UPDATED: Nerdwallet.com: Gives Data On Kyle’s U.S. Status For Families

by Sreekar Jasthi

Get the entire list & data of “Best Small Cities for Families” from NerdWallet.ComHERE!

Many Americans dream of raising a family in a tight-knit, safe community with a white picket fence around a yard for the kids and dog to roam.

When choosing the right place to realize that dream, affordability, growth and family-friendliness are all factors many parents consider. NerdWallet used those metrics to analyze 1,030 U.S. cities with populations of 25,000 to 100,000 to help you find the best small places in the country to raise your children.

Even though you’ll find smaller family-friendly cities in every state, our analysis revealed that some the best are in Texas and Utah. Seven of our top 20 cities are in the Lone Star State near Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin or Houston, and four of our top 20 cities are in Utah, near Salt Lake City.

Our analysis also revealed these trends:

Big city, big draw. Nearly all of the top 10 cities on our list are within an hour of major U.S. cities including, Salt Lake City, Austin, Dallas, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale and Indianapolis.

Schools matter. Although we didn’t consider school ratings when determining a city’s score, many of our top cities are known for their excellent public schools.

1. Sammamish, Washington

It’s no surprise that this Seattle suburb tops our list, especially after ranking high in our Best Cities for Young Families in Washington and Best Small Cities to Live In. The community is known for its schools, which received top ratings at GreatSchools.org. For families who like to play outside, there are plenty of choices, from Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park to Lake Sammamish State Park and more. Over half of the families in Sammamish have kids under age 18, and households here earn a median income of $143,239 a year, the highest in our top 20.

2. Wylie, Texas

A 45-minute drive northeast of Dallas, Wylie is between Lake Ray Hubbard and Lavon Lake, which both provide plenty of places to swim, bike, hike, fish and camp. Wylie’s public schools received strong ratings at GreatSchools, and the city’s population is growing along with the median income, which increased almost 18% from 2009 to 2013. When you’re not outside, the whole family can find something to do at the Wylie Recreation Center, which includes a climbing wall, fitness facilities and a variety of art, dance, video game design and martial arts classes.

3. Leander, Texas

Living in Leander is a practical option for families who not only want to be near a big city, but who also put a priority on affordability. Commuters can hop on the MetroRail and ride it to downtown Austin. Back in Leander, families will find less expensive housing, good schools and many well-designed local parks. Families with young children visit Cedar Rock Railroad, where youngsters can ride a miniature train through a scenic park as their parents picnic near the Shady Oak Junction Depot.

4. Kyle, Texas

Like Leander, Kyle is close to Austin, but it’s smaller and more affordable, boasting the lowest home values of our top 20 cities. Kyle is steadily growing, with a population in 2013 of about 32,000, and officials expect the city will be home to 60,000 by 2020. The city’s menu of kid-friendly activities runs the gamut from a disc golf course, to a city pool, sports leagues and summer camps. In the warmer months, on the second Saturday, folks head to Kyle Market Days, where local farmers and vendors converge in the city’s historic City Square Park with a backdrop of live music.

Methodology

We analyzed 1,030 U.S. cities with populations from 25,000 to 100,000 based on three factors:

1. Income and affordability (33.33%). We looked at median household income and median home value data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Each metric accounted for 16.7% of a city’s total score. A higher median income contributed to a higher overall score, while a higher median home value created a lower overall score.

2. Prosperity and growth (33.33%). We looked at population growth and median household income growth from 2009 to 2013 using the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Each metric accounted for 16.7% of a city’s total score. A higher percentage of growth created a higher overall score for population and median income.

3. Family-friendliness (33.33%). We measured family-friendliness by looking at the percentage of families with at least one child under age 18, and the percentage of families with incomes below the poverty level, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Each metric accounted for 16.7% of a city’s total score. A high percentage of families with children under 18 contributed to a higher overall score, while a high percentage of families with incomes below the poverty line created a lower overall score.

We analyzed incorporated cities only and excluded unincorporated census-designated places, towns and villages.

Get the entire list & data of “Best Small Cities for Families” from Nerdwallet.Com HERE!