Top Ten Towns In Which To Raise A Family

(CBS)  Big cities can be fun and exciting, but they're not always the best places for family living.

If you're looking for a family-friendly place and pace, this month's issue of Family Circle magazine lists America's "Ten Best Towns for Families."

On The Early Show Wednesday, Family Circle's editor in chief, Linda Fears, went through the selections, and even suggested ways to get more of a small town feel — in a big city!

The magazine's criteria when picking the towns included suburban charm combined with big-city opportunities, affordable housing, good jobs, top-rated schools, wide open spaces and — a lot less stress.

Fears says many of us want fewer crowds and hassles, less concrete, more serenity and nature, and neighbors we can count on. Family Circle singled out small cities where living costs, commute times and crime rates are low, and educational and the cultural scene are way above average.

The 10 are:

Castle Rock, Colo.
Kennesaw, Ga.
Cooper City, Fla.
Diamond Bar, Calif.
Morton Grove, Ill.
Madison, Miss.
Franklin, Mass.
Cedar Park, Texas
Derby, Kans.
Chanhassen, Minn.

To read the Family Circle article, click here.

To see the Early Show segment,

click here

.

[crandall84]

In Madison,Mississippi there are 2 high schools in the area. One is public and the other one is private. And how do lukespack-2009 know the % on African/American.

[coffeehead-2009]

diversity should have been a part of the criteria.
Posted by eabram1

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total myth propogated by the desire to DIVIDE our country and influence a "babble" effect into the unity of nations. It's all flub- diversity is NOT all it's made out to be......




http://www.vdare.com/sailer/070701_diversity.htm

"However, a wide array of other measures of social capital and civic engagement are also negatively correlated with ethnic diversity. In areas of greater diversity, our respondents demonstrate:

"Lower confidence in local government, local leaders and the local news media.

"Lower political efficacy %u2013 that is, confidence in their own influence.

"Lower frequency of registering to vote, but more interest and knowledge about politics and more participation in protest marches and social reform groups.

"Less expectation that others will cooperate to solve dilemmas of collective action (e.g., voluntary conservation to ease a water or energy shortage).

"Less likelihood of working on a community project.

"Lower likelihood of giving to charity or volunteering.

"Fewer close friends and confidants.

"Less happiness and lower perceived quality of life.

"More time spent watching television and more agreement that 'television is my most important form of entertainment.'

[rmallory25]

Diamond Bar, CA? Are you kidding me? I lived there for two years and it is nothing more than an off-ramp for the 57 Freeway and 60 Freeway, a smog bowl, and a place pot growers use empty houses to grow their crop. Read the recent headlines. Diversity? Since when is 49% Asian considered diversity? Diverse for the lonely caucasians only. Get out of Diamond Bar while you still can.

[amdew3]

I live in Castle Rock. We drove over the hill from Denver and were struck by the view of the entire front range from Pikes Peak to Estaes Park! All of Douglas County is one of THE best educated demographics in the entire state. We definitely have growing pains. Have gone from 10,000 to 45,000 over night and plan to get to 125,000 down the road. We have Blacks, India Indians,etc... As to famous and wealthy, Dr Dobson is about 45 minutes away in the "Springs"... so was Ted Haggart (groan) John Malone of Liberty Media lives a few miles away and runs the media empire out of his World Headquaters in the DTC. We have a lot of high end executive types as well as those from places like Californian who sell their big mansions and "Book" their profit and come and buy here. Castle Rock has a huge area of estate homes that run into the 8 figures ... one for sale right now has 2 swimming pools a fresh water and a salt water one. And yet, there are areas where you can still buy a 3000 sq ft house with a mature landscaped yard for UNDER $300,000. We are very diverse.

[lostcountry1]

well you can kiss those towns goodbye now. after seeing this everyone will want to move there,and with growth comes growing pains.i'm glad i didn't see any towns close to me. the last time someone said "what a great place to live" sunset magazine, the population increased ten fold.now there is no place to get away from the rat race, thanks alot sunset!

[lukespack-2009]

I doubt any list which lists a town in Mississippi. Madison is a suburb of Jackson and solidly white in a state with over 30% african/american.
Derby, Kansas is probably great if you are a white born again Christian in the middle class.

[boston1954]

You don't heear many people saying they got their PHD from any of those places, let alone anyone famous making a living there.
Posted by Jack3213 at 08:31 AM : Jul 18, 2007

PHD.......from a small town with no college???

[pandamonium6]

"let alone anyone famous making a living there."

Not sure who is considered "famous" but Paisley Park, the home of Prince is in the same vacinity as Chanhassen MN.

[oleander8]

"The way we were..." - *** progress!

[down-ndirty]

"... You don't heear many people saying they got their PHD from any of those places, let alone anyone famous making a living there." Posted by Jack3213 at 08:31 AM : Jul 18, 2007
__________________________

The Family Circle article is titled "Ten Best Towns for Families" not 10 best towns for PHDs or 10 best towns for the rich and famous. In addition, "famous people" usually don't make their living where they live.

I can only comment on Diamond Bar since it is in the LA basin and the LA basin has a lot of smog and pollution most of the time.

Castle Rock stands out as the winner as far as I'm concerned, although I've never been there.