Chicago resident Joe Walsh got married in 2001. Later that year he and his wife packed their belongings and moved 15 miles to the suburb of Niles, Ill., to start a family. The village, noted for having an old water tower that now stands as a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, has nice parks. "But the biggest thing was that we could afford a house," says Walsh, now the father of children aged six and two.
In the years since Walsh bought his Niles home, lifestyle expectations have changed in the U.S. Data from every state show that fewer young adults have married in comparison to a decade ago, according to the Population Reference Bureau. Fewer families are buying property. Despite these changes, which are driven partly by such problems as unemployment, the link between raising children and owning a home remains strong for most Americans. In a survey conducted by Fannie Mae in August and September, three-fourths of respondents cited children as a prime reason to buy a home. Owning, they said, provides lifestyle advantages.
Even in such difficult times as these, owning a home remains a long-term aspiration for many families. The question has always been: Where?
In Businessweek.com's fifth annual ranking of the best places in America to raise kids, such towns as Niles—with a low cost of living, good schools, and a low crime rate—scored high. Unlike our previous reports which included some large urban areas, the 2011 ranking focuses on small cities, towns, and villages with populations larger than the median for the state but no greater than 50,000.
Using 2010 data from Onboard Informatics, a New York-based real estate data company that specializes in residential demographic and lifestyle information, Bloomberg and Businessweek.com evaluated 5,418 places in the U.S. We emphasized a community's number of schools, school performance, cost of living, and crime statistics. We also accounted for factors such job growth, air quality, ethnic diversity, and access to the surrounding county's parks, zoos, theaters, and other recreational facilities.
In addition to Niles, other high-scorers in our results include Rowland Heights, Calif., 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, and North College Hill, Ohio, 10 miles from downtown Cincinnati. Both offer housing affordable to middle-income families, proximity to employment hubs, good public schools, and low crime rates.
In addition to jobs in nearby cities, the communities selected also offer local employment opportunities. While many Niles residents commute to Chicago for work, the village of 29,207 has a strong commercial and industrial base, says Katie Schneider, executive director of the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Area industrial facilities include a Coca-Cola bottling plant. At 7.8 percent, the unemployment rate in Niles was down in October from 9.6 percent a year earlier, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
While low taxes are attractive, schools are the paramount concern for many young families. Rowland High School in California was ranked as one of the country's top high schools, according to the school district's website. Schools in Niles, which belong to several school districts, outperform the Illinois average; in 2007 the fine arts program at Niles Township High School District 219 was recognized by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
Quality of life issues also play a role in persuading families to make a move. Many communities in Businessweek.com's ranking offer services for families. Niles, for example, provides free local bus service from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and maintains a well-regarded teen center that provides homework assistance and organizes social activities.
As values evolve, will large numbers of families continue to settle in such places for homes, schools, and public services? The Population Reference Bureau's study shows that from 2000 through 2009, the nation's married share of people aged 25 to 34 plunged to 45 percent, from 55 percent. And while Fannie Mae's survey found that having children has traditionally increased the likelihood that someone will buy a house, the proportion of households with children has been declining just as many families choose to rent because of financial constraints. For those who still want to raise children in quiet communities, options abound around the country.
Population: 46,793
Median family income: $72,985
Runner-up: Temple City
In San Gabriel Valley about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Rowland Heights is home to a large Asian community. According to data from Onboard Informatics, nearly half the population is Asian and 33.2 percent is Hispanic. The area has several highly regarded schools, including the John A. Rowland High School and Killian Elementary School. "Rowland Heights is … close enough to Los Angeles and all the excitement of big-city life, but [Rowland Heights] benefits from an influx of residents looking for a subdued setting," states the website of real estate agent Vincent Gottuso.
Population: 12,503
Median family income: $49,145
Runner-up: Prairie View
Home to the Gatesville Hornets, the 2000 Texas State 3A High School Football Champions (in case you weren’t aware, high school football is a BIG deal in Texas), and what may be the largest collection of spurs in the world, Gatesville is about 45 minutes due west of Waco. Job growth in the area is steady, as two of the major employers are the U.S. military in nearby Fort Hood and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which operates four prisons and one jail in the town, including the state’s death row for women. In 2005—the latest year for which records exist—33.3 percent of all students at Gatesville High School scored at or above criterion on the SAT, beating the state average of 21 percent.
