,981 and rising dwelling values at $550,600, housing prices can take a giant chunk out of the household funds in Stamford.
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#69. Roseville, California
– Inhabitants: 145,687
Roseville is a part of the metropolitan space across the state capital of Sacramento. Simply over two-thirds of its residents personal their properties, with the median value in Roseville at $502,800, whereas lease approaches $1,800. Granite Bay Excessive Faculty leads Placer County as its finest public highschool, with a median commencement fee of 96%.
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#68. Fort Collins, Colorado
– Inhabitants: 166,788
Northern Colorado’s Fort Collins presents a historic downtown, and its namesake Museum of Discovery, with interactive science, historical past, and nature displays. Its faculties rank #37 of 228 in America, with Fossil Ridge Excessive Faculty ranked #32 out of 457 within the state. Though practically half of Fort Collins’ residents personal their properties, median dwelling values listed here are $180,000 above the nationwide common.
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#67. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
– Inhabitants: 189,258
Sioux Falls options Falls Park, by means of which the Huge Sioux River runs, and household enjoyable and schooling on the Nice Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum. Sioux Falls ranked #36 for cities with the bottom value of dwelling within the nation.
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#66. Clovis, California
– Inhabitants: 118,488
– Closest main metropolis: Fresno
A suburb of Fresno, Clovis is without doubt one of the most inexpensive California cities on our record, boasting a price of dwelling slightly below the nationwide common. A lot of its faculties supply smaller class sizes for a extra intimate really feel, together with College Excessive Faculty, which is ranked the twenty seventh finest public highschool within the state.
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#65. Minneapolis, Minnesota
– Inhabitants: 425,091
Minneapolis, twin metropolis to the Minnesota capital of St. Paul, is bisected by the Mississippi River. Minneapolis is dwelling to many parks and lakes, the Walker Artwork Heart, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Backyard. Its crime fee is nicely above the nationwide common in lots of classes, however its vibrant communities and good job prospects earn it the #8 spot out of 228 cities for younger professionals.
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#64. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
– Inhabitants: 247,917
Residence to Wake Forest College, Winston-Salem has public faculties that earn excessive grades on the elementary, center, and highschool ranges. Foodies within the household will discover the historic Moravian Culinary Path, and the entire gang can discover the group’s historic heirloom gardens and farmers’ markets. Followers and athletes of just about any sport can get their fill on the metropolis’s many sports activities venues.
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#63. Charlotte, North Carolina
– Inhabitants: 864,871
Charlotte gives households with various interactive alternatives like hands-on science shows at Discovery Place, the Levine Museum of the New South, and the NASCAR Corridor of Fame. Its many prime faculties embrace Metrolina Regional Students Academy, listed because the state’s second-best public elementary college. The town of greater than 800,000 will get an A+ for its ethnic and financial range.
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#62. Scottsdale, Arizona
– Inhabitants: 238,685
East of Arizona’s capital, Scottsdale is a desert metropolis dwelling to the McDowell Sonoran Protect, with 180 miles of trails for mountaineering, biking, and horseback driving, amongst its leisure choices. With median dwelling values far exceeding the nationwide common, 67% of town’s 250,000 residents personal their properties. It presents 9 of the highest 20 excessive faculties within the state, together with BASIS Scottsdale, the very best public highschool within the state, and the highest constitution highschool within the nation.
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#61. Irving, Texas
– Inhabitants: 254,184
Located simply northwest of Dallas, Irving presents in depth aquatic packages in its parks and recreation. The town ranks #27 of the 228 most various cities in America, and its crime fee is available in beneath the nationwide common in most classes. Lake Grapevine presents a bunch of out of doors recreation alternatives for the entire household.
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#60. San Diego, California
– Inhabitants: 1,385,398
A full dose of tradition, historical past, and museums, in addition to the San Diego Zoo, await households at San Diego’s Balboa Park. The Pacific Coast metropolis ranks extremely for range (#34 of 228) and public faculties (#20 of 228). However its total value of dwelling will get a D, with median dwelling values above $660,000, and lease at practically $1,900.
