Best place to raise a family in every state
Choosing a place to raise children can be a daunting task for new families as well as seasoned parents. If it takes a village to raise a child; that may just extend all the way to your next-door neighbor, fifth-grade teacher, or volunteer soccer coach. While all parents are looking for the top place to raise their children, oftentimes this decision means balancing community resources with steep prices for the nicest neighborhoods.
Stacker looked to Niche's 2020 Best Places to Raise a Family, which evaluates dozens of important components to help families of all stages take a data-driven approach to finding the best communities within their state. Public schools have the heaviest weighting among the considerations included, while crime and safety, cost of living, demographics, and community resources all factor strongly.
From this analysis, we've picked out the area in each state that ranks best for raising a family. We've ranked the full list from small to large by population—while you may have never even heard of some of these cities, they're worth taking a look at before you decide to plant your roots. The best spot for your family might be right next door.
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Alabama: Madison
- Population: 49,327
- Median home value: $253,000 (71% of residents own)
- Median rent: 946 (29% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $99,188
- Educational attainment: 25% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 26% some college, 15% high school or less
Alaska: Turnagain
- Population: 14,337
- Median home value: $369,782 (68% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,576 (32% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $115,431
- Educational attainment: 23% masters or higher, 26% bachelors, 27% some college, 24% high school or less
Arizona: Catalina Foothills
- Population: 50,454
- Median home value: $440,100 (74% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,061 (26% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $92,929
- Educational attainment: 36% masters or higher, 32% bachelors, 21% some college, 11% high school or less
Arkansas: Bentonville
- Population: 49,467
- Median home value: $232,600 (54% of residents own)
- Median rent: 955 (46% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $80,392
- Educational attainment: 18% masters or higher, 32% bachelors, 23% some college, 27% high school or less
California: Ventura
- Population: 4,715
- Median home value: $1,410,568 (34% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,265 (66% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $108,700
- Educational attainment: 51% masters or higher, 28% bachelors, 13% some college, 8% high school or less
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Colorado: Holly Hills
- Population: 2,835
- Median home value: $460,100 (97% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,634 (3% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $132,955
- Educational attainment: 30% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 19% some college, 17% high school or less
Connecticut: Old Greenwich
- Population: 6,844
- Median home value: $1,561,200 (84% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,127 (16% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $222,794
- Educational attainment: 47% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 11% some college, 8% high school or less
Delaware: Pike Creek
- Population: 7,613
- Median home value: $343,300 (84% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,795 (16% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $117,379
- Educational attainment: 33% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 16% some college, 17% high school or less
Florida: Nocatee
- Population: 14,747
- Median home value: $389,500 (86% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,924 (14% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $119,276
- Educational attainment: 25% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 27% some college, 14% high school or less
Georgia: Alpharetta
- Population: 65,590
- Median home value: $422,800 (66% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,451 (34% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $113,802
- Educational attainment: 29% masters or higher, 41% bachelors, 19% some college, 11% high school or less
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Hawaii: Mililani Mauka
- Population: 20,090
- Median home value: $691,200 (79% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,226 (21% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $114,886
- Educational attainment: 18% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 29% some college, 19% high school or less
Idaho: Highlands
- Population: 5,061
- Median home value: $523,111 (82% of residents own)
- Median rent: 976 (18% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $129,328
- Educational attainment: 38% masters or higher, 36% bachelors, 21% some college, 5% high school or less
Illinois: Long Grove
- Population: 7,963
- Median home value: $648,700 (98% of residents own)
- Median rent: 3,250 (2% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $214,073
- Educational attainment: 37% masters or higher, 33% bachelors, 16% some college, 14% high school or less
Indiana: Carmel
- Population: 97,464
- Median home value: $333,200 (76% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,207 (24% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $112,765