Population: 43,575
Median family income:$69,188
Runner-up: Lancaster
Sure the winters may get cold, but the quality of life and affordability of this middle-class suburb of Buffalo, part of the "Southtowns" that include Orchard Park and Hamburg, more than make up for it. In addition to more than a dozen parks, a soccer complex, and a nature center, it boasts the highly rated West Seneca Central School District and several parochial and private schools. For raising kids, the area lives up to the town motto: Proud Past & Unlimited Future. Now if only they could do something about the Buffalo Bills football team.
Population: 6,822
Median family income:$57,652
Runner-up: Willow Oak
Affordable homes in Venice Gardens make the community a popular destination for first-time home buyers and active older adults. Home values in Venice Gardens, which has a voluntary homeowners association with a community pool and clubhouse, averaged about $114,300 in August, according to Zillow.com. The area is removed from the more bustling shopping and business districts in Venice but provides easy access to them, according to the website of real estate broker Michael Saunders Co.
Population: 29,207
Median family income:$73,532
Runner-up: Bensenville
The Leaning Tower of Niles, a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is among the landmarks in this Chicago suburb. The advantages of living in Niles include public transit (there's free bus service within in the village), 20 park sites in the district, and several shopping centers, according to the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Niles has a number of public and private schools that perform above the state average. According to data from Onboard Informatics, 14 percent of Niles residents are Asian.
Population: 6,321
Median family income:$67,890
Runner-up: State College
A tree-filled suburb of Pittsburgh, with classic Victorian homes and good schools, Crafton is a good neighborhood for kids. Shelters for picnics at Crafton Park are available for rental by residents only. The town also boasts a pool, a nine-hole golf course, summer concerts in the park, and an annual Rib and Chicken Fest put on by the local Rotary Club in the summer.
Population: 9,778
Median family income: $57,399
Runner-up: St. Henry
Carved out of Clovernook Farm, three subdivisions - Clovernook, Meyerville, and Sunshine - combined in 1916 to form the village of North College Hill. Incorprated as a town in 1980, North College Hill is now a suburb 10 miles north of Cincinnati and known as "The Center of It All."
Population: 2,332
Median family income: $71,249
Runner-up: Marysville
A tiny university town in the midst of Michigan farmland, it is home to the main campus of Spring Arbor University, a liberal arts school with more than 2,000 students. The town maintains a rural feel and plenty of parks to play in, such as Lime Lake, where residents swim and fish in the summer. For golfers, there is the public Arbor Hills Golf Club, a formerly private course designed in 1925.
Population: 1,480
Median family income: $69,404
Runner-up: Leesburg
While Varnell is only 2.5 square miles, it offers parks and trails and is minutes from the Nob North Golf Course. It is part of the Whitfield County School District, which includes Varnell Elementary School, New Hope Elementary School, New Hope Middle School, and Northwest Whitfield High School, according to the town's website. Varnell’s Prater's Mill Country Fair draws many visitors in the fall.
Population: 2,495
Median family income: $61,537
Runner-up: Statesville
Although roots of the town date back to a trapper’s cabin in the mid-18th century, the town was incorporated in 1974. This suburb of Winston-Salem has a few dozen businesses and a post office along the main commercial avenue of Broad Street. Kids are a vital part of events in town: At the 2010 Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 2, the Rural Hall Elementary School Chorus sang Christmas carols. Santa and his elves buoyed the Christmas spirit.
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In the years since Walsh bought his Niles home, lifestyle expectations have changed in the U.S. Data from every state show that fewer young adults have married in comparison to a decade ago, according to the Population Reference Bureau. Fewer families are buying property. Despite these changes, which are driven partly by such problems as unemployment, the link between raising children and owning a home remains strong for most Americans. In a survey conducted by Fannie Mae in August and September, three-fourths of respondents cited children as a prime reason to buy a home. Owning, they said, provides lifestyle advantages.
| More from BusinessWeek.com » The Best Places to Raise Your Kids: 2011 » Most Expensive Suburbs 2010 » The Best Cities to Buy In, the Best Cities to Rent |
In Businessweek.com's fifth annual ranking of the best places in America to raise kids, such towns as Niles—with a low cost of living, good schools, and a low crime rate—scored high. Unlike our previous reports which included some large urban areas, the 2011 ranking focuses on small cities, towns, and villages with populations larger than the median for the state but no greater than 50,000.
