25 Best Places to Live in the US for Families

In this article we will take a look at 25 best Places to live in the US for families. You can skip our detailed analysis of the best American areas to reside, and go to the 5 Best Places to Live in the US for Families.

When it comes to the best places to live in the US for families, there’s plenty of options and sources to consult. As usual, we went with the public and most accurate data from the US Census bureau. The first and most important factor we’ve considered is education. We also took into account key factors like Cost of Living Grade, Crime & Safety Grade, and Housing Grade.

25. Portland, Oregon

Population – 653.115

Weather – From 36°F to 84°F and is rarely below 26°F or above 95°F

Portland is an urban-suburban mix, with short, ward, and dry summers and quite cold, wet, and overcast winters. Yep, this is Oregon, yet it’s got a B+ grade for Public Schools and an A- for General Good for Families. If you’re ok with an average of 154 rainy days a year, you’ll find an eco-friendly environment, parks, bridges, bicycle paths, and a deluge of microbreweries and coffeehouses to spend those rainy days, while your kids are studying hard at one of over 100 college and university campuses. In Portland, you’ll find the OMSI Planetarium and 30 museums.

Best Places To Live in the US for Families

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24. Kansas City, Missouri

Population – 491.918

Weather – From 24°F to 90°F, rarely below 7°F or above 99°F

Kansas City is Good for Families (A- rating), Night Life (A), diversity (A), Jobs (A-), Commute (A-), and Outdoors Activities (A-) heaven. Housing (B), Cost of Living (B), and Public Schools (B+) all rank in the B category.

23. Washington, District of Columbia

Population – 684.498

Weather – Warm and muggy summers and very cold winters; partly cloudy year-round. Temperature varies from                           29°F to 88°F and is rarely below 17°F or above 96°F.

The capital of the United States, Washington D.C. is home to the Smithsonian Institution, the world-renowned museum and research complex consisting of 17 museums and galleries, including the National Zoo. Public schools in Washington D.C. are above average.

22. Boise, Idaho

Population – 228,790

Weather – Semi-arid climate with 4 distinctive seasons, typical summer temperature is about 90°F, reaching 100°F                          maximums and typical winters of 30.7 °F, seldom falling to 0 °F.

A great, small, quiet place to successfully start the long-term project called “Happy Family”. Public Schools here are above average, ranking A -.

21. Saint Paul, Minnesota

Population – 307,695

Weather – Warm and wet summers, average 83°F, rarely above 91°F; freezing, snowy, and windy winters with 9°F-                           10°F, rarely below that mark.

Why chose St. Paul? The state capital of Minnesota, the “Twin City” of Minneapolis. Home to the largest hockey mural at Downtown’s Treasure Island Center, an impressive 300-foot by 50-foot installment. St. Paul encompasses 16 colleges and universities on just 56 square miles.

20. San Diego, California

Population – 1.426 million

Weather – Average summer temperatures are between 62°F and 76°F; cold and wet winters with the average                                       temperatures between 48°F to 65°F.

Not yet a megapolis, but surely a heavenly place to be. A grades at Public Schools, Health & Fitness, A+ for Outdoor Activities, Weather, Diversity, Night Life, A- at Good for Families and commute. In San Diego you’ll find a rich cultural life of planetariums and science centers: Palomar College Planetarium, Fleet Science Center, San Diego Science Center, Pacific American Life Science Learning Center, Shiley Center for Science and Technology, Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Nature Center, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

19. New York City, New York

Population – 8.399 million

Weather – Warm and humid summers and very cold and windy winters, the temperature typically varies from 28°F                         to 85°F and is rarely below 14°F or above 92°F; it is wet and partly cloudy year-round.

The only megapolis in our ranking – “the City that Never Sleeps”, “Gotham” or “the Big Apple.”

18. Boston, Massachusetts

Population – 694,583

Weather – Warm summers and very cold and wet winters; partly cloudy year-round. Typical temperature over the                           course of the year – 23°F to 82°F and is rarely below 9°F or above 91°F.

When I hear Boston, I hear Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

17. Irving, Texas

Population – 242,242

Weather – Hot and muggy summers are cold and windy winters; partly cloudy year-round. Typical temperature                               varies from 38°F to 96°F and is rarely below 26°F or above 102°F.

