The 50 best small towns to raise a family in have been revealed, with all of those listed enjoying minimal crime, good schools, and an overall high quality of life.
The rankings were determined by various factors including safety, a good public school system, a strong job market, and a reasonable cost of living.
Each of the towns listed offers parents a tight-knit community in which families can raise their children.
Many of the places ranked by Stacker have populations under 5,000 and feature easy commutes into large cities.
The village of Kildeer finished in first place. One of the small Chicago suburb’s big draws is its low crime rate
Many people choose to start families in small towns because of the easier pace and good school systems. Towns like runner-up Devon, PA (pictured), also boast extraordinary school systems
Coming in at number ten is Kohler, Wisconsin, a town whose small population- 2,142- does little to dim their big ambition.
Kohler is home to The Kohler Company, the bathroom supply behemoth. Every year, the company puts on the Kohler Food & Wine Experience.
The event is headlined by famous chefs and locals are able to participate in a unique culinary experience, which also features live music and festive drinks.
At number nine, Harrington Park, New Jersey, is one of four towns from the garden state to crack the top ten.
Many families also decide to uproot to small towns because they often feature rich local histories
With a population of 4,826, Harrington Park benefits from the NJ Transit bus service, which commuters can take to Port Authority in New York City.
The small town also boasts some former notable residents. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker spent his childhood in the cozy suburb.
At number eight is another New Jersey suburb- Haworth. Tucked away on Oradell Reservoir, the small town has a population of only 3,342.
Despite its modest size, Haworth boasts two golf courses, swim clubs, and ‘postcard pretty’ streets.
The suburb is also in close proximity to Manhattan, providing workers with a reasonable commute.
Continuing the trend of New Jersey towns, at number seven is the suburb of Ho-Ho-Kus.
Riverwoods, Chicago, ranked sixth, was founded by forty families in 1959
The name is derived from the Lenni-Lenape language, and although its exact translation is unclear, experts believe it could potentially mean ‘running water’ or ‘the red cedar.’
Home to 4,234 people, Ho-Ho-Kus is a bucolic paradise where townsfolk can shop for local produce, participate in the town’s gardening club, and pay a visit to the petting zoo at Amba’s Farm Market.
In the sixth spot is Riverwoods, a suburb of Chicago, which has a population of 4,007.
Founded in 1959 by about 40 families, this little village is located to the east of the Des Plaines River.
Hailed as a paradise for those who appreciate nature, Riverwoods is home to the Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area.
Mariemon, a suburb of Cincinnati, claimed fifth place. The small town was designed to resemble an English garden city
Mariemont, a suburb of Cincinnati, claimed fifth place in the ranking.
With a population of 3,493, the planned community was founded by local philanthropist Mary Emery in the 1920s.
John Nolen, an American planner and landscape architect, envisioned the town as an English garden city.
As a result, Mariemont teems with tree-lined streets and Tudor-style homes.
Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, came in fourth. The dreamy town boasts a good school system and a superlative lacrosse program
Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, ranked number four in the list.
With a population of 4,499, the dreamy little town offers parents the perfect place to raise their families.
The Mountain Lakes school system is considered one of the best in the state, and the town is full of lakes and woods for nature-lovers.
Mountain Lakes also boasts one of the best lacrosse programs in the country. Under head coach Tim Flynn, the town has won many state championships.
Kensington, which came in third, is a tiny New York City suburb
With a population of just 1,445, Kensington is located on the peninsula of Great Neck
At number three is Kensington, a tiny suburb of New York City.
With a population of just 1,445, Kensington is located on the peninsula of Great Neck.
The town’s celebrated landmark is the statue of the ‘Great Neck Giraffe,’ who serves as Kensington’s unofficial mascot.
The statue resides on the Village Green- one of the town’s several popular outdoor locations.
In second place is another small town- Devon, Pennsylvania, whose population is just 1,890. The charming Philadelphia suburb is known for its historic horse competition
Devon, PA, is hailed for its rich local history, which draws many families to settle there
In second place is another small town- Devon, Pennsylvania, whose population is just 1,890.
Noted for the Devon Horse Show- the oldest and most historic multi-breed horse contest in the country- the town is only a half-hour train ride from Philadelphia, making it the ideal home for many commuters.
Locals can also visit the Jenkins Arboretum, which remains a popular tourist destination.
And in first place is Kildeer, a small town about 40 minutes outside of Chicago.
In first place is Kildeer, a small town about 40 minutes outside of Chicago
A big draw for Kildeer is its incredibly low crime rate. This is in stark contrast with Chicago, which is only about 40 miles away
The fact that Kildeer claimed the coveted top spot comes as no surprise, given its charming streets and modest population of 4,133.
The Chicago suburb has many attractive features that draw families. One of them is the stellar education system- Kildeer boasts some of the finest public schools in the country.
Another big draw is Kildeer’s incredibly low crime rate. This is in stark contrast with Chicago, which is only about 40 miles away.
The safety of towns like Kildeer explain why so many parents choose to raise their children in suburbs rather than in cities.
