The 50 Best Small Towns to Raise a Family in America

Big city living isn't for everyone—many people prefer the slower pace and relative predictability of planned communities and suburban living. Plus, small towns often offer easy commutes into big cities without the high property values or rents of urban downtowns.

Finding Your Ideal Family-Friendly Haven

If you're looking for a comfortable place to start a family and feel ready to trade apartment broker's fees and monthly rent for homeownership, we've done the homework to discover the top places to start anew. Stacker compiled a list of the best small towns to raise a family using data released by Niche in March 2023. Niche ranks places based on various factors, including public schools, jobs, and cost of living. Towns with a population under 5,000 were considered.

How does a town outside Chicago, known for a Frank Lloyd Wright home, sound to you? If you'd prefer to be closer to the Big Apple than the Windy City, northern New Jersey has several top options. For families looking to relocate to the Midwest, there are plenty of posh locations with famous golf courses, nature trails, and museums to entice young families.

Many of these towns have tons of history, with some dating back to the Revolutionary War. Keep reading to gather inspiration for your family's next move.