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#59. Chesapeake, Virginia
– Inhabitants: 247,172
– Closest main metropolis: Norfolk
Only a few minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake presents households loads of nice outside actions, from the Norfolk Botanical Backyard to the Chesapeake Arboretum. The town’s value of dwelling is about 4% greater than the nationwide common, however the median family revenue can also be round $15,000 greater than the nationwide common. The median dwelling worth is simply above the nationwide common as nicely, at about $292,000.
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#58. Damaged Arrow, Oklahoma
– Inhabitants: 112,751
– Closest main metropolis: Tulsa
Rated the seventh finest place to reside in Oklahoma, Damaged Arrow is positioned simply southeast of Tulsa within the northeastern a part of the state. The town charges nicely for the price of dwelling, due to a median dwelling worth of about $180,000 in comparison with the nationwide common of round $245,000. Median lease can also be decrease than the nationwide common, at $1,102.
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#57. Norman, Oklahoma
– Inhabitants: 125,745
– Closest main metropolis: Oklahoma Metropolis
Norman is a suburb of the state’s capital, Oklahoma Metropolis, and the third largest metropolis within the state. There are many native, family-friendly actions to discover, together with Lake Thunderbird State Park and the Sam Noble Museum on the College of Oklahoma. Lots of the metropolis’s 70 native public faculties and 51 personal faculties rank among the many prime within the state.
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#56. Burbank, California
– Inhabitants: 107,364
The Los Angeles County metropolis of Burbank, close to Hollywood, is dwelling to famed film and TV studios like Warner Bros. It additionally holds the excellence of rankings because the #14 healthiest place to reside in America and #13 for finest public faculties in America. Residing right here can dent the household pockets, nevertheless, with median dwelling values at $837,900 and lease at practically $1,900.
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#55. Rochester, Minnesota
– Inhabitants: 119,732
Potential owners considering of transferring their households to Rochester shall be happy to listen to it ranks because the fourth-best metropolis to purchase a home in America. With a median dwelling worth of $236,400, two-thirds of town’s residents personal their properties. Century Senior Excessive Faculty is a prime college within the space, and #31 for finest school prep public excessive faculties within the state, out of 383. The Mayo Clinic is without doubt one of the space’s largest employers.
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#54. Lincoln, Nebraska
– Inhabitants: 289,136
The capital metropolis of Nebraska, Lincoln, is ranked #14 of the very best locations to purchase a home in America. Households can share a day with their kids on the Lincoln Youngsters’s Zoo, or go to Pioneers Park Nature Heart, which presents mountaineering trails, a wildlife sanctuary, and environmental schooling middle. Lincoln East Excessive Faculty is available in because the #3 highschool in Nebraska, with a commencement fee of 91%.
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#53. Huntsville, Alabama
– Inhabitants: 210,081
Huntsville is dwelling to the interactive U.S. Area and Rocket Heart and the Huntsville Botanical Backyard with its many family-oriented displays and occasions. Its New Century Expertise Excessive Faculty was ranked #4 for finest magnet excessive faculties in Alabama. The town’s crime fee is considerably greater than the nationwide common, however Huntsville nonetheless ranks because the fifth-best metropolis within the nation for purchasing a home.
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#52. Boston, Massachusetts
– Inhabitants: 672,814
Boston is thought for its faculties and universities, nevertheless it has an abundance of early childhood packages and preschools as nicely. For schooling and leisure, there’s the Boston Youngsters’s Museum, the Museum of Science, the Museum of Tremendous Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the New England Aquarium, the Franklin Park Zoo, and the Boston Ballet Youngsters’s Program.
