Top 10 Best Cities for Kids
The majority of parents of school-aged children make their home-buying decisions with their kids in mind. Livability.com recently released its 2014 list of the top 10 best cities for children and Boise, Idaho came out on top. Boise’s plentiful outdoor activities, good schools, low cost of living, and low crime rate were among the reasons the city topped the list.
Here are all 10 of Livability.com’s best places for kids to live:
1. Boise, Idaho
Population: 212,983
Median Age: 35
Median Household Income: $51,160
Median Home Price: $158,437
Average Work Commute: 16 minutes
Population: 212,983
Median Age: 35
Median Household Income: $51,160
Median Home Price: $158,437
Average Work Commute: 16 minutes
2. Downers Grove, Ill.
Population: 48,293
Median Age: 42
Median Household Income: $81,274
Median Home Price: $259,500
Average Work Commute: 24 minutes
Population: 48,293
Median Age: 42
Median Household Income: $81,274
Median Home Price: $259,500
Average Work Commute: 24 minutes
3. Overland Park, Kan.
Population: 178,222
Median Age: 37
Median Median Household Income: $74,051
Median Home Price: $225,625
Average Work Commute: 18 minutes
Population: 178,222
Median Age: 37
Median Median Household Income: $74,051
Median Home Price: $225,625
Average Work Commute: 18 minutes
4. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Population: 129,073
Median Age: 35
Median Household Income: $50,714
Median Home Price: $118,998
Average Work Commute: 14 minutes
Population: 129,073
Median Age: 35
Median Household Income: $50,714
Median Home Price: $118,998
Average Work Commute: 14 minutes
5. Plano, Texas
Population: 278,814
Median Age: 37
Median Household Income: $82,061
Median Home Price: $209,593
Average Work Commute: 24 minutes
Population: 278,814
Median Age: 37
Median Household Income: $82,061
Median Home Price: $209,593
Average Work Commute: 24 minutes
6. Carmel, Ind.
Population: 83,889
Median Age: 39
Median Household Income: $103,607
Median Home Price: $277,339
Average Work Commute: 21 minutes
Population: 83,889
Median Age: 39
Median Household Income: $103,607
Median Home Price: $277,339
Average Work Commute: 21 minutes
7. Brentwood, Tenn.
Population: 39,193
Median Age: 42
Median Household Income: $129,155
Median Home Price: $452,931
Average Work Commute: 21 minutes
Population: 39,193
Median Age: 42
Median Household Income: $129,155
Median Home Price: $452,931
Average Work Commute: 21 minutes
8. Palo Alto, Calif.
Population: 66,436
Median Age: 41
Median Household Income: $124,256
Median Home Price: $1,495,000
Average Work Commute: 19 minutes
Population: 66,436
Median Age: 41
Median Household Income: $124,256
Median Home Price: $1,495,000
Average Work Commute: 19 minutes
9. Royal Oak, Mich.
Population: 57,285
Median Age: 37
Median Household Income: $61,308
Median Home Price: $129,918
Average Work Commute: 21 minutes
Population: 57,285
Median Age: 37
Median Household Income: $61,308
Median Home Price: $129,918
Average Work Commute: 21 minutes
10. Newton, Mass.
Population: 86,811
Median Age: 40
Median Household Income: $110,712
Median Home Price: $667,500
Average Work Commute: 24 minutes
Population: 86,811
Median Age: 40
Median Household Income: $110,712
Median Home Price: $667,500
Average Work Commute: 24 minutes
Livability.com identified cities with high concentrations of school-age children, and from that list, researchers analyzed crime rate, school ranking, cost of living, health factors – such as childhood mortality rates and health insurance coverage – and even looked at the number of local restaurants with kids’ menus.
