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How do you find a good city to raise a family? The most ideal spots provide safe neighborhoods, quality education, recreation opportunities, and affordability. Weighing all those factors and more and finding the right locale among nearly 20,000 incorporated cities, towns, and villages across America can be daunting, so Stacker collected 2020 data from the national review and ranking site Niche to compile a list of the top 100 locations to raise a family.
Some criteria considered in ranking the best 100 cities included crime rates, public school rankings, college graduation rates, cost of living, family amenities, outdoor recreation, transportation, diversity, and walkability. While Niche primarily sourced data from the U.S. Census Bureau data, other city details came from the U.S. Department of Education, the FBI, and other specific programs and demographics links.
- TravnikovStudio // Shutterstock
- Population: 197,958
- Median home value: $167,600 (55% own)
- Eduardo Medrano // Shutterstock
- Population: 102,037
- Median home value: $85,200 (57% own)
- Chuck W Walker // Shutterstock
- Population: 400,317
- Median home value: $749,000 (49% own)
- Leigh Trail // Shutterstock
- Population: 104,777
- Median home value: $135,900 (56% own)
- James.Pintar // Shutterstock
- Population: 890,467
- Median home value: $173,200 (56% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 132,301
- Median home value: $141,800 (69% own)
- barteverett // Shutterstock
- Population: 864,447
- Median home value: $137,000 (53% own)
- James Kirkikis // Shutterstock
- Population: 325,780
- Median home value: $141,100 (57% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,330,612
- Median home value: $188,100 (41% own)
- Eric Urquhart // Shutterstock
- Population: 389,877
- Median home value: $133,400 (59% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 643,692
- Median home value: $158,500 (59% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 663,750
- Median home value: $239,000 (54% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 142,135
- Median home value: $236,900 (61% own)
- Chuck Wagner // Shutterstock
- Population: 246,500
- Median home value: $335,000 (48% own)
- travelview // Shutterstock
- Population: 402,324
- Median home value: $139,900 (51% own)
- inlikeflinn // Flickr
- Population: 126,666
- Median home value: $195,400 (57% own)
- Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
- Population: 301,394
- Median home value: $138,000 (38% own)
- Canva
- Population: 113,159
- Median home value: $749,400 (38% own)
- Arne Beruldsen // Shutterstock
- Population: 269,702
- Median home value: $224,100 (50% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,508,083
- Median home value: $146,400 (54% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 120,194
- Median home value: $246,400 (45% own)
- Canva
- Population: 464,871
- Median home value: $269,800 (59% own)
- John Hoffman // Shutterstock
- Population: 280,832
- Median home value: $240,000 (35% own)
- Songquan Deng // Shutterstock
- Population: 200,232
- Median home value: $769,900 (33% own)
- Michael Gordon // Shutterstock
- Population: 155,146
- Median home value: $364,800 (58% own)
- Arina P Habich // Shutterstock
- Population: 133,273
- Median home value: $181,100 (46% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 488,800
- Median home value: $290,400 (44% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 395,477
- Median home value: $170,700 (55% own)
- CK Foto // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,027,690
- Median home value: $864,600 (57% own)
- Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
- Population: 152,934
- Median home value: $154,300 (53% own)
- SannaBlue // Shutterstock
- Population: 261,940
- Median home value: $373,700 (29% own)
- Brian Logan Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 2,310,432
- Median home value: $171,800 (42% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 113,381
