The quality of school systems is one of the most common reasons that people choose to move, followed closely by job opportunities and changes in family status. For many buyers, the search for an affordable house that is both in a good school district and close enough to work means living in the suburbs. Luckily, the U.S. is chalk full of charming small towns that make for great family communities.
The Business Insider recently created a list of the top 50 best suburbs in America based on average commute times, median household income, poverty and crime rates, public school rating (based on ratings from GreatSchools.org), and housing affordability. They reviewed data from 2,754 municipalities in the U.S., focusing on suburbs located within 40 kilometers of a metropolitan area, and with populations between 5,000 and 100,000.
Here are the top ten best suburbs in America today.
10. Bellaire, Texas
With its close proximity to Houston’s Galleria mall, mature oak trees, and multitude of parks, Bellaire is a very desirable place to put down roots. The school system rated 6 out of 10, the median commute time is less than 20 minutes, and the unemployment rate is low at 3.7%. The population is 17,223.
9. Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
Fox Chapel is only 10 miles from Pittsburgh, and has fabulous schools that rate 10 out of 10 on the GreatSchools.org website. The community is almost 100% residential, but it also has churches, private clubs, and private schools. The average household income is $174,924, and the population is 5,390.
8. Indian Hill, Ohio
Indian Hill is another suburb with a top notch, 10 out of 10, school system. It is located just northeast of Cincinnati, with 5,797 residents. This rural town has a legendary red schoolhouse and charming appeal. The median household income in Indian Hill is $207,067.
7. Highland Park, Texas
Home to the famous Big Pecan Tree, Highland Park hosts Dallas County’s annual tree lighting to celebrate the Christmas holiday. This town of 8,706 people is only 3 miles north of Dallas, and scores 8 out of 10 for great schools. It has many parks, and an average household income of $191,422.
6. Piedmont, California
Piedmont is full of great attributes that make it desirable: five landscaped city parks, tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a great location near the San Francisco Bay. With more than 82% of its citizen’s having received a bachelor’s degree or higher, Piedmont’s 10,852 residents are highly educated and well-off (median household income of $207,222). The school system is also top tier, scoring 10 out of 10.
5. Atherton, California
This suburb is located between San Francisco and San Jose, and features native live oak, white oak, bay, redwood, and cedar trees. Atherton’s 6,993 residents are the wealthiest on Business Insider’s 50 suburbs list—the average household income is $239,886. The school system rates an 8 out of 10.
4. University Park, Texas
A large suburb with a population of 23,460, University Park is located five miles north of downtown Dallas, and has a very highly educated populace. 83.7% of residents have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the median household income is $173,520. University Park has a low crime rate and great schools (9 out of 10).
3. Ladue, Missouri
This small town features charming boutiques, gourmet dining, and antique shopping. Ladue has a remarkably low poverty rate of 1.6%, and great schools rated 7 out of 10. The median household income is $176,369, and the population is 8,519.
2. Mountain Brook, Alabama
Mountain Brook is beloved for its five shopping villages, great school system (10/10), and beautiful residential areas designed by the landscape planner that worked on New York City’s Central Park. It is only 17 minutes outside the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan areas, and its 20,416 residents have a median household income of $131,281.
1. New Albany, Ohio
This top-ranking suburb has 8,135 residents, and is only a 21 minutes drive from Columbus. Characterized by white picket fences, colonial style architecture, public parks, and a low poverty rate of 1.2%, New Albany is a safe and beautiful place to live. The school systems rate a perfect 10 out of 10, and the median household income is $185,076.
After seeing what characteristics make up the top ten best suburbs in America, it’s worthwhile to reflect on your own town. Are you getting your money’s worth? Are your clients? Did your town make the list?
#TopPlaces
Hannah is currently a writer and student in Colorado Springs, pursuing her master's