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#51. Austin, Texas
– Inhabitants: 944,658
The state capital of Texas, Austin, is dwelling to the College of Texas and is known for its reside music scene. It additionally earns excessive marks for its public college system, with its Liberal Arts and Science Academy, graded as the very best school prep public highschool in Texas. It boasts a 99% common commencement fee. Austin additionally will get prime rating for its racial range.
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#50. San Francisco, California
– Inhabitants: 865,933
San Francisco ranks #4 for healthiest cities in America. With iconic sights, together with the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz Island, town has one thing for just about anybody in any household. However there’s one main disadvantage: It’s the third-most costly metropolis within the nation, after New York Metropolis and Honolulu.
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#49. New York Metropolis, New York
– Inhabitants: 8,736,047
With an total crime fee proper on the nationwide common in 2020, New York Metropolis additionally takes the #1 rating for walkability within the nation, positive to please households that eschew driving. Stuyvesant Excessive Faculty in New York Metropolis ranks because the #14 finest public highschool within the nation. Regardless of the Huge Apple’s excessive cost-of-living bills, town ranks within the prime 10 nationally for range, outside actions, and finest locations for younger professionals.
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#48. Tampa, Florida
– Inhabitants: 380,476
Nestled on the west coast of Florida close to the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa is awash with actions for the complete household, together with Busch Gardens with its rides and 12,000 animals. St. Petersburg Collegiate Excessive Faculty, listed as #16 among the many finest excessive faculties within the state, leads the highest faculties within the space. Median dwelling values right here are available in at about $277,700, with median rents round $1,250.
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#47. Omaha, Nebraska
– Inhabitants: 488,059
On the Missouri River close to the Iowa border, Omaha presents distinctive household experiences on the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Heartland of America Park. This metropolis ranks #24 among the many finest cities to purchase a home in America, with median dwelling values set at $177,700. Omaha boasts the state’s prime two excessive faculties, prime 5 elementary faculties, and three of the highest 5 center faculties in Nebraska.
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#46. Lexington, Kentucky
– Inhabitants: 321,354
Lexington is ranked #13 among the many finest cities to purchase a home in America. The town sees median dwelling values and lease under the nationwide common, with crime charges barely above the nationwide common in a number of classes. Dubbed “The Horse Capital of the World,” that is the place for people enamored with thoroughbred racing and different equine sports activities.
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#45. Brandon, Florida
– Inhabitants: 115,330
– Closest main metropolis: Tampa
Brandon is a suburb of Tampa with a primary beachside location simply minutes from Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast. Its value of dwelling is correct on the nationwide common, with median dwelling values just below the nationwide common and median rents simply over. Brandon can also be ranked as one of the various cities to reside in Florida, particularly amongst suburbs. It’s a really protected place to reside as nicely, with NeighborhoodScout reporting a median crime fee of 12 per 1,000 residents—safer than 42% of U.S. neighborhoods.
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#44. Carrollton, Texas
– Inhabitants: 131,388
– Closest main metropolis: Dallas
One more suburb of Dallas, Carrollton has loads to supply households, particularly on the subject of schooling. Native faculties together with the Faculty for the Proficient and Gifted and the Faculty of Science and Engineering rank among the many prime within the state. The highest-rated personal faculties are within the space as nicely, together with St. Mark’s Faculty of Texas. With a price of dwelling 16% under the nationwide common, it’s a comparatively inexpensive place to reside as nicely.
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#43. Harmony, North Carolina
– Inhabitants: 102,566
Positioned northwest of Charlotte, Harmony combines a median dwelling worth simply above the nationwide common and rents under the nationwide common with a higher-than-average median family revenue of round $79,000. NeighborhoodScout ranks the city safer than 42% of U.S. neighborhoods, with a median crime fee of lower than 12 per 1,000 residents.
