Great Cities for Raising a Family

A loving spouse? Check. The standard 2.5 kids? Check. A wonderful place to raise your family? Still in progress. When it comes to the latter, many factors must be weighed.

You may be looking for an area that is kid-friendly and family-oriented, with lots of parks and a stellar school district. Or perhaps your focus is that of a census taker, with a concern for crime rate, median income, tax breaks, and graduation numbers. Whatever your focus, the following are five cities on the radar as being great for families.

Boston, Massachusetts
Famous as one of the most classic U.S. cities, Boston is well known for its historic neighborhoods, wonderful collegiate institutions, cultural experiences, and exciting sports teams. But Boston is also great for children. The Boston Children’s Hospital, for instance, possesses the world’s largest pediatric research center. According to the American Hospital Association, it is also nationally ranked in the top four in ten pediatric specialties. This city also has an exercise-rich before-school program, a renowned children’s museum, and a focus on education.

Austin, Texas
Well known for its outdoor space as well as music scene, Austin is a wonderful place to bring out the athlete and musician in us all. With numerous parks and city-wide outdoor festivals, as well as a dedication to arts in education, this city is known for its inclusion of children. For the parents, a relaxed atmosphere and easy commute makes this town appealing.

The Twin Cities, Minnesota
You don’t need to have twins to enjoy the draw of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Both cities are known for their commitment to the green movement, with high rankings for healthy air and healthy people as well as a focus on vegetation.  These cities are also known for having a lower-than-average unemployment rate and for promoting an active lifestyle. In fact, bike lanes run rampant as do off-the-street bike paths.

Cheyenne, Wyoming
Lassoing some of the perks Cheyenne has to offer is easy for local residents. Known for its low unemployment rate (thanks, in part, to the F.E. Warren Air Force Base), its access to outdoor activities, and the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days, this town also ranks low on crime and high in education. Its proximity to Colorado and other areas of Wyoming also offers the chance for quick trips to wonderful hiking, fishing, and camping spots. Finally, Cheyenne is known as being tax friendly; according to the Wall Street Journal, it has the fifth lowest tax burden of all cities and the second lowest property tax burden.

Boise, Idaho
Representing the West, Boise is known for being family friendly. Not only is it commended for good schools, a plethora of museums, business diversity, and low crime, but it is also highly affordable. According to Forbes, the cost of living is 5.6 percent less than the national average. Additionally, the high tech industry has become increasingly more relevant, providing both job and economic growth.

Deciding where to put your roots is an important decision and every city offers something. However, the above are a few examples of cities believed to raise the bar when it comes to raising your little ones.

This article was contributed by Sheldon Armstrong, a regular contributor here at INFOtainment News. He writes this on behalf of the Patton Law Practice, your number one choice for cases involving Birth Injuries. As a practice that puts families first, you know that they'll give you the best representation possible. Make sure to check out their website to see what they can do to give you and your family what you deserve.