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10 Best and Worst Cities for Raising Kids
Interesting that there’s not a ton of overlap between the 10 smartest cities and the 10 best to raise children. Nothing like nurturing the next generation among a bunch of ding-dongs.
Children’s Health magazine has ranked 100 U.S. cities as the best (and, well, when you get down to the 70s and higher, worst) cities to raise kids in. And I want to hear from Detroit parents — surely you feel you rank higher than 100!
Here’s a list of the criteria the magazine used in its statistical analysis. A sampling includes stuff like crime, schools, jobs, safety, health, housing, cultural attractions and housing.
Let’s start with the 10 Best:
1. Burlington, VT (the statistical model loved the city’s low obesity rate and high graduation rate)
2. Madison, WI
3. Fargo, ND
4. Lincoln, NE
5. Fremont, CA
6. Lexington, KY
7. Honolulu, HI
8. Cheyenne, WY
9. Omaha, NE
10. Yonkers, NY
The head spins a little, doesn’t it?
Now, for the 10 lowest ranking:
91. Toledo, OH
92. Las Vegas, NV
93. Phoenix, AZ
94. Tampa, FL
95. Cleveland, OH
96. Fresno, CA
97. Memphis, TN
98. Orlando, FL
99. Miami, FL
100. Detroit, MI
Funny, I’d rather live in more of the lowest-ranking cities than the highest-ranking ones.
And Portland? I know you’re apoplectic. You came in at 29 (!!!!). I’m thinking conspiracy.
Where does your city rank?
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[...] 10 Best (and Worst!) Cities for Raising Kids [...]
They Say: Pacifiers (and Bottles!) Lead to Speech Delays | Strollerderby commented on Oct 22 09 at 2:01 pm[...] news for Kentucky kids? Lexington is listed as one of the ten best places to raise kids in the U.S. Somewhere, there are lucky [...]
Why Kentucky’s the Worst State for Kids | Strollerderby commented on Oct 26 09 at 10:32 ampuasamanda commented on Oct 21 09 at 2:42 pmDetroit mom here. Well, actually, that is a stretch – we live in a suburb about 25 minutes outside of Detroit, and that is a WORLD of difference, believe me. I don’t doubt that Detroit is awful, though, and the rank of #100 does not surprise me. Not much good happening in and around Detroit for a long while now. The schools, the deficit, the corruption…EEEK. We’ll just do like most suburbanites around here and stay out of the city except for hockey games, football games, and the occasional play or something.
PlumbLucky commented on Oct 21 09 at 3:41 pmAnother Metro-Detroiter here…and I agree with puasamanda, except I’ll add in Greektown, Mexicantown, the cultural center area, and the Eastern Market. However – with the rampant crime, corruption (King Kwame anyone?), the abysmal education system, and lack of public services, I won’t live there. At the same, there are worlds of difference between various neighborhoods in Detroit, much less by the time you get out to the ‘burbs.
puasamanda commented on Oct 22 09 at 3:43 pmI want to add this: I worked in Detroit for years, and I actually have a lot of love for the city. As PlumbLucky pointed out, there are charms…I spent a ton of time in and around Greektown, love many of the restaurants, and Eastern Market on a Sunday morning in late spring is NOT TO BE MISSED! However, even with all the adoration of the city I have (you just have to know where to look), I wouldn’t want to raise my family there.
Eric commented on Oct 23 09 at 1:53 am@puasamanda
Detroit has a football team?
cole gamble commented on Oct 28 09 at 12:46 amhey, Mads, what’s the fixation with Portland? I’m not surprised Portland didn’t rank high. Hipsters find it uncool to be so “obvious.”
Madeline Holler commented on Oct 28 09 at 12:52 amI obsess because I love, Cole. I obsess because I love.
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