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#42. Thousand Oaks, California
– Inhabitants: 127,274
The Southern California metropolis of Thousand Oaks is listed because the nation’s #7 metropolis with the very best public faculties. Though a 2018 mass taking pictures knocked Thousand Oaks from the #3 spot on the most secure cities in America record, town sports activities against the law fee nicely under the nationwide common, however its housing prices are nicely above it: Residence values right here are available in at $794,200, and the typical median lease is greater than $2,300. Households can hike, trip horseback, camp, and extra at Wildwood Park, and marvel at the great thing about the Gardens of the World, with its waterfalls and koi pond.
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#41. Columbia, Missouri
– Inhabitants: 124,342
Median dwelling values in Missouri’s fourth largest metropolis are under the nationwide common, whereas renting is significantly decrease than common, prompting 51% to lease. Rock Bridge Senior Excessive Faculty, which serves practically 2,000 college students, is the #8 public highschool within the state. Columbia’s crime fee is decrease than the nationwide common in most classes.
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#40. Faculty Station, Texas
– Inhabitants: 116,276
Texas A&M College’s essential campus is about in Faculty Station, the place greater than 80% of residents have at the very least some school expertise. The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Heart presents instructional and analysis alternatives. The town ranks #14 for finest public faculties in America.
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#39. Sandy Springs, Georgia
– Inhabitants: 106,605
Residence to the Chattahoochee River Nationwide Recreation Space, Sandy Springs is a part of the Atlanta metropolitan space. The town of 107,000 is available in at #13 of the 228 healthiest locations to reside in America. Actual property will be dear right here, with median dwelling values topping $490,000 and rents exceeding $1,400. Sandy Springs earns prime marks for range, and greater than 80% of its residents have at the very least some school expertise.
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#38. Virginia Seashore, Virginia
– Inhabitants: 457,658
The Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Seashore, dwelling of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Heart that includes coastal habitats from around the globe. The town’s public faculties are ranked #32 within the nation, and crime right here is nicely under the nationwide common.
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#37. Alexandria, Virginia
– Inhabitants: 158,185
American historical past buffs in all probability couldn’t ask for greater than what historic Alexandria presents. Simply eight miles south of the nation’s capital, town is dwelling to Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the restored 1700s gathering place for the nation’s founding fathers together with Washington, Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and others. Close by Thomas Jefferson Excessive Faculty for Science and Expertise is the Seventh-best highschool within the U.S. Greater than 80% of residents have some stage of school schooling, and its ethnic and financial range earns it an A grade. Its crime fee is available in under the nationwide common, with violent crimes about one-third of the typical.
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#36. Spherical Rock, Texas
– Inhabitants: 117,735
Crime in Spherical Rock is nicely under the nationwide common, serving to make it the #26 finest metropolis in America to purchase a home. Households can take pleasure in Outdated Settlers Park, with leisure actions and 6 sports activities complexes, and Play for All Park, which is designed to accommodate special-needs children. The group is served by Spherical Rock Excessive Faculty, which boasts a 98% commencement fee for its 3,700 college students. About 56% of town’s residents personal their properties, which have a median worth of $281,500.
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#35. Chandler, Arizona
– Inhabitants: 272,439
– Closest main metropolis: Phoenix
Area of interest ranked Chandler the #1 suburb to reside within the Phoenix space and the third throughout the state. The town shines in schooling, rating second within the state for public faculties. The price of dwelling in Chandler is a bit greater than the nationwide common (7.5%), however the median family revenue additionally beats the nationwide common, at over $91,000.
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#34. Torrance, California
– Inhabitants: 147,156
A number of excessive faculties serving Torrance get prime grades, pushing town to #12 within the nationwide rankings for finest public faculties. Excessive Tech Los Angeles ranks because the #9 finest constitution highschool within the state. Households can soak up the great thing about the South Coast Botanic Backyard and follow their favourite sports activities at Charles H. Wilson Park. Torrance additionally ranks #7 for the healthiest locations to reside in America.