- Median home value: $444,800 (65% own)
- Time Stood Still Photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 135,637
- Median home value: $444,400 (66% own)
- ZikG // Shutterstock
- Population: 198,401
- Median home value: $143,400 (55% own)
- Malgosia S // Shutterstock
- Population: 141,258
- Median home value: $785,700 (42% own)
- Idealphotographer // Shutterstock
- Population: 253,851
- Median home value: $140,800 (51% own)
- Grossinger // Shutterstock
- Population: 111,997
- Median home value: $155,200 (75% own)
- Noah Densmore // Shutterstock
- Population: 302,205
- Median home value: $125,000 (47% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 197,756
- Median home value: $314,500 (48% own)
- Andrew Zarivny // Shutterstock
- Population: 244,115
- Median home value: $147,900 (53% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 261,338
- Median home value: $205,000 (60% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 291,303
- Median home value: $156,300 (50% own)
- Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock
- Population: 136,195
- Median home value: $218,800 (49% own)
- Jo Hunter // Shutterstock
- Population: 645,291
- Median home value: $412,000 (53% own)
- zhu difeng // Shutterstock
- Population: 191,279
- Median home value: $203,800 (40% own)
- Todd Taulman Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 135,257
- Median home value: $330,600 (56% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 486,404
- Median home value: $154,600 (53% own)
- TommyBrison // Shutterstock
- Population: 692,683
- Median home value: $601,500 (42% own)
- Orhan Cam // Shutterstock
- Population: 226,115
- Median home value: $253,400 (61% own)
- Charles Knowles // Shutterstock
- Population: 304,547
- Median home value: $208,000 (50% own)
- KARI K // Shutterstock
- Population: 132,127
- Median home value: $161,900 (39% own)
- Leigh Trail // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,409,573
- Median home value: $602,600 (47% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 8,419,316
- Median home value: $606,000 (33% own)
- IM_photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 684,379
- Median home value: $532,700 (35% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 121,889
- Median home value: $212,100 (44% own)
- Guy RD // Shutterstock
- Population: 177,117
- Median home value: $189,800 (61% own)
- Steven Frame // Shutterstock
- Population: 239,783
- Median home value: $177,500 (37% own)
- Trong Nguyen // Shutterstock
- Population: 387,916
- Median home value: $238,900 (49% own)
- VIAVAL // Shutterstock
- Population: 103,703
- Median home value: $730,100 (42% own)
- Lux Blue // Shutterstock
- Population: 129,309
- Median home value: $532,700 (52% own)
- Picture2Remember // Shutterstock
- Population: 136,366
- Median home value: $238,000 (52% own)
- Zack Frank // Shutterstock
- Population: 857,425
- Median home value: $220,300 (53% own)
- digidreamgrafix // Shutterstock
- Population: 420,324
- Median home value: $251,600 (47% own)
- Checubus // Shutterstock
- Population: 250,602
- Median home value: $475,300 (66% own)
- Cre8 design // Shutterstock
- Population: 320,601
- Median home value: $189,800 (54% own)
- Stephen Bailey // Shutterstock
- Population: 165,609
- Median home value: $367,900 (53% own)
- marekuliasz // Shutterstock
- Population: 950,807
- Median home value: $337,400 (45% own)
- Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 196,219
- Median home value: $182,900 (57% own)
- Philip Arno Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 283,839
- Median home value: $169,800 (57% own)
- Katherine Welles // Shutterstock
- Population: 450,201
- Median home value: $280,800 (64% own)
- Sherry V Smith // Shutterstock
- Population: 127,873
- Median home value: $726,100 (70% own)
- Steven Guo // Shutterstock
- Population: 475,862
- Median home value: $159,700 (59% own)
- EQRoy // Shutterstock
- Population: 107,072
- Median home value: $471,800 (48% own)
- Rob Hainer // Shutterstock
- Population: 874,961