- Educational attainment: 30% masters or higher, 40% bachelors, 18% some college, 12% high school or less
Iowa: Mount Vernon
- Population: 4,451
- Median home value: $203,400 (69% of residents own)
- Median rent: 757 (31% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $71,552
- Educational attainment: 22% masters or higher, 39% bachelors, 26% some college, 13% high school or less
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Kansas: Leawood
- Population: 34,670
- Median home value: $463,200 (89% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,619 (11% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $157,515
- Educational attainment: 34% masters or higher, 43% bachelors, 17% some college, 6% high school or less
Kentucky: Anchorage
- Population: 2,376
- Median home value: $715,000 (96% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,163 (4% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $187,946
- Educational attainment: 40% masters or higher, 42% bachelors, 14% some college, 4% high school or less
Louisiana: Prairieville
- Population: 31,794
- Median home value: $236,500 (87% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,188 (13% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $99,953
- Educational attainment: 11% masters or higher, 26% bachelors, 29% some college, 34% high school or less
Maine: Cape Elizabeth
- Population: 9,275
- Median home value: $435,700 (89% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,199 (11% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $123,116
- Educational attainment: 35% masters or higher, 38% bachelors, 20% some college, 7% high school or less
Maryland: South Kensington
- Population: 8,763
- Median home value: $754,200 (89% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,180 (11% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $180,000
- Educational attainment: 46% masters or higher, 33% bachelors, 12% some college, 9% high school or less
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Massachusetts: Newtonville
- Population: 8,186
- Median home value: $902,574 (69% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,158 (31% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $160,147
- Educational attainment: 46% masters or higher, 35% bachelors, 12% some college, 7% high school or less
Michigan: Okemos
- Population: 24,141
- Median home value: $243,200 (61% of residents own)
- Median rent: 989 (39% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $78,600
- Educational attainment: 43% masters or higher, 31% bachelors, 16% some college, 10% high school or less
Minnesota: Shorewood
- Population: 7,867
- Median home value: $485,300 (95% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,639 (5% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $139,956
- Educational attainment: 27% masters or higher, 42% bachelors, 19% some college, 12% high school or less
Mississippi: Madison
- Population: 25,592
- Median home value: $261,900 (93% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,549 (7% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $114,521
- Educational attainment: 29% masters or higher, 39% bachelors, 21% some college, 11% high school or less
Missouri: Glendale
- Population: 5,891
- Median home value: $414,800 (96% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,407 (4% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $140,184
- Educational attainment: 40% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 21% some college, 5% high school or less
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Montana: Four Corners
- Population: 5,084
- Median home value: $396,000 (87% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,102 (13% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $81,089
- Educational attainment: 18% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 32% some college, 16% high school or less
Nebraska: Papillion
- Population: 20,423
- Median home value: $189,900 (66% of residents own)
- Median rent: 917 (34% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $80,619
- Educational attainment: 13% masters or higher, 24% bachelors, 35% some college, 28% high school or less
Nevada: Mogul
- Population: 1,334
- Median home value: $404,900 (89% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,513 (11% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $113,583
- Educational attainment: 17% masters or higher, 25% bachelors, 42% some college, 16% high school or less
New Hampshire: Hanover
- Population: 11,467
- Median home value: $564,000 (66% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,458 (34% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $137,344
- Educational attainment: 52% masters or higher, 31% bachelors, 8% some college, 9% high school or less
New Jersey: Upper Montclair
- Population: 11,589
- Median home value: $766,100 (83% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,008 (17% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $211,221
- Educational attainment: 45% masters or higher, 40% bachelors, 9% some college, 6% high school or less
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New Mexico: Los Alamos
- Population: 12,666
- Median home value: $308,100 (67% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,042 (33% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $116,116
- Educational attainment: 42% masters or higher, 26% bachelors, 19% some college, 13% high school or less
New York: Jericho
- Population: 13,889
- Median home value: $797,400 (87% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,008 (13% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $173,709