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#33. Raleigh, North Carolina
– Inhabitants: 462,219
Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, is a part of the “Analysis Triangle,” together with Chapel Hill and Durham, named for the variety of know-how and scholarly establishments within the space. The family-friendly North Carolina Museum of Pure Sciences options dwelling collections amongst its in depth displays. This metropolis of about 464,000 ranks #17 on the record of finest cities to purchase a house. It’s additionally dwelling to a number of of the highest public excessive faculties within the state, with Raleigh Constitution Excessive Faculty on the prime.
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#32. Gilbert, Arizona
– Inhabitants: 262,249
– Closest main metropolis: Phoenix
One other Phoenix suburb to make the record, Gilbert is positioned southeast of the state’s capital. The world presents loads of methods for households to spend their free time, from a go to to the Desert Botanical Backyard to shopping the native farmer’s market. NeighborhoodScout studies town is safer than 42% of U.S. neighborhoods, with low charges for each violent and property crime.
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#31. Fremont, California
– Inhabitants: 231,502
– Closest main metropolis: San Jose
Located within the bustling Silicon Valley, Fremont is nestled on the San Francisco Bay and simply minutes from tech hubs San Jose and Palo Alto. This prime location makes it one of the costly cities on our record, with median dwelling values over $1 million and a price of dwelling 77% greater than the nationwide common. The median family revenue beats out the nationwide common as nicely although, at over $150,000.
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#30. Carlsbad, California
– Inhabitants: 114,858
The coastal group of Carlsbad, close to San Diego, options a number of family-friendly sights, together with Legoland and its Sea Life Aquarium and South Carlsbad State Seashore. The Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park is dwelling to free-roaming peacocks. The colleges serving the group earned it the #5 spot on the record of finest public faculties in America, and its Canyon Crest Academy is taken into account the very best public highschool in California. The town’s crime fee is available in nicely under the nationwide common.
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#29. Madison, Wisconsin
– Inhabitants: 265,447
Within the capital metropolis of Wisconsin, Madison’s Middleton Excessive Faculty is rated the second-best public highschool within the state and in addition second-best for science, know-how, engineering, and math. The College of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum presents strolling paths and jogging tracks for all, with quite a few instructional alternatives in its backyard settings. Households will even take pleasure in Henry Vilas Zoo and the Wisconsin Historic Museum.
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#28. Seattle, Washington
– Inhabitants: 726,054
With its iconic Area Needle and Puget Sound setting of water, forests, and 1000’s of acres of parks, Seattle ranks #1 nationally for finest outside actions and #5 among the many nation’s healthiest cities. Households can discover just about any exercise alongside the Sound, from kayaking to birding, bicycling to diving, whale watching to touring, and extra. Seattle is dwelling to a number of of the highest 20 excessive faculties within the state. Washington’s largest metropolis is dwelling to Amazon.
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#27. San Mateo, California
– Inhabitants: 105,087
– Closest main metropolis: San Francisco
San Mateo is one other San Francisco suburb on our record, providing households easy accessibility to each the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Coast. The price of dwelling is excessive, with median dwelling values over $1.2 million and median lease over $2,700. Native faculties rank extremely for the state, particularly personal faculties together with The Nueva Faculty, which is ranked the very best highschool for STEM within the state.
BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA // Wikimedia Commons
#26. League Metropolis, Texas
– Inhabitants: 111,847
– Closest main metropolis: Houston
Located midway between Houston and Galveston Island, League Metropolis actually presents the very best of each worlds on the subject of entry to metropolis facilities and the slower tempo of seashore life. Pop over to Houston for museums or an evening on the theater or drive right down to Galveston to stroll the boardwalk and take a look at the Gulf of Mexico. Many native faculties are extremely rated, together with Clear Horizons Early Faculty Excessive Faculty, the place college students can earn an affiliate’s diploma whereas ending highschool.
Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz // Shutterstock
#25. Santa Clara, California
– Inhabitants: 127,922
Close to San Jose in California’s Silicon Valley, Santa Clara is dwelling to many know-how corporations together with Intel, dwelling of the Intel Museum, a wealth of details about many years of innovation. Household enjoyable abounds at California’s Nice America Park, as nicely. Close by Cupertino Excessive Faculty is ranked the #18 finest school prep highschool in California out of 1,403. Be ready to shell out massive cash to reside right here: The median dwelling worth at the moment sits at a whopping $1.2 million, and the median lease is greater than $2,600.
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#24. Richardson, Texas
– Inhabitants: 115,904
Residents of Richardson take pleasure in a mix of racial range. The town is a suburb of Dallas, with median family incomes exceeding $87,000. It ranks #19 among the many finest cities to purchase a home and #18 amongst cities with the nation’s finest faculties. For a household day of out of doors actions, Prairie Creek Park presents creeks, waterfalls, trails, and picnic websites.
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#23. Pearland, Texas
– Inhabitants: 122,609
– Closest main metropolis: Houston
A suburb of Houston, Pearland ranks #15 among the many most various suburbs in Texas and forty fourth within the state total. The median family revenue in Pearland exceeds $107,000, whereas the median dwelling worth is barely about $30,000 above the nationwide common. Native faculties rank among the many prime within the state.
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#22. McKinney, Texas
– Inhabitants: 189,394
– Closest main metropolis: Dallas
Simply northeast of the Dallas-Fort Value metro space, McKinney is a part of a bustling suburban space with loads of nice parks, museums, and different actions for households. With a median of lower than 11 crimes per 1,000 residents, NeighborhoodScout ranks the city safer than 46% of U.S. neighborhoods.
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#21. Sunnyvale, California
– Inhabitants: 155,550
A serious Silicon Valley group within the San Francisco Bay Space, Sunnyvale is available in at #14 for finest cities to reside, #15 for public faculties, and #21 within the nation for healthiest cities. However Sunnyvale’s value of dwelling is far greater than the nationwide common, with median dwelling prices at a prohibitive $1.5 million and lease at $2,800, which is greater than $1,500 greater than the nationwide common. Baylands Park, on San Francisco Bay, options biking, mountaineering, and nature trails, with entry to the San Francisco Bay Path, connecting 500 miles of shoreline trails.
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#20. Berkeley, California
– Inhabitants: 119,607
Berkeley is dwelling to the College of California, Berkeley campus. Houses right here come pricey, with median values simply above $1.1 million and the median lease at $1,800. Go to the 34-acre UC Botanical Backyard, one of the various landscapes on the planet. Median family incomes right here prime $97,000, with 90% of residents having some stage of school and 40% of them holding a grasp’s diploma or greater. Area of interest ranks Berkeley as each the healthiest metropolis in the complete U.S. and the healthiest place to reside in America, interval.
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#19. Lee’s Summit, Missouri
– Inhabitants: 100,772
– Closest main metropolis: Kansas Metropolis
These able to settle right into a household dwelling ought to try Lee’s Summit ranked the twenty sixth finest suburb to purchase a home within the state. With a primary location simply outdoors Kansas Metropolis, the median dwelling worth and median lease in Lee’s Summit hover proper across the nationwide common, whereas the median family revenue is considerably greater than common at above $98,000. Native faculties corresponding to Delta Woods Center Faculty additionally rank among the many prime within the state.
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#18. Olathe, Kansas
– Inhabitants: 140,339
One other Kansas Metropolis suburb, Olathe is positioned within the southwest of the metro space. Olathe tops many lists for schooling, and is ranked the Eighth finest place for public faculties in Kansas. That doesn’t imply the city is all work and no play; you may try native parks and nature preserves or spend the day on the Museum of Deaf Historical past, Arts & Tradition.
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#17. Centennial, Colorado
– Inhabitants: 107,972
– Closest main metropolis: Denver
Positioned south of Denver, Centennial boasts the attractive surroundings the state is thought for. However the price of dwelling is excessive in response, at 24% greater than the nationwide common. The median dwelling worth in Centennial is almost $485,000, although the median family revenue is greater than common as nicely, at $114,375.