Target: Middle-Income Communities
In keeping with the survey's focus on middle-income communities, we've considered only places where the median family income was within 20 percent of the state median, culling affluent and low-income locales. In the U.S., median family income in 2009 was $61,082, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.Using 2010 data from Onboard Informatics, a New York-based real estate data company that specializes in residential demographic and lifestyle information, Bloomberg and Businessweek.com evaluated 5,418 places in the U.S. We emphasized a community's number of schools, school performance, cost of living, and crime statistics. We also accounted for factors such job growth, air quality, ethnic diversity, and access to the surrounding county's parks, zoos, theaters, and other recreational facilities.
In addition to Niles, other high-scorers in our results include Rowland Heights, Calif., 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, and North College Hill, Ohio, 10 miles from downtown Cincinnati. Both offer housing affordable to middle-income families, proximity to employment hubs, good public schools, and low crime rates.
In addition to jobs in nearby cities, the communities selected also offer local employment opportunities. While many Niles residents commute to Chicago for work, the village of 29,207 has a strong commercial and industrial base, says Katie Schneider, executive director of the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Area industrial facilities include a Coca-Cola bottling plant. At 7.8 percent, the unemployment rate in Niles was down in October from 9.6 percent a year earlier, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Relatively Low Property Taxes
Niles hosts several shopping centers such as the Golf Mill Shopping Center, as well as a number of Korean food markets and stores that cater to the village's growing Korean population, says Walsh. Significant revenue from sales taxes helps keep property taxes in Niles low, says George R. Van Geem, village manager since 2005. In his district, the property tax rate is $5.80 for every $100 of assessed value, he says. A district in nearby Mount Prospect carries a rate of $6.596, according to a release from the Cook County Clerk's office.While low taxes are attractive, schools are the paramount concern for many young families. Rowland High School in California was ranked as one of the country's top high schools, according to the school district's website. Schools in Niles, which belong to several school districts, outperform the Illinois average; in 2007 the fine arts program at Niles Township High School District 219 was recognized by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
Quality of life issues also play a role in persuading families to make a move. Many communities in Businessweek.com's ranking offer services for families. Niles, for example, provides free local bus service from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and maintains a well-regarded teen center that provides homework assistance and organizes social activities.
An Older Neighborhood Grows Younger
Ohio's North College Hill, a city of 9,778, will open a community center in an old school building early next year for intergenerational and family activities, says Mayor Dan Brooks. "It's an older neighborhood that is getting younger" as more families have moved in the last four years, says Brooks, who is developing new city programs for the demographic.As values evolve, will large numbers of families continue to settle in such places for homes, schools, and public services? The Population Reference Bureau's study shows that from 2000 through 2009, the nation's married share of people aged 25 to 34 plunged to 45 percent, from 55 percent. And while Fannie Mae's survey found that having children has traditionally increased the likelihood that someone will buy a house, the proportion of households with children has been declining just as many families choose to rent because of financial constraints. For those who still want to raise children in quiet communities, options abound around the country.
10 of the Best Cities to Raise Kids
 |
| Rowland Heights |
Best place to raise kids in California: Rowland Heights
Nearby city: Los AngelesPopulation: 46,793
Median family income: $72,985
Runner-up: Temple City
In San Gabriel Valley about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Rowland Heights is home to a large Asian community. According to data from Onboard Informatics, nearly half the population is Asian and 33.2 percent is Hispanic. The area has several highly regarded schools, including the John A. Rowland High School and Killian Elementary School. "Rowland Heights is … close enough to Los Angeles and all the excitement of big-city life, but [Rowland Heights] benefits from an influx of residents looking for a subdued setting," states the website of real estate agent Vincent Gottuso.
 |
| Gatesville |
Best place to raise kids in Texas: Gatesville
Nearby city: WacoPopulation: 12,503
Median family income: $49,145
Runner-up: Prairie View
Home to the Gatesville Hornets, the 2000 Texas State 3A High School Football Champions (in case you weren’t aware, high school football is a BIG deal in Texas), and what may be the largest collection of spurs in the world, Gatesville is about 45 minutes due west of Waco. Job growth in the area is steady, as two of the major employers are the U.S. military in nearby Fort Hood and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which operates four prisons and one jail in the town, including the state’s death row for women. In 2005—the latest year for which records exist—33.3 percent of all students at Gatesville High School scored at or above criterion on the SAT, beating the state average of 21 percent.
