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.

2. Plano, TX
In addition to the city’s excellent education opportunities, Plano is also extremely affordable to a range of incomes. In addition, the city’s solid socioeconomic environment is a permanent home for some huge corporations like Dell and Frito-Lay. In other words, in addition to being a solid place to raise your family, Plano offers loads of good employment opportunities. Stability is a good thing for families.

3. Virginia Beach, VA
In addition to being flat-out beautiful and home to miles of sun-soaked beaches (which kids of all ages love), Virginia Beach boasts a nationally renowned healthcare system and one of the most effective police and fire departments in the country. Even better, this resort town boasts an exceptionally strong educational system.

4. Lincoln, NE
You might not immediately think of Nebraska as the ideal place to raise your children. However, the state capital of Lincoln performs incredibly well across the board in terms of education, health and safety, with the added bonus that you can actually afford to live there. Those are some pretty compelling factors.

5. Sioux Falls, SD
The largest city in South Dakota still only tops out at around 200,000 people. There aren’t a lot of people in South Dakota. That’s okay, because the people who do live there have a reputation for friendly behavior, and the town’s education is one of the best in the nation. Even better, it’s also considered extremely affordable. Don’t overlook it if you’re looking for a family-friendly place to settle in.

6. Madison, WI
If you’re a big fan of snow angels, the city of Madison, Wisconsin is a great place to raise your family. The education system was ranked second in the nation, and it’s so safe that between 2004 and 2007, only 17 murders were reported (that’s good for America). On the flip side, the city also averages more than four feet of snow every year, so take that with the good.

7. Fremont, CA
Fremont, California is a smallish town in the San Francisco Bay area. That’s code for “it has the perfect climate.” In addition to that excellent benefit, Fremont is also considered the safest city in the country. The healthcare is also second to none. Perhaps best of all, the city’s socioeconomic environment is also ranked the best in the nation. It has a median household income of $99,169, so you’ll need to be gainfully employed to jump into this lifestyle, however.

8. Chesapeake, VA
While you can’t say a whole lot for Chesapeake’s list of diversions to keep your family entertained (it’s … short), the city ranks in the top ten for overall health, safety, and quality education. Even better, the Chesapeake area boasts excellent childcare. And, hey, if you’re family is the rugged outdoorsy type, then there’s really plenty to do. It has a relatively manageable population of about 230,000, which is a nice community size for a growing family.

9. Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs is about an hour south of Denver. The scenic town is extremely affordable for families on every rung of the socioeconomic ladder. There’s also plenty to do to keep your family entertained, as well, as the city has tons of attractions. All that said, there’s also a strong religious presence in the city that makes it politically conservative. That could be an attraction or a deterrent, depending on your personal views on the subject.

10. Grand Prairie, TX
Grand Prairie is situated somewhere in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. It’s home to several attractions like GPX skate park designed to keep your modern hipster kids enthralled. The education system is considered one of the best in the nation, and the town itself is considered one of the more affordable on this list.

11. Irvine, CA
If the health and safety of your children is of the utmost importance (and why wouldn’t it be?), then Irvine is an extremely great place to live. The town has a great sense of community that makes it welcoming to newcomers. Of course, the city also rates a little lower than most in terms of education level. Still, number 11 is not bad considering the size of the nation.

12. Amarillo, TX
Amarillo, Texas is home to one of the best educational infrastructures in the entire country. What’s more, gathering up the funds to raise your children in Amarillo won’t be that difficult, because the city is relatively affordable. It’s a little down the ranking because Amarillo rates lower in terms of healthcare and family activities on hand, but it’s definitely a good place to raise young’uns.

13. Arlington, TX
Another Texan town makes the list. For the proper sporting family, you should start looking up Arlington real estate opportunities now. The city has a great educational system and it’s pretty affordable. In other words, Arlington is a place where nearly any family can give their kids a shot at a better life. But to top all that, the Cowboys are there!

14. Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert, Arizona has a really decent socioeconomic ranking (which is actually unique for the state); it’s also very affordable for most families. The police and fire departments are some of the highest rated in the nation. So, what could this shangrila have to take away from its glisten? The education level is okay but not top ten material.

15. Omaha, NE
Holding the number 15 spot, Omaha is still a great place to raise your family. There are several attractions to keep your family entertained, and the myriad colleges dotting the area have the two-pronged benefit of elevating the culture in the town and providing ample opportunities for higher education.