- Educational attainment: 34% masters or higher, 36% bachelors, 15% some college, 15% high school or less
North Carolina: Morrisville
- Population: 26,280
- Median home value: $331,800 (48% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,398 (52% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $101,738
- Educational attainment: 32% masters or higher, 38% bachelors, 16% some college, 14% high school or less
North Dakota: Rose Creek
- Population: 2,068
- Median home value: $308,600 (91% of residents own)
- Median rent: 888 (9% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $133,750
- Educational attainment: 25% masters or higher, 40% bachelors, 21% some college, 14% high school or less
Ohio: Madeira
- Population: 9,147
- Median home value: $294,400 (88% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,336 (12% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $117,944
- Educational attainment: 29% masters or higher, 40% bachelors, 14% some college, 17% high school or less
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Oklahoma: Edmond
- Population: 92,009
- Median home value: $240,600 (68% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,047 (32% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $81,473
- Educational attainment: 22% masters or higher, 32% bachelors, 27% some college, 19% high school or less
Oregon: Bethany
- Population: 26,501
- Median home value: $557,300 (73% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,682 (27% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $135,800
- Educational attainment: 38% masters or higher, 31% bachelors, 19% some college, 12% high school or less
Pennsylvania: Chesterbrook
- Population: 4,800
- Median home value: $323,000 (77% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,832 (23% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $130,000
- Educational attainment: 41% masters or higher, 38% bachelors, 11% some college, 10% high school or less
Rhode Island: Barrington
- Population: 16,131
- Median home value: $433,200 (89% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,318 (11% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $125,431
- Educational attainment: 38% masters or higher, 31% bachelors, 18% some college, 13% high school or less
South Carolina: Tega Cay
- Population: 10,412
- Median home value: $331,100 (96% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,453 (4% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $130,918
- Educational attainment: 22% masters or higher, 37% bachelors, 27% some college, 14% high school or less
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South Dakota: Brandon
- Population: 9,934
- Median home value: $225,200 (74% of residents own)
- Median rent: 926 (26% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $87,250
- Educational attainment: 11% masters or higher, 26% bachelors, 39% some college, 24% high school or less
Tennessee: Brentwood
- Population: 42,407
- Median home value: $655,400 (91% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,085 (9% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $168,688
- Educational attainment: 32% masters or higher, 44% bachelors, 15% some college, 9% high school or less
Texas: Rollingwood
- Population: 1,532
- Median home value: $1,103,100 (93% of residents own)
- Median rent: 3,501 (7% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $193,750
- Educational attainment: 42% masters or higher, 46% bachelors, 10% some college, 2% high school or less
Utah: Kaysville
- Population: 31,494
- Median home value: $339,500 (88% of residents own)
- Median rent: 948 (12% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $99,597
- Educational attainment: 15% masters or higher, 34% bachelors, 36% some college, 15% high school or less
Vermont: Norwich
- Population: 3,339
- Median home value: $454,500 (73% of residents own)
- Median rent: 935 (27% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $121,563
- Educational attainment: 54% masters or higher, 30% bachelors, 8% some college, 8% high school or less
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Virginia: Bluemont
- Population: 8,439
- Median home value: $778,455 (70% of residents own)
- Median rent: 2,178 (30% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $186,897
- Educational attainment: 43% masters or higher, 37% bachelors, 9% some college, 11% high school or less
Washington: North Redmond
- Population: 4,564
- Median home value: $941,228 (95% of residents own)
- Median rent: 3,333 (5% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $248,969
- Educational attainment: 47% masters or higher, 37% bachelors, 10% some college, 6% high school or less
West Virginia: Cheat Lake
- Population: 9,251
- Median home value: $298,900 (80% of residents own)
- Median rent: 908 (20% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $89,310
- Educational attainment: 28% masters or higher, 26% bachelors, 22% some college, 24% high school or less
Wisconsin: Elm Grove
- Population: 6,153
- Median home value: $370,500 (93% of residents own)
- Median rent: 950 (7% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $106,058
- Educational attainment: 26% masters or higher, 37% bachelors, 20% some college, 17% high school or less
Wyoming: South Park
- Population: 1,812
- Median home value: $1,066,900 (83% of residents own)
- Median rent: 1,161 (17% of residents rent)
- Median household income: $106,399
- Educational attainment: 21% masters or higher, 36% bachelors, 39% some college, 4% high school or less
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