 |
| West Seneca |
Best place to raise kids in New York: West Seneca
Nearby city: BuffaloPopulation: 43,575
Median family income:$69,188
Runner-up: Lancaster
Sure the winters may get cold, but the quality of life and affordability of this middle-class suburb of Buffalo, part of the "Southtowns" that include Orchard Park and Hamburg, more than make up for it. In addition to more than a dozen parks, a soccer complex, and a nature center, it boasts the highly rated West Seneca Central School District and several parochial and private schools. For raising kids, the area lives up to the town motto: Proud Past & Unlimited Future. Now if only they could do something about the Buffalo Bills football team.
 |
| Venice Gardens |
Best place to raise kids in Florida: Venice Gardens
Nearby city: BradentonPopulation: 6,822
Median family income:$57,652
Runner-up: Willow Oak
Affordable homes in Venice Gardens make the community a popular destination for first-time home buyers and active older adults. Home values in Venice Gardens, which has a voluntary homeowners association with a community pool and clubhouse, averaged about $114,300 in August, according to Zillow.com. The area is removed from the more bustling shopping and business districts in Venice but provides easy access to them, according to the website of real estate broker Michael Saunders Co.
 |
| Niles |
Best place to raise kids in Illinois: Niles
Nearby city: ChicagoPopulation: 29,207
Median family income:$73,532
Runner-up: Bensenville
The Leaning Tower of Niles, a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is among the landmarks in this Chicago suburb. The advantages of living in Niles include public transit (there's free bus service within in the village), 20 park sites in the district, and several shopping centers, according to the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Niles has a number of public and private schools that perform above the state average. According to data from Onboard Informatics, 14 percent of Niles residents are Asian.
 |
| Crafton |
Best place to raise kids in Pennsylvania: Crafton
Nearby city: PittsburghPopulation: 6,321
Median family income:$67,890
Runner-up: State College
A tree-filled suburb of Pittsburgh, with classic Victorian homes and good schools, Crafton is a good neighborhood for kids. Shelters for picnics at Crafton Park are available for rental by residents only. The town also boasts a pool, a nine-hole golf course, summer concerts in the park, and an annual Rib and Chicken Fest put on by the local Rotary Club in the summer.
 |
| North College Hill |
Best place to raise kids in Ohio: North College Hill
Nearby city: CincinnatiPopulation: 9,778
Median family income: $57,399
Runner-up: St. Henry
Carved out of Clovernook Farm, three subdivisions - Clovernook, Meyerville, and Sunshine - combined in 1916 to form the village of North College Hill. Incorprated as a town in 1980, North College Hill is now a suburb 10 miles north of Cincinnati and known as "The Center of It All."
 |
| Spring Arbor |
Best place to raise kids in Michigan: Spring Arbor
Nearby city: JacksonPopulation: 2,332
Median family income: $71,249
Runner-up: Marysville
A tiny university town in the midst of Michigan farmland, it is home to the main campus of Spring Arbor University, a liberal arts school with more than 2,000 students. The town maintains a rural feel and plenty of parks to play in, such as Lime Lake, where residents swim and fish in the summer. For golfers, there is the public Arbor Hills Golf Club, a formerly private course designed in 1925.
 |
| Varnell |
Best place to raise kids in Georgia: Varnell
Nearby city: Chattanooga, Tenn.Population: 1,480
Median family income: $69,404
Runner-up: Leesburg
While Varnell is only 2.5 square miles, it offers parks and trails and is minutes from the Nob North Golf Course. It is part of the Whitfield County School District, which includes Varnell Elementary School, New Hope Elementary School, New Hope Middle School, and Northwest Whitfield High School, according to the town's website. Varnell’s Prater's Mill Country Fair draws many visitors in the fall.
 |
| Rural Hall |
Best place to raise kids in North Carolina: Rural Hall
Nearby city: Winston-SalemPopulation: 2,495
Median family income: $61,537
Runner-up: Statesville
Although roots of the town date back to a trapper’s cabin in the mid-18th century, the town was incorporated in 1974. This suburb of Winston-Salem has a few dozen businesses and a post office along the main commercial avenue of Broad Street. Kids are a vital part of events in town: At the 2010 Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 2, the Rural Hall Elementary School Chorus sang Christmas carols. Santa and his elves buoyed the Christmas spirit.
Click here to read the entire list of America's Best, Affordable Places to Raise Your Kids 2011.
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