These are the 10 best places in the U.S. to raise a family—California didn’t make the top 10

If you’re looking for the best place in the U.S. to raise your family, consider moving to Illinois or Pennsylvania.

Both states contain several towns that ranked highly on a recent report from Niche assessing the nation’s top family-friendly locales. The two states combined were home to seven of the top 10 places to raise a family in America.

To rank each location in terms of how much it would appeal to a family, the platform used data from the U.S. Census, Department of Education and FBI. It assessed factors including the quality of public schools in the area, cost of living, family amenities such as parks, libraries and cultural activities as well as walkability.

Other factors taken into account include:

• Crime rates
• Housing
• Ethnic, generational and economic diversity
• Percentage of households with children
• Percentage of residents age 17 and under

Chesterbrook, Penn. took the top spot on Niche’s list, thanks in part to the Philadelphia suburb’s highly-rated public school system.

It has been one of Niche’s best places to live in the U.S. for several years. Niche gave it almost all A’s across the board in categories like housing, nightlife, diversity and family amenities.

The median listing home price in Chesterbrook was $355,000 in February 2024, trending down 4% year over year, according to Realtor.com. The median rent for an apartment in the suburb is $2,173, with the average size being around 950 sq. ft., according to RentCafe.

Read on for the full list.

1. Chesterbrook, Penn.
2. Long Grove, Ill.
3. Clarendon Hills, Ill.
4. Kildeer, Ill.
5. Devon, Penn.
6. Hinsdale, Ill.
7. Kensington, N.Y.
8. Mountain Lakes, N.J.
9. Mariemont, Ohio
10. Penn Wynne, Penn.

Long Grove, ranked as the No. 2 best place to raise a family, according to Niche.

The Chicago suburb scored A’s in categories like public schools, housing, and being good for families. It got a B in nightlife and a B- in diversity.

“Living in Long Grove offers residents a rural feel, and most residents own their homes,” the report reads.

The suburb is northwest of Chicago, about an hour from downtown, and known for its historic charm.

Long Grove has strict building ordinances to preserve its look, including rules about its sidewalks, fences and residential street lights.

The town’s website says Long Grove is “designed with a philosophy of preserving nature.”

Long Grove’s average home value is $808,847, up 7.9% over the past year, according to Zillow.

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