The 3 Best Places To Raise A Family In The US
When raising a family, you are certainly always on the lookout for what's best for everyone. Whether that is the safest car to drive or the best schools to attend, the family should be the top priority when it comes to the final decision. This especially comes into play when you are considering places to live. But aside from the size of the home and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you think your growing crew will need, what else should you think about?
When deciding on a new location to live, there are many factors to ponder, including job opportunities, the crime rate, the existence of community events, and the number of parks, museums, and art galleries that are located in the city. According to Moving.com, you should also weigh the climate, the quality of the schooling systems, the housing market, and even the cost of living within the area before you make your final choice. Although this may seem a bit daunting, we have a short list of some of the best places in the United States to raise your family in order to get you started. Now let's take a look.
Fort Collins, Colorado
If your family loves the outdoors and wants to be surrounded by seemingly endless amounts of stunning nature, then it could be worth it to pack up and move to Fort Collins, Colorado. Located on the north end of the state and right near the Rocky Mountain National Park, it is also home to over 40,000 acres of gorgeous natural areas and has been named by Liveability as one of the top five best places to raise a family.
With many arts and entertainment activities from venues such as the Lincoln Center in addition to plenty of parks, including Fossil Creek Park, which stretches over 100 acres, even the main downtown area is bike-friendly to endorse a healthier and more active lifestyle. Although the cost of living might be a bit higher than the national average, according to Best Places, the school system is ideal for kids from preschool all the way up to Colorado State University.
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas is a city that welcomes families of all kinds with open arms. With a population of just under 100,000 people, it combines a humble town environment with a bustling community. In spite of Arkansas' Republican-leaning voting tendencies, as per ABC News, Fayetteville is a liberal-friendly city that actively supports the LGBTQIA2+ community by holding the state's largest Pride celebration event, according to Experience Fayetteville.
The city also boasts plenty of parks, including the Kessler Mountain Regional Park, which has around 620 acres for the whole family to trek and explore. Additionally, the city is within close proximity to the massive Ozark National Forest with over 1.3 million acres of natural beauty. There is certainly never a dull moment in Fayetteville. The state also enjoys a wide range of weather and seasonal conditions. So you can enjoy hot summers followed by cooler winters with temperatures ranging from a low of 28 degrees Fahrenheit up to 96 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Weather Spark. The affordability of this city could also be a huge draw for growing families as the cost of living falls well below the national average, as per Best Places.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Located just west of Detroit in the southernmost part of Michigan is the city of Ann Arbor. Although it might be a bit of an unexpected place to live, this city of about 120,000 people has plenty of opportunities for your growing family. It is rich with cultural delights such as the UM Museum of Natural History and great educational opportunities with the prestigious University of Michigan in tow. There is never a dull moment if you are looking to take day trips with the kids as this Michigan city is chock-full of farmers' markets, art galleries, and museums, according to Destination Ann Arbor.
For scenic family excursions, the city is close to the Huron River and just a short drive away from not one but two of the great lakes, which are ideal for those who love fishing and boating. Nature trails that are perfect for biking and hiking await you around the city and within the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. Also, you get treated to cool snowy winters, so you can look forward to family afternoons spent sledding down the local hills. With a relatively reasonable cost of living that hovers just above the national average, as per Best Places, Ann Arbor was ranked by Livability as the second-best place to live in the United States.