Where you live has a big impact on your family. What schools your kids go to, the sports and extracurricular activities that are popular in the area, job opportunities, hell, even the grocery store you shop at. Every aspect of your life is affected by where your family rests their heads at night for better, for worse, or for best. Well, the National Council for Home Safety and Security announced the Top 100 Cities to Raise Kids in the U.S. for 2017. The definitive ranking — which was announced on Monday — maps where in the U.S. is best for you, and your kids, to call home.
Cities were ranked on a basis of five criteria: crime, income, population, education and health insurance. The percentage of 18 to 24-year-old residents who did not graduate high school, median household income, number of violent crimes, and number of insured children aged six to 17 were all factors in the decision-making process. All information was gathered from the latest census data and FBI records.
After preliminary standards for the final list were made, a total of 526 cities made the cut. But when it came down to the wire, only 100 cities were named the most qualified to raise a family. California dominates with 48 cities on the list — but every region is represented. Almost every city included is a suburb of large urban centers, home to a college or a university, and is blanketed with the traditional, upper-middle-class lifestyle.
Here’s a look at the top 30 cities on the list:
- San Ramon, California
- Newton, Massachusetts
- Newport Beach, California
- Pleasanton, California
- Flower Mound, Texas
- Livermore, California
- Davis, California
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Yorba Linda, California
- Boulder, Colorado
- Laguna Niguel, California
- San Mateo, California
- Berkeley, California
- Naperville, Illinois
- Irvine, California
- Fremont, California
- Kirkland, Washington
- Woodbury, Minnesota
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Maple Grove, Minnesota
- Milpitas, California
- Alameda, California
- Santa Clara, California
- Somerville, Massachusetts
- Folsom, California
- Sunnyvale, California
- Pearland, Texas
- Evanston, Illinois
- Tustin, California
- Carmel, Indiana
- Bellevue, Washington
- Thousand Oaks, California
- Ames, Iowa
- Carlsbad, California
- San Francisco, California
- Daly City, California
- Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Seattle, Washington
- Mountain View, California
- Torrance, California
- Camarillo, California
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Farmington Hills, Michigan
- Roseville, California
- Redwood City, California
- Broomfield, Colorado
- Simi Valley, California
- San Clemente, California
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- San Jose, California
- Plymouth, Minnesota
- Lakewood, California
- Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Edmond, Oklahoma
- Santa Monica, California
- Santa Clarita, California
- Johns Creek, Georgia
- Walnut Creek, California
- Union City, California
- Overland Park, Kansa
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Vacaville, California
- Hoover, Alabama
- Toms River, New Jersey
- Quincy, Massachusetts
- College Station, Texas
- Frisco, Texas
- Bellingham, Washington
- Livonia, Michigan
- Troy, Michigan
- Whittier, California
- Upland, California
- O’Fallon, Missouri
- San Leandro, California
- Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Cranston, Rhode Island
- Fargo, North Dakota
- Allen, Texas
- Redlands, California
- Champaign, Illinois
- Elk Grove, California
- Pasadena, California
- Burbank, California
- Missouri City, Texas
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Peoria, Arizona
- Bloomington, Illinois
- Chico, California
- Missoula, Montana
- Redondo Beach, California
- Menifee, California
- Clifton, New Jersey
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Skokie, Illinois
- Mission Viejo, California
- Appleton, Wisconsin
- Chino Hills, California
- Fullerton, California
You can find the full list here. Did your hometown make the cut?