Best cities to raise a family

Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:12 pm

List of best U.S. cities for families

Parenting Magazine has issued its annual list of the best U.S. cities for families.
Here is the complete list

1. Washington, District of Columbia
2. Austin, Texas
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota
5. Des Moines, Iowa
6. Madison, Wisconsin
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
8. Omaha, Nebraska
9. Seattle, Washington
10. Louisville, Kentucky
11. St. Louis, Missouri
12. San Antonio, Texas
13. Portland, Oregon
14. Kansas City, Missouri
15. Colorado Springs, Colorado
16. New Orleans, Louisiana
17. Richmond, Virginia
18. Lexington, Kentucky
19. Lincoln, Nebraska
20. Wichita, Kansas
21. Salt Lake City, Utah
22. Columbus, Ohio
23. Dallas, Texas
24. New York, New York
25. Atlanta, Georgia
26. Buffalo, New York
27. Denver, Colorado
28. Boise, Idaho
29. Indianapolis, Indiana
30. Jacksonville, Florida
31. Little Rock, Arkansas
32. Nashville, Tennessee
33. Syracuse, New York
34. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
35. Norfolk, Virginia
36. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
37. Baltimore, Maryland
38. Tulsa, Oklahoma
39. Orlando, Florida
40. Tampa, Florida
41. Wilmington, Delaware
42. Topeka, Kansas
43. Ann Arbor, Michigan
44. Albuquerque, New Mexico
45. Miami, Florida
46. Tucson, Arizona
47. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
48. Cincinnati, Ohio
49. Anchorage, Alaska
50. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
51. Spokane, Washington
52. El Paso, Texas
53. Virginia Beach, Virginia
54. Houston, Texas
55. Billings, Montana
56. Grand Rapids, Michigan
57. Raleigh, North Carolina
58. Fort Wayne, Indiana
59. Providence, Rhode Island
60. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
61. Hartford, Connecticut
62. Charlotte, North Carolina
63. San Francisco, California
64. Cleveland, Ohio
65. Tacoma, Washington
66. Birmingham, Alabama
67. Fort Worth, Texas
68. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
69. Corpus Christi, Texas
70. Arlington, Virginia
71. Durham, North Carolina
72. Memphis, Tennessee
73. Chicago, Illinois
74. Phoenix, Arizona
75. Greensboro, North Carolina
76. San Diego, California
77. Aurora, Colorado
78. St. Petersburg, Florida
79. Mobile, Alabama
80. Chesapeake, Virginia
81. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
82. Augusta, Georgia
83. Montgomery, Alabama
84. San Jose, California
85. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
86. Newark, New Jersey
87. Toledo, Ohio
88. Akron, Ohio
89. Sacramento, California
90. Detroit, Michigan
91. Scottsdale, Arizona
92. Los Angeles, California
93. Arlington, Texas
94. Mesa, Arizona
95. Las Vegas, Nevada
96. Fresno, California
97. Long Beach, California
98. Bakersfield, California
99. Riverside, California
100. Anaheim, California

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:37 am

Washington DC at #1? Â OMG no.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:23 am

As always, I'm sure the metrics used are the same exact ones used to compile the rankings for "America's best cities to start a business", or "America's best cities to prevent skin damage and promote hair growth...

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:33 am

HuskerDave wrote:Washington DC at #1? OMG no.

Based on your experiences living there, I assume...?

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:15 am

Big E wrote:
HuskerDave wrote:Washington DC at #1? OMG no.
Based on your experiences living there, I assume...?

My parents lived there for several years, wise guy.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:16 am

So no, then.

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:27 am

Big E wrote:So no, then.

Oh wise one... share some of your omniscience with us... you know everything and have personally experienced it all.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:30 am

If you mean like living in Baltimore and spending a huge amount of time in DC with my significant other who also lived there for five years, and having many friends who have in the past or currently are raising families in DC then yes, I have. I wouldn't go so far to say omniscient, though.

I'd be curious to know why you immediately dismissed DC as a good place for families.