- Median home value: $1,097,800 (38% own)
- javarman // Shutterstock
- Population: 113,686
- Median home value: $241,600 (38% own)
- Tricia Daniel // Shutterstock
- Population: 115,557
- Median home value: $200,100 (68% own)
- IMG_191 // Shutterstock
- Population: 121,230
- Median home value: $191,800 (47% own)
- Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
- Population: 157,613
- Median home value: $572,900 (43% own)
- Bob Pool // Shutterstock
- Population: 127,721
- Median home value: $1,034,000 (43% own)
- Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz // Shutterstock
- Population: 145,492
- Median home value: $762,700 (56% own)
- trekandshoot // Shutterstock
- Population: 724,305
- Median home value: $663,100 (46% own)
- Anthony Ricci // Shutterstock
- Population: 124,434
- Median home value: $244,300 (60% own)
- Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 114,253
- Median home value: $814,700 (65% own)
- Lester Balajadia // Shutterstock
- Population: 106,392
- Median home value: $700,000 (48% own)
- Arina P Habich // Shutterstock
- Population: 254,977
- Median home value: $246,300 (47% own)
- Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 152,770
- Median home value: $1,223,600 (45% own)
- Sundry Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 116,432
- Median home value: $274,200 (59% own)
- Trong Nguyen // Shutterstock
- Population: 464,485
- Median home value: $248,300 (52% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 116,632
- Median home value: $768,300 (35% own)
- Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
- Population: 273,157
- Median home value: $838,000 (47% own)
- LunaseeStudios // Shutterstock
- Population: 287,064
- Median home value: $320,100 (59% own)
- ulkare // Shutterstock
- Population: 120,735
- Median home value: $323,400 (45% own)
- Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 191,011
- Median home value: $276,100 (63% own)
- City of Overland Park // Wikimedia Commons
- Population: 103,991
- Median home value: $378,300 (65% own)
- Andrea Izzotti // Shutterstock
- Population: 144,403
- Median home value: $809,200 (54% own)
- Russ Heinl // Shutterstock
- Population: 233,464
- Median home value: $705,400 (43% own)
- Jon Bilous // Shutterstock
- Population: 113,819
- Median home value: $374,200 (71% own)
- thierry dehove // Shutterstock
- Population: 147,501
- Median home value: $416,700 (76% own)
- James Andrews1 // Shutterstock
50 best cities to raise a family
50 best cities to raise a family
Every family has its quirks. But, at the end of the day, most of us have the same basic priorities: good schools, safe neighborhoods, and access to fun activities outside of our homes. In recent years, young families have been seeking out those ideals in places outside of cities. A November 2024 report from Iowa State University notes that between 2020 and 2022, populations of young children dropped by 10% in predominantly urban areas like New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago. Modern-day young families might be looking to cut costs or hoping for a slower pace of living, as noted in a January 2025 report from Business Insider.
How do you find a good city to raise a family? The most ideal spots provide safe neighborhoods, quality education, recreation opportunities, and affordability. Weighing all those factors and more and finding the right locale among nearly 20,000 incorporated cities, towns, and villages across America can be daunting, so Stacker collected 2020 data from the national review and ranking site Niche to compile a list of the top 100 locations to raise a family.
Some criteria considered in ranking the best 100 cities included crime rates, public school rankings, college graduation rates, cost of living, family amenities, outdoor recreation, transportation, diversity, and walkability. While Niche primarily sourced data from the U.S. Census Bureau data, other city details came from the U.S. Department of Education, the FBI, and other specific programs and demographics links.
