Top Ten Towns In Which To Raise A Family

Family Circle Makes The Call; Magazine's Linda Fears Discusses Its Choices

(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

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


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.

[pwellfootbal]

i also live in kalamazoo and have lived here for 4 years now. but i grew up only 10 min. away. As much as I love kalamazoo and everything it has going for it such as the promise, taste of kalamazoo, blues fest, island fest, and so forth. just as recently as last year i believe it was ranked #1 on the most dangerous cities of under 100,000 peoples list. This list was going strictly off of violent crimes such as rape, murder, etc. just my 2 cents although culturally and artisticly this town is great.

[willybnme]

I think that someone "missed the boat." I am from Kalamazoo, Michigan and we are a city with Western Michigan University and the well acclaimed Kalamazoo College both within the city limits. The rural Kalamazoo area also hosts a fine Junior College. Our city is tops in the arts and entertainment. We have a "festival" area downtown and host different cultural festivals most every weekend in the summer. The Kalamazoo Art Institute offers classes to the young and old. I know of fellow classmates that drove across the state for classes and the almost unlimited use of the facility. Concerts and musicals are almost always available at one of several places.
BUT, what I believe makes this the best family city, maybe in the country is this: We have a program called the "Kalamazoo Promise." I believe it is maybe the first of it's kind in the US. If a student attends Kalamazoo Public Schools grades K-12, they are guaranteed a 4 year PAID college education in most any MI college or university. For those that do not attend from K up. That figure will be pro-rated .
Michigan has been hurt job-wise because of the declining auto industry. However, Kalamazoo has not been "auto minded" but rather medical based because of the once Upjohn company and all it's downtown buildings which are now Phizer which is adding more jobs again real soon. Anyways, my vote is for Kalamazoo, Michigan and I believe it is with good cause.

[bennyblack1]

Whatever you do, don't come to Killeen, TX.

[muddypixie]

What about Eugene, OR? One of the most diverse cities spilling over with activities year around for the whole family to get involved with. Not to mention one of the most environmentally conscious cities in Oregon. A true gem in my book!

[incog-nito]

Who cares about "cultural awareness" if your kids grow up in a safe environment? In schools where there are different ethnic groups, kids usually just stick with their own group and there's usually conflict between them. It's a completely meaningless buzzword.

[doro6]

I can't believe the cynacism, with many of these comments. I'm from Wichita and Derby is just a few miles away. It is a LOVELY town. Comments about 'white people' and "no one receives any cultural or educational awareness" living here are ignorant. We loved Kansas and planned all along to sell our home in Wichita and move down the road to Derby. This article is "spot on." Don't insult Kansas unless you've been there. Low crime, great schools, all four seasons, and arguably the best real estate market in the country.

[jm_rvel]

I grew up outside of Derby Kansas, it is an excellent town. Safe, excellent schools and all of the benefits of living near a major city. Definitely recommended.

[jjarden]

Franklin, MA?? You've got to be kidding? I was a Teacher for one year at Franklin High School and not only discovered that many of the boys were Thugs, but also discovered after a Jewish Boy was murdered in town that Franklin is on the Top Ten FBI List of the Most Watched Towns for White Supremacist and Skinhead Activity. This researcher got it wrong by choosing Franklin, MA.

[justpicky]

I know several cities where these are good place
to raise a family. I didn't see those cities on
that list .
1. Edwardsville , IL - College town not huge and not very small , 50,000 pop . This town is clean
many college educated families , nice homes , families here are involved in there children activities daily. This town as alot to offer.
2. Mayville ,IL - Next to Edwardsville Il , this town has population of 8,000 , there's activities to do there also , active families , there is a bike trail going through it . Families are on this trail daily , there's several trails throughout this entire southwest area .This town has many family owned restaurants and ice cream shop , called Bobby's . Bobby's ice cream shop reminds me of the 50's where you can park your car , people will bring there 1950's cars so people can check them out . I think everyone knows Bobby and if they don't , he's an easy going person and extemely nice . I knew bobby and his family ever since I been very young 9 yrs old. Again in this town there's alot of family own businesses .
3. Columbia and Waterloo IL , - are another very good town to raise a family . These cities also are involved with children and there's alot to offer . These are German towns , very clean and quiet . Family owned businesses. The crime in these two towns are extremely low .
Family Circle should considered these town just as well. There are many other towns in this whole area . Quiet , clean and affordable.

[ryindy]

The grass is always greener on the other side...

Many smaller towns like this still exist in America... That is until some get rich quick developer moves in with a scheme to build low cost housing and imports a wealth of 'Diverse people' that will work at the newly built Big Box store.

Many of these diverse people still have friends or relatives that import the drugs and crime...

Seems to me that this type of article is best left unwritten. Slience is golden.