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#16. Allen, Texas
– Inhabitants: 102,778
– Closest main metropolis: Dallas
Although Allen has been within the information currently for a mass taking pictures, the Dallas suburb is commonly known as being a protected place to reside. In reality, NeighborhoodScout reported it as safer than 48% of U.S. neighborhoods, with low charges for violent and property crime. The town additionally ranks nicely for schooling, with a number of the prime public faculties in Texas.
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#15. Edison Township, New Jersey
– Inhabitants: 106,909
– Closest main metropolis: New York
Edison Township is lower than an hour from New York Metropolis however presents a way more inexpensive value of dwelling. Nonetheless, the city has a price of dwelling practically 28% greater than the nationwide common, with a median dwelling worth of over $400,000. The world additionally hosts lots of the finest public faculties within the state, together with Union County Magnet Excessive Faculty, which has a 95% commencement fee.
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#14. Plano, Texas
– Inhabitants: 282,181
Lower than a half-hour drive from the Dallas-Fort Value metro space, Plano is rated because the Eighth-best metropolis within the nation to purchase a home. Rating at #8 nationally amongst cities with the very best public faculties within the U.S., Frisco’s Liberty Excessive Faculty ranks #19 out of Texas’ 1,729 public excessive faculties, boasting a 99% commencement fee. About 58% of residents right here personal their properties, which have a median worth of $358,100. Households will benefit from the Heritage Farmstead Museum, a dwelling historical past website.
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#13. Irvine, California
– Inhabitants: 297,868
The Orange County metropolis of Irvine is the third-healthiest place to reside within the nation and boasts the nation’s fourth-best public faculties. Such lofty rankings have a lofty value, nevertheless, with median dwelling values right here topping $900,000. Amongst its finest faculties, the Orange County Faculty of the Arts is the fifth-best constitution highschool within the state. Households can take pleasure in a day of enjoyable at Orange County Nice Park, or go to Faux Metropolis Youngsters’s Museum.
Metropolis of Overland Park // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Overland Park, Kansas
– Inhabitants: 195,249
A suburb of Kansas Metropolis, Overland Park is the second-best metropolis to purchase a home in America, with 63% of residents proudly owning their properties. Blue Valley North Excessive Faculty is rated the very best public highschool within the state, with the group that includes the highest 4 excessive faculties in Kansas. Households can try Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, with its trails, 13 gardens, wildlife, and academic actions.
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#11. Highlands Ranch, Colorado
– Inhabitants: 103,238
– Closest main metropolis: Denver
Highlands Ranch is ranked among the many finest Colorado suburbs to reside in, purchase a house, and for public faculties. Outside lovers particularly will discover loads of issues to do, due to the city’s shut proximity to Chatfield State Park, Roxborough State Park, and extra. Like a lot of the Denver metro space, the price of dwelling is excessive, at 30% greater than the nationwide common.
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#10. Sugar Land, Texas
– Inhabitants: 110,272
As its identify suggests, Sugar Land generally is a candy place to boost a household. It’s ranked the eleventh finest metropolis to reside within the state, and NeighborhoodScout studies it’s safer than 34% of U.S. neighborhoods. The median dwelling worth in Sugar Land is about $344,000, whereas the median family revenue is over $123,000.
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#9. Ann Arbor, Michigan
– Inhabitants: 122,731
Ranked the #8 finest metropolis to reside in America by Area of interest’s calculations, Ann Arbor is dwelling to the College of Michigan and its Museum of Pure Historical past. Households visiting the Ann Arbor Fingers-On Museum can immerse themselves in discovery with a scientific bent. Ann Arbor additionally takes the #2 spot for cities with the very best public faculties within the nation. Median dwelling values are simply over $366,000, with a median family revenue registering at $73,276
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#8. Bellevue, Washington
– Inhabitants: 149,365
Throughout Lake Washington from Seattle, Bellevue is the third-best metropolis for public faculties within the nation, led by Interlake Senior Excessive Faculty, ranked #3 finest public highschool within the state. It’s considered one of 9 faculties serving the Bellevue space to obtain an A+ grade. The lake is a well-liked fishing space for lovers of all ranges. Airplane and spacecraft buffs will take pleasure in a household go to to the Museum of Flight close by.