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:40 am

Big E wrote:If you mean like living in Baltimore and spending a huge amount of time in DC with my significant other who also lived there for five years, and having many friends who have in the pastor currently are raising families in DC then yes, I have. I wouldn't go so far to say omniscient, though.

I'd be curious to know why you immediately dismissed DC as a good place for families.

Oh so you didn't live in DC either? Â Then I dismiss your experiences as easily as you did mine.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:46 am

Then I dismiss your dismissal of my dismissal of your dismissal of DC entirely. Â I also fart in your general direction. Â Your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elderberries.

Oh, and all Husker fans are gay. Â Even the straight ones.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:53 am

If there were a like button on this forum, it would be the first and last time I "liked" a comment of Big E's. so yeah

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:56 am

If there was a dismiss button I would poop on it so HuskerDave got poop on his finger next time he dismissed me.

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:02 pm

Big E wrote:Then I dismiss your dismissal of my dismissal of your dismissal of DC entirely. I also fart in your general direction. Your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elderberries.

Oh, and all Husker fans are gay. Even the straight ones.

I appreciate the Monty Python reference...

Next time just ask why I have an opinion before pooping on it.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:03 pm

I did, Spartacus.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:04 pm

Big E wrote:I did, Spartacus.

Biggus Postus.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:04 pm

Do you find something funny about that?

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:09 pm

Well, it's a joke name, sir.

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:06 pm

Here's why I have trouble with DC being #1 on this list of best cities for families. Â

Annual corruption scandals by the school administration
a violent crime rate far greater than most cities on this list
extremely high cost of living
proximity to regularly occurring radical protests
high-profile, pervasive local government corruption
restrictive zoning keeping out low-cost retailers like Wal-Mart
traffic that is among the worst in the nation

Maybe DC belongs somewhere on this list because of the proximity to family activities - but #1? Â I just can't buy it.

bigredmed · Post by **bigredmed** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:17 pm

HuskerDave wrote:Here's why I have trouble with DC being #1 on this list of best cities for families.

Annual corruption scandals by the school administration
a violent crime rate far greater than most cities on this list
extremely high cost of living
proximity to regularly occurring radical protests
high-profile, pervasive local government corruption
restrictive zoning keeping out low-cost retailers like Wal-Mart
traffic that is among the worst in the nation

Maybe DC belongs somewhere on this list because of the proximity to family activities - but #1? I just can't buy it.

+1

Add to that a controlling local government. Â And not only a corrupt school district, but also incompetent schools.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:23 pm

That is odd how DC is considered #1 for families. Â Then again, what do I know.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:30 pm

Big E wrote:
Oh, and all Husker fans are gay. Even the straight ones.

Quoted for truth. Â

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:51 pm

the1wags wrote:
Big E wrote:
Oh, and all Husker fans are gay. Even the straight ones.
Quoted for truth.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:54 pm

Jesus, relax. I know Big E and am just giving him a hard time. It's a joke, hence the big smiley. You Husker homers get all butthurt at the slightest thing, and wonder why I make fun. Â :roll:

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:59 pm

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:56 pm

Having lived in the Washington, DC metro now for 22 years, I can see why it ranked so high on the list. Â Remember guys, they are probably including the metro (Virginia and Maryland Suburbs) with easy access to downtown DC via metro, etc., yet having some of the best schools and access to education, shopping, museums and so forth with a very low crime rate. Â I am not discounting many of the comments about Washington, DC itself (although many are old issues and not current issues), nevertheless, it merits a place in the rankings, perhaps not #1, but should definitely be a place to raise children.

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:58 pm

Rob wrote:Having lived in the Washington, DC metro now for 22 years, I can see why it ranked so high on the list. Remember guys, they are probably including the metro (Virginia and Maryland Suburbs) with easy access to downtown DC via metro, etc., yet having some of the best schools and access to education, shopping, museums and so forth with a very low crime rate. I am not discounting many of the comments about Washington, DC itself (although many are old issues and not current issues), nevertheless, it merits a place in the rankings, perhaps not #1, but should definitely be a place to raise children.

Thanks for weighing in, Rob. Â You probably have a more credible analysis of this than any of the rest of us.