10 Best Cities to Raise a Family

Choosing the best place to raise your kids can be daunting. You need great schools, plenty of libraries and playgrounds, and safe, family-friendly neighborhoods, all of which can come at a cost to parents. 

Luckily, MSN Real Estate took a two-step approach to come up with a list of the best cities to raise kids. First, they looked for metropolitan areas with high household incomes relative to living costs, a large percentage of families with children under 18, and low crime rates. They didn't look for the cheapest places to live, but rather places where earning potential is more than adequate to cover a family's expenses. 

Then, they honed in on a specific city within each of their top 10 metro areas that's well-suited to raising kids based on educational factors (spending per student and the quality of local school districts) as well as fun factors (availability of public parks, playgrounds, and libraries.) They also looked at each city's average income for families- as opposed to median income for all households- to give a realistic sense of how much it can cost a family to live in a place with so many kid-centric benefits. 

The results can be seen by clicking the link below, but, first, scroll down to read more about #5 on the list: East Grand Rapids, MI! If you are someone you know are looking to buy a home in the area, call us today at (616) 206-9667 to further discuss your real estate needs. We'd love to help find you the perfect home for you and your family!

http://realestate.msn.com/10-best-cities-to-raise-a-family#1

5. East Grand Rapids, Mich.

Population: 10,694

Average family income: $142,329

Percentage of families with children: 44.1%

Metro-area spending per student: $5,748

Public playgrounds: 8

Great schools are a big draw in East Grand Rapids. The public system has earned top rankings from the state, the College Board and the educational nonprofit GreatSchools.org for its high exam scores and focus on advanced classes. Grand Rapids' upscale neighbor isn't a bad place to make a living, either. The average family income is substantially higher than the national average, and the fat paychecks seem even fatter thanks to western Michigan's ultralow living costs.

Families will find big yards and friendly neighbors on the tree-lined streets around Reeds Lake, the popular park near the city's center. There's even more family-friendly stuff to do outside of town. Grand Rapids is home to a zoo and a children's museum, and the Lake Michigan shoreline lies a mere 30 minutes away.

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Northouse Realty Group (616) 206-9667
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