- TravnikovStudio // Shutterstock
- Population: 197,958
- Median home value: $167,600 (55% own)
- Eduardo Medrano // Shutterstock
- Population: 102,037
- Median home value: $85,200 (57% own)
- Chuck W Walker // Shutterstock
- Population: 400,317
- Median home value: $749,000 (49% own)
- Leigh Trail // Shutterstock
- Population: 104,777
- Median home value: $135,900 (56% own)
- James.Pintar // Shutterstock
- Population: 890,467
- Median home value: $173,200 (56% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 132,301
- Median home value: $141,800 (69% own)
- barteverett // Shutterstock
- Population: 864,447
- Median home value: $137,000 (53% own)
- James Kirkikis // Shutterstock
- Population: 325,780
- Median home value: $141,100 (57% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,330,612
- Median home value: $188,100 (41% own)
- Eric Urquhart // Shutterstock
- Population: 389,877
- Median home value: $133,400 (59% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 643,692
- Median home value: $158,500 (59% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 663,750
- Median home value: $239,000 (54% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 142,135
- Median home value: $236,900 (61% own)
- Chuck Wagner // Shutterstock
- Population: 246,500
- Median home value: $335,000 (48% own)
- travelview // Shutterstock
- Population: 402,324
- Median home value: $139,900 (51% own)
- inlikeflinn // Flickr
- Population: 126,666
- Median home value: $195,400 (57% own)
- Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
- Population: 301,394
- Median home value: $138,000 (38% own)
- Canva
- Population: 113,159
- Median home value: $749,400 (38% own)
- Arne Beruldsen // Shutterstock
- Population: 269,702
- Median home value: $224,100 (50% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,508,083
- Median home value: $146,400 (54% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 120,194
- Median home value: $246,400 (45% own)
- Canva
- Population: 464,871
- Median home value: $269,800 (59% own)
- John Hoffman // Shutterstock
- Population: 280,832
- Median home value: $240,000 (35% own)
- Songquan Deng // Shutterstock
- Population: 200,232
- Median home value: $769,900 (33% own)
- Michael Gordon // Shutterstock
- Population: 155,146
- Median home value: $364,800 (58% own)
- Arina P Habich // Shutterstock
- Population: 133,273
- Median home value: $181,100 (46% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 488,800
- Median home value: $290,400 (44% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 395,477
- Median home value: $170,700 (55% own)
- CK Foto // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,027,690
- Median home value: $864,600 (57% own)
- Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
- Population: 152,934
- Median home value: $154,300 (53% own)
- SannaBlue // Shutterstock
- Population: 261,940
- Median home value: $373,700 (29% own)
- Brian Logan Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 2,310,432
- Median home value: $171,800 (42% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 113,381
- Median home value: $444,800 (65% own)
- Time Stood Still Photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 135,637
- Median home value: $444,400 (66% own)
- ZikG // Shutterstock
- Population: 198,401
- Median home value: $143,400 (55% own)
- Malgosia S // Shutterstock
- Population: 141,258
- Median home value: $785,700 (42% own)
- Idealphotographer // Shutterstock
- Population: 253,851
- Median home value: $140,800 (51% own)
- Grossinger // Shutterstock
- Population: 111,997
- Median home value: $155,200 (75% own)
- Noah Densmore // Shutterstock
- Population: 302,205
- Median home value: $125,000 (47% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 197,756
- Median home value: $314,500 (48% own)
- Andrew Zarivny // Shutterstock
- Population: 244,115
- Median home value: $147,900 (53% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 261,338
- Median home value: $205,000 (60% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 291,303
- Median home value: $156,300 (50% own)
- Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock
- Population: 136,195
- Median home value: $218,800 (49% own)
- Jo Hunter // Shutterstock
- Population: 645,291
- Median home value: $412,000 (53% own)
- zhu difeng // Shutterstock
- Population: 191,279
- Median home value: $203,800 (40% own)
- Todd Taulman Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 135,257
- Median home value: $330,600 (56% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 486,404
- Median home value: $154,600 (53% own)
- TommyBrison // Shutterstock
- Population: 692,683
- Median home value: $601,500 (42% own)
- Orhan Cam // Shutterstock
- Population: 226,115
- Median home value: $253,400 (61% own)