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#7. Cambridge, Massachusetts
– Inhabitants: 116,892
Residence to a number of the finest faculties on the planet, Cambridge ranks because the #7 finest metropolis for outside actions within the nation and wins the #1 spot for younger professionals. The Charles River presents bike paths, quite a few parks, and leisure alternatives. About 88% of town’s residents have some school expertise, with 50% holding a grasp’s diploma or greater. Cambridge Rindge and Latin Faculty ranks #8 of probably the most various public excessive faculties within the state.
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#6. Columbia, Maryland
– Inhabitants: 105,086
Columbia is centrally positioned, lower than 40 miles from Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington D.C. Columbia accommodates three of the highest 10 center faculties within the state. About 65% of the residents personal their properties due to a median family revenue practically twice the nationwide common.
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#5. Frisco, Texas
– Inhabitants: 193,140
Frisco is without doubt one of the bigger Dallas suburbs on our record, with a inhabitants nearing 200,000. The town hosts Toyota Stadium, dwelling to FC Dallas, and the Nationwide Videogame Museum—supplying you with an area choice for actions of all pursuits. A lot of its public faculties, together with Reedy Excessive Faculty and Spradley Elementary Faculty rank among the many prime within the state.
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#4. Cary, North Carolina
– Inhabitants: 171,603
– Closest main metropolis: Raleigh
Cary, a suburb of Raleigh, is ranked the highest metropolis to reside within the state, in addition to the forty second finest suburb to reside in throughout the nation. The price of dwelling is a bit greater than the nationwide common, however the median family revenue can also be above $113,000. 4 of the highest 10 public excessive faculties in North Carolina service the Cary space.
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#3. Arlington, Virginia
– Inhabitants: 235,764
Positioned simply throughout the Potomac River from Washington D.C., Arlington was rated the #2 metropolis to reside in America by Area of interest’s metrics, due to excessive marks for faculties and total well being. The town is host to a number of historic websites, together with Arlington Nationwide Cemetery, which is dwelling to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and President John F. Kennedy’s grave. Median dwelling values are greater than thrice the nationwide common, prompting 58% of town’s 232,965 residents to lease. Median lease can also be above the nationwide common, coming in at $2,094.
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#2. The Woodlands, Texas
– Inhabitants: 115,716
In addition to taking second place on this compilation, The Woodlands ranks #1 of the very best cities to purchase a home and #6 of the cities with the very best public faculties in America. The George Mitchell Protect is a big, forested nature protect with mountaineering, bike trails, and a lake, and The Woodlands Youngsters’s Museum options interactive displays and play areas designed for the little ones. Thought of one of many prime master-planned communities within the nation, the median dwelling worth right here is $390,800.
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#1. Naperville, Illinois
– Inhabitants: 149,013
Topping the record of finest cities to boost a household in America, Naperville can also be on the prime of the record of cities with the very best public faculties in America. Crime right here is way under the nationwide common in each measured class. Neuqua Valley Excessive Faculty ranks #11 of 698 public excessive faculties within the state, with a median commencement fee of 98%. This western suburb of Chicago has a median family revenue of greater than $135,000. Close by Naper Settlement presents households a bunch of packages, from camps to geocaching, children’ packages, and extra. Naperville Riverwalk, a recreation space alongside the DuPage River, options fountains, lined bridges, and an amphitheater.
Knowledge reporting by Elena Cox. Story modifying by Jeff Inglis. Copy modifying by Robert Wickwire. Photograph choice by Lacy Kerrick.