In Irving, you’ll find 33 colleges, out of which 7 community colleges and 4 public colleges and universities.

16. Tampa, Florida

Population – 392,890

Weather – Long, hot, oppressive, wet, and mostly cloudy summers and short, cool, windy, and partly cloudy                                      winters. Typical temperature between 52°F to 90°F and rarely below 38°F or above 94°F.

Tampa has many college options, yet only 8 schools are available. Tampa has an A rating for Good for Families, Outdoor Activities, Weather, and Nightlife. Tampa is perfect for both raising a family. In Tampa, you’ll also find some cultural entertainment such as museums, science centers.

15. Charlotte, North Carolina

Population – 872,498

Weather – Hot and muggy summers and very cold and wet winters; partly cloudy year-round. Temperature varies                           from 33°F to 89°F and is rarely below 21°F or above 96°F.

North Carolina holds B+ at the Public Schools rating, has 9 colleges and another 30 colleges within a 50 miles range, enrolling over 115K students total.

14. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Population – 425,403

Weather – Warm and wet summers; freezing, snowy, and windy winters; and it is partly cloudy year-round. Typical                        temperature varies from 9°F to 83°F and is rarely below -11°F or above 92°F.

Minneapolis is home to 78 colleges and universities and 55 museums.

13. Scottsdale, Arizona

Population – 255,310

Weather – Warm and wet summers; freezing, snowy, and windy winters; and it is partly cloudy year-round.                                       Temperature from 9°F to 83°F and is rarely below -11°F or above 92°F.

A proud A ranking at Public Schools, Good for Families, Health & Fitness, Nightlife, and A+ at Weather. You’ll find about 40 colleges in the area and 7 museums.

12. Lexington, Kentucky

Population – 323,780

Weather – warm and humid summers and very cold and wet winters; it is partly cloudy year-round. Typical                                       temperature varies from 26°F to 85°F and is rarely below 9°F or above 92°F.

Lexington has a Good for Families, Diversity, and Nightlife A rating and an A- for Outdoor Activities and Commute. In Lexington you can find the following entertainment and education: The Living Arts & Science Center, MacAdam Student Observatory, Georgetown College, Transylvania University, Asbury University, University of Kentucky, and several other universities.

11. Austin, Texas

Population – 964,254

Weather – Summers are particularly hot and oppressive; winters are short, cold, & windy; it is partly cloudy year-                           round. Typical temperature over the year varies from 43°F to 97°F & is rarely below 30°F or above 102°F.

There are 15 higher education institutions in Texas, out of which 2 religious: Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Austin Graduate School of Theology. Also in Austin, you can choose from 29 museums and a couple of science centers and planetariums.

10. Lincoln, Nebraska

Population – 287,401

Weather – Hot, humid, and mostly clear summers and freezing, dry, windy, and partly cloudy winters. Over the                                course of the year, temperature varies from 17°F to 89°F and is rarely below -1°F or above 98°F.

Lincoln has a Good for Families A ranking and a Public Schools A-.

9. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Population – 450,189

Weather – Warm and muggy summers, very cold and windy winters, and it is wet and partly cloudy year-round.                             Temperature varies from 34°F to 87°F and is rarely below 23°F or above 93°F.

Virginia Beach, yet another heavenly place to raise a family. Good for Families, Public Schools, Outdoor Activities, Diversity, and Nightlife.

8. Omaha, Nebraska

Population – 468,262

Weather – Warm, humid, and wet summers; freezing, dry, and windy winters; it’s partly cloudy year-round. Typical                       temperature over the course of the year varies from 16°F to 87°F and is rarely below -2°F or above 96°F.

The “upstream people” city – that is literally what the Indian work “Omaha” means.

7. San Francisco, California

Population – 883,305

Weather – Summers between 54-65°F degrees and 48-59°F degrees in winter.

 In less than 50 square miles, San Francisco encompasses 20 colleges and universities.

6. Seattle, Washington

Population – 744,955

Weather – Short, warm, dry, and partly cloudy summers and very cold, wet, and mostly cloudy winters. Typical                              temperature variation – from 37°F to 79°F and is rarely below 28°F or above 88°F.

Seattle is environmentally friendly, safe and residents earn above-average incomes.

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Disclosure: 25 Best Places to Live in the US for Families is originally published at Insider Monkey.