Which communities are the best places to raise a family? A new book from Frommer's, a leader in travel guides, says the top ten affordable communities to raise a family in the U.S. are Louisville, CO; Gaithersburg, MD; Roswell, GA; Lakeville, MN; Flower Mound, TX; Fort Collins, CO; Cary, NC; Sugar Land, TX; Columbia, MD and Noblesville, IN.
"Best Places To Raise Your Family, The Top 100 Affordable Communities in the U.S." (Wiley, May 2006, $24.99), by Peter Sander and Bert Sperling, provides honest opinions and objective facts and figures to help parents find the place that's right for them.
Each place is ranked in five major categories:
? Population Profile: Size, growth and mix, with a concentration on family statistics.
? Standard of Living: Income and costs, including job security and future employment, cost of housing, taxes and day care.
? Education: The level of education of local residents and academic results of the schools.
? Health and Safety: Crime rates, health hazards and health care.
? Lifestyle: Arts and cultural resources, entertainment and recreation, commute times, climate and the area's attractiveness. |
