BusinessWeek just released its annual Best Places to Raise Your Kids list. Each year the publication works with OnBoard Informatics, a provider of real estate analysis, to determine the winner and two runners up in each of the 50 states. Selection is based on a number of criteria, the most weight given to affordability, safety and school test scores.
Tinley Park in Illinois, received top honors overall. The complete list is below:
Alabama
Dothan
Nearest city: Tallahassee, Fla.
Population: 63,921
Median family income: $57,560
Runners-up: Auburn, Montgomery
Alaska
Anchorage
Nearest city: Anchorage
Population: 288,473
Median family income: $83,823
Runners-up: N/A
Arizona
Tucson
Nearest city: Tucson
Population: 523,006
Median family income: $47,472
Runners-up: Yuma, Casas Adobes
Arkansas
Springdale
Nearest city: Fayetteville, Ark.
Population: 62,459
Median family income: $53,767
Runners-up: Fayetteville, Rogers
California
Arcadia
Nearest city: Los Angeles
Population: 55,817
Median family income: $83,480
Runners-up: Monterey Park, Diamond Bar
Colorado
Highlands Ranch
Nearest city: Denver
Population: 96,056
Median family income: $121,294
Runners-up: Boulder, Fort Collins
Connecticut
West Haven
Nearest city: New Haven
Population: 53,959
Median family income: $64,981
Runners-up: Bristol, East Hartford
Delaware
Wilmington
Nearest city: Wilmington
Population: 73,319
Median family income: $52,586
Runners-up: N/A
Florida
Pembroke Pines
Nearest city: Fort Lauderdale
Population: 164,259
Median family income: $78,660
Runners-up: Sunrise, Tamarac
Georgia
Warner Robins
Nearest city: Macon
Population: 49,515
Median family income: $62,715
Runners-up: Valdosta, Roswell
Hawaii
Honolulu
Nearest city: Honolulu
Population: 377,399
Median family income: $74,504
Runners-up: Hilo
Idaho
Idaho Falls
Nearest city: Idaho Falls
Population: 52,434
Median family income: $62,833
Runners-up: Meridian, Pocatello
Illinois
Tinley Park
Nearest city: Chicago
Population: 54,491
Median family income: $90,377
Runners-up: Arlington Heights, Schaumburg
Indiana
Fishers
Nearest city: Indianapolis
Population: 59,126
Median family income: $109,070
Runners-up: Mishawaka, Carmel
Iowa
Ames
Nearest city: Ames
Population: 53,006
Median family income: $78,311
Runners-up: West Des Moines, Dubuque
Kansas
Salina
Nearest city: Wichita
Population: 45,751
Median family income: $55,663
Runners-up: Lawrence, Olathe
Kentucky
Owensboro
Nearest city: Louisville
Population: 57,099
Median family income: $53,636
Runners-up: Louisville, Bowling Green
Louisiana
Lake Charles
Nearest city: Baton Rouge, La.
Population: 68,338
Median family income: $47,755
Runners-up: Metairie, Alexandria
Maine
Portland
Nearest city: Portland
Population: 65,979
Median family income: $62,058
Runners-up: N/A
Maryland
Gaithersburg
Nearest city: Washington D.C.
Population: 63,220
Median family income: $88,603
Runners-up: Frederick, Ellicott City
Massachusetts
Quincy
Nearest city: Boston
Population: 92,181
Median family income: $74,160
Runners-up: Weymouth, Barnstable Town
Michigan
Ann Arbor
Nearest city: Ann Arbor
Population: 113,485
Median family income: $91,701
Runners-up: Royal Oak, Portage
Minnesota
Woodbury
Nearest city: St. Paul, Minn.
Population: 58,566
Median family income: $114,156
Runners-up: Rochester, Eagan
Mississippi
Gulfport
Nearest city: Gulfport
Population: 66,913
Median family income: $49,589
Runners-up: Hattiesburg, Jackson
Missouri
Blue Springs
Nearest city: Kansas City, Mo.