- Charles Knowles // Shutterstock
- Population: 304,547
- Median home value: $208,000 (50% own)
- KARI K // Shutterstock
- Population: 132,127
- Median home value: $161,900 (39% own)
- Leigh Trail // Shutterstock
- Population: 1,409,573
- Median home value: $602,600 (47% own)
- f11photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 8,419,316
- Median home value: $606,000 (33% own)
- IM_photo // Shutterstock
- Population: 684,379
- Median home value: $532,700 (35% own)
- Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
- Population: 121,889
- Median home value: $212,100 (44% own)
- Guy RD // Shutterstock
- Population: 177,117
- Median home value: $189,800 (61% own)
- Steven Frame // Shutterstock
- Population: 239,783
- Median home value: $177,500 (37% own)
- Trong Nguyen // Shutterstock
- Population: 387,916
- Median home value: $238,900 (49% own)
- VIAVAL // Shutterstock
- Population: 103,703
- Median home value: $730,100 (42% own)
- Lux Blue // Shutterstock
- Population: 129,309
- Median home value: $532,700 (52% own)
- Picture2Remember // Shutterstock
- Population: 136,366
- Median home value: $238,000 (52% own)
- Zack Frank // Shutterstock
- Population: 857,425
- Median home value: $220,300 (53% own)
- digidreamgrafix // Shutterstock
- Population: 420,324
- Median home value: $251,600 (47% own)
- Checubus // Shutterstock
- Population: 250,602
- Median home value: $475,300 (66% own)
- Cre8 design // Shutterstock
- Population: 320,601
- Median home value: $189,800 (54% own)
- Stephen Bailey // Shutterstock
- Population: 165,609
- Median home value: $367,900 (53% own)
- marekuliasz // Shutterstock
- Population: 950,807
- Median home value: $337,400 (45% own)
- Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 196,219
- Median home value: $182,900 (57% own)
- Philip Arno Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 283,839
- Median home value: $169,800 (57% own)
- Katherine Welles // Shutterstock
- Population: 450,201
- Median home value: $280,800 (64% own)
- Sherry V Smith // Shutterstock
- Population: 127,873
- Median home value: $726,100 (70% own)
- Steven Guo // Shutterstock
- Population: 475,862
- Median home value: $159,700 (59% own)
- EQRoy // Shutterstock
- Population: 107,072
- Median home value: $471,800 (48% own)
- Rob Hainer // Shutterstock
- Population: 874,961
- Median home value: $1,097,800 (38% own)
- javarman // Shutterstock
- Population: 113,686
- Median home value: $241,600 (38% own)
- Tricia Daniel // Shutterstock
- Population: 115,557
- Median home value: $200,100 (68% own)
- IMG_191 // Shutterstock
- Population: 121,230
- Median home value: $191,800 (47% own)
- Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
- Population: 157,613
- Median home value: $572,900 (43% own)
- Bob Pool // Shutterstock
- Population: 127,721
- Median home value: $1,034,000 (43% own)
- Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz // Shutterstock
- Population: 145,492
- Median home value: $762,700 (56% own)
- trekandshoot // Shutterstock
- Population: 724,305
- Median home value: $663,100 (46% own)
- Anthony Ricci // Shutterstock
- Population: 124,434
- Median home value: $244,300 (60% own)
- Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 114,253
- Median home value: $814,700 (65% own)
- Lester Balajadia // Shutterstock
- Population: 106,392
- Median home value: $700,000 (48% own)
- Arina P Habich // Shutterstock
- Population: 254,977
- Median home value: $246,300 (47% own)
- Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 152,770
- Median home value: $1,223,600 (45% own)
- Sundry Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 116,432
- Median home value: $274,200 (59% own)
- Trong Nguyen // Shutterstock
- Population: 464,485
- Median home value: $248,300 (52% own)
- ESB Professional // Shutterstock
- Population: 116,632
- Median home value: $768,300 (35% own)
- Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
- Population: 273,157
- Median home value: $838,000 (47% own)
- LunaseeStudios // Shutterstock
- Population: 287,064
- Median home value: $320,100 (59% own)
- ulkare // Shutterstock
- Population: 120,735
- Median home value: $323,400 (45% own)
- Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
- Population: 191,011
- Median home value: $276,100 (63% own)
- City of Overland Park // Wikimedia Commons
- Population: 103,991
- Median home value: $378,300 (65% own)
- Andrea Izzotti // Shutterstock
- Population: 144,403
- Median home value: $809,200 (54% own)
- Russ Heinl // Shutterstock
- Population: 233,464
- Median home value: $705,400 (43% own)
- Jon Bilous // Shutterstock
- Population: 113,819
- Median home value: $374,200 (71% own)
- thierry dehove // Shutterstock
- Population: 147,501
- Median home value: $416,700 (76% own)
- James Andrews1 // Shutterstock
