What to Know
- The National Council for Home Safety and Security violent crime data, grad rates, median household income and health insurance in 526 cities
- No cities in Connecticut or New York made the Top 100 in the trade association's list; two New Jersey cities ranked in the bottom 50
- San Ramon, California, was ranked the best city in the nation to raise a child, according to the report
Only two of the best 100 U.S. cities to raise a child are in the tri-state area, and they're both in New Jersey, a new report finds.
Toms River and Clifton came in 65th and 93rd, respectively, in the 2017 ranking released Monday by the National Council for Home Safety and Security.
New York and Connecticut were notably absent from the list, which was generated from analysis of violent crime data, graduation rates, median household income and health insurance in 526 cities nationwide.
"Obviously, not every family has the means to choose their ideal location to raise kids, but for those that do, choosing the city or town in which to plant your roots is a big decision," the National Council for Home Safety and Security said in a statement on its website. "The quality of schooling, median income, safety, and opportunities for outdoor play and exploration in a given location all play a vital role in your kid’s development."
The trade association ranked San Ramon, California, a mid-sized city about 15 miles east of San Francisco, the best city in the entire country to raise a kid. Top-notch public schools and high median family income tipped the scales in its favor -- and the weather didn't hurt, either.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Newton, Massachusetts, Newport Beach, California, Pleasanton, California, Flower Mound, Texas, Livermore, California, Davis, California, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Yorba Linda, California and Boulder, Colorado.