Population: 49,853
Median family income: $77,984
Runners-up: Lee's Summit, Joplin
Montana
Great Falls
Nearest city: Great Falls
Population: 55,054
Median family income: $50,762
Runners-up: Missoula, Billings
Nebraska
Lincoln
Nearest city: Lincoln
Population: 236,080
Median family income: $70,062
Runners-up: Omaha, Grand Island
Nevada
Paradise
Nearest city: Las Vegas
Population: 203,438
Median family income: $63,343
Runners-up: Sunrise Manor, Spring Valley
New Hampshire
Concord
Nearest city: Concord
Population: 45,657
Median family income: $64,252
Runners-up: Nashua, Manchester
New Jersey
Edison
Nearest city: New York
Population: 97,672
Median family income: $99,693
Runners-up: East Brunswick, Bloomfield
New Mexico
Rio Rancho
Nearest city: Albuquerque
Population: 75,231
Median family income: $66,222
Runners-up: Roswell, Santa Fe
New York
Tonawanda
Nearest city: Buffalo
Population: 57,922
Median family income: $63,827
Runners-up: Irondequoit, Cheektowaga
North Carolina
Chapel Hill
Nearest city: Chapel Hill
Population: 56,431
Median family income: $93,873
Runners-up: Cary, Jacksonville
North Dakota
Grand Forks
Nearest city: Grand Forks
Population: 52,364
Median family income: $63,936
Runners-up: Fargo, Bismarck
Ohio
Lakewood
Nearest city: Cleveland
Population: 53,000
Median family income: $68,883
Runners-up: Parma, Strongsville
Oklahoma
Lawton
Nearest city: Oklahoma City
Population: 87,463
Median family income: $48,082
Runners-up: Midwest City, Moore
Oregon
Beaverton
Nearest city: Portland
Population: 87,676
Median family income: $78,946
Runners-up: Corvallis, Eugene
Pennsylvania
Scranton
Nearest city: Scranton
Population: 71,539
Median family income: $50,365
Runners-up: Erie, Allentown
Rhode Island
Cranston
Nearest city: Providence
Population: 80,786
Median family income: $69,434
Runners-up: Pawtucket, Warwick
South Carolina
Rock Hill
Nearest city: Charlotte
Population: 58,415
Median family income: $58,734
Runners-up: Mount Pleasant, Greenville
South Dakota
Sioux Falls
Nearest city: Sioux Falls
Population: 147,214
Median family income: $67,495
Runners-up: Rapid City
Tennessee
Clarksville
Nearest city: Nashville
Population: 118,209
Median family income: $53,795
Runners-up: Hendersonville, Johnson City
Texas
San Marcos
Nearest city: Austin, Tex.
Population: 45,366
Median family income: $53,690
Runners-up: San Antonio, Houston
Utah
Provo
Nearest city: Salt Lake City
Population: 114,953
Median family income: $48,721
Runners-up: Logan, St. George
Vermont
North Bennington
Nearest city: Burlington, Vt.
Population: 1,376
Median family income: $54,317
Runners-up: Bradford, Newbury
Virginia
Virginia Beach
Nearest city: Virginia Beach
Population: 433,610
Median family income: $70,626
Runners-up: Newport News, Chesapeake
Washington
Redmond
Nearest city: Seattle
Population: 47,259
Median family income: $101,630
Runners-up: Shoreline, Bellevue
West Virginia
Huntington
Nearest city: Charleston, W. Va.
Population: 45,964
Median family income: $45,396
Runners-up: Charleston
Wisconsin
Oshkosh
Nearest city: Milwaukee
Population: 62,355
Median family income: $64,086
Runners-up: Eau Claire, West Allis
Wyoming
Cheyenne
Nearest city: Cheyenne
Population: 54,872
Median family income: $60,832
Runners-up: Casper
Most of the cities chosen as the best to raise your family are new to the list this year. Warner Robins, Ga., and Rock Hill, S.C. were on last year's list.
Written by Sharalyn Hartwell
HULIQ.com
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