What are the best cities for raising a family?

By Blaze Bullock, Deseret News


1. Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 65
Cost of living index: 6
Housing affordability: 7
Commuting: 22
Percent owning homes: 5 (75%)
Crime: 27
Education: 35

Grand Rapids has multiple furniture making companies and there are several charter schools to supplement the public school system.

2. Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 64
Cost of living index: 44
Housing affordability: 34
Commuting: 23
Percent owning homes: 29 (69%)
Crime: 5
Education: 1

Boise is the third biggest city in the Pacific Northwest and has less crime and lower costs than Portland and Seattle.

3. Provo, Utah

Provo, Utah

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 33
Cost of living index: 10
Housing affordability: 54
Commuting: 34
Percent owning homes: 59 (65%)
Crime: 1
Education: 11

Housing can be a little expensive but the cost of living is pretty low. This city has a lower crime rate than any other metro in the U.S.

4. Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown, Ohio

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 96
Cost of living index: 18
Housing affordability: 1
Commuting: 27
Percent owning homes: 10 (73%)
Crime: 31
Education: 21

Youngstown has good schools and affordable costs even though it struggles with the bad economy.

5. Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 19
Cost of living index: 32
Housing affordability: 56
Commuting: 54
Percent owning homes: 32 (69%)
Crime: 12
Education: 4

Commuters drive 25 extra hours a year in Raleigh compared to the national average but that only equates to about 10 minutes a day. This city is in the top fifth in median income in the nation.

6. Poughkeepsie, New York

Poughkeepsie, New York

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 8
Cost of living index: 86
Housing affordability: 67
Commuting: 4
Percent owning homes: 15 (72%)
Crime: 3
Education: 34

Yes, the costs of this city are high, but the incomes are high as well and the crime rate is one of the nation's lowest.

7. Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 34
Cost of living index: 8
Housing affordability: 24
Commuting: 37
Percent owning homes: 16 (71%)
Crime: 43
Education: 56

Apparently Warren Buffet knows value.

8. Ogden, Utah

Ogden, Utah

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 16
Cost of living index: 20
Housing affordability: 11
Commuting: 41
Percent owning homes: 60 (55%)
Crime: 4
Education: 67
Ogden has the greatest spread between high median income and low 

cost of living.

9. Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 44
Cost of living index: 24
Housing affordability: 13
Commuting: 36
Percent owning homes: 68 (64%)
Crime: 30
Education: 8

Cincinnati doesn't have any issues in these categories, being in the top half in all except percent owning homes.

10. Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts

Rankings (of 100 largest metros):
Median income: 14
Cost of living index: 71
Housing affordability: 23
Commuting: 17
Percent owning homes: 20 (70.3%)
Crime: 17
Education: 62
This metro isn't far from Boston and Hartford and is an industrial downtown yet it's close to neighborhoods like Marlborough and Shrewsbury.