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jones4ver · May 4, 2011, 07:26 AM

Can anyone tell me what is the best place to raise a family? Looking for well mannered diverse culture, good resources, limited crime, good schools, safer neighborhoods and activities that don't cost a lot of money.

NeedKarma · May 4, 2011, 07:29 AM

Any country in particular?

Fr_Chuck · May 4, 2011, 08:51 AM

Thinking Amsterdam or Rome

But really there is no such thing that has it all. You will have to have a larger city to have diverse culture and good resources. And to be frank, well mannered just depends on the people and how you interact.
Good school, by whose terms, I don't see any public school in most US cities as good.
Safer neighborhoods, do you want a gated community with its own armed security ?

And to that end, larger cities cost more to live in, than smaller cities, so to have better schools, safer neighborhoods you are going to have to pay a lot more.

excon · May 4, 2011, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by jones4ver

Can anyone tell me what is the best place to raise a family?

Hello j:

If you're liberal minded, Eugene, Oregon. If not, Irving, Texas.

excon

joypulv · May 4, 2011, 11:42 AM

Money Magazine puts out their list every year. CNNMoney.com.
Eden Prairie, MN, is no. 1.
Housing doesn't look too bad there.
Newton MA (rich Boston burb) and Bellevue WA (Bill Gates Land) are 3 and 4, and I KNOW they are expensive.
But you didn't ask about cost of living!

excon · May 4, 2011, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by joypulv

Bellevue WA

Hello joy:

Bellevue? BELLEVUE?? Gagg!!

excon

Wondergirl · May 4, 2011, 12:23 PM

Go to your local library. They (reference desk) will have books and other resources to help you pin down the perfect location either in the US or the world.

Wondergirl · May 4, 2011, 12:27 PM

The Chicago suburbs -- big city nearby, good roads, good schools (parochial, private, military, public), decent enough prices, lots of parks and preserves, diverse culture, lots of shopping opportunities, limited crime, lots of free activities.

joypulv · May 4, 2011, 06:33 PM

What's so horrible about Bellevue?? Or than the fact that it's kind of homogenized.

If the question was 'towns' instead of 'cities' I would have said right HERE (LOOK!), the tri-state area where NY, MA, and CT meet. There is as much art and music, good food and books, excellent public (our school won the US robotics contest) and private schools (Hotchkiss etc), nature preserves (we don't need parks, it's all one big park) as there is 110 miles down the road in NYC. And even good shops, without having to park on miles of hot pavement. And free activities, if you can't make your own. And limited crime.

No one who grew up here can afford to buy here though. We move back after 40 years away.

excon · May 4, 2011, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by joypulv

What's so horrible about Bellevue???? Or than the fact that it's kinda homogenized.

Hello joy:

Seattle is old. Bellevue is new.. Seattle is funky. Bellevue is yuppie.. Seattle has character. Bellevue is vanilla. Seattle has neighborhoods. Bellevue is, as you say, homogenized. Seattle doesn't have Walmart.. Bellevue does. Seattle is cool... Bellevue is Microsoftish... Seattle has a waterfront.. Bellevue has a lake.. Seattle has great restaurants... Bellevue has Chili's. Seattle has beautiful chicks.. Bellevue has a dog park.

excon

joypulv · May 4, 2011, 09:05 PM

I have to admit, excon, you are better at this than Money Magazine.

Bellevue is where I first encountered Named Developments many years ago, miles and miles of them.

I wonder though about the funky part. Whenever I go back to some wonderful funky place like Seattle, the funky has been replaced with glitzy ritzy fake funky.