When you’re thinking about starting a family, there are an insane amount of factors to take into account. Among them, the place you choose to set down stakes is of chief importance. Which places have the best schools, the safest streets, or the most fun stuff to do? What’s the relationship like among the community (the fancy term for that is “socioeconomic environment”)? Perhaps most important, can you afford to raise your kids there? That’s a lot to consider and evaluate, of course, but thankfully smarter people than I have devoted lots of time into running the numbers. So here are what they found to be the 15 best American cities to raise and educate your kids. Read on and see if you agree with them. (And for the flip side, check out 15 Worst Cities to Raise and Educate Your Kids).
1. Overland Park, KS
In terms of the stats considered in the aforementioned study, Overland Park, Kansas came out on top. The suburb of Kansas City has an extremely low crime rate for a city of its size, the healthcare is some of the best in the nation and the suburb’s sense of community is truly second to none. The education system is top notch, which contributes to the overall quality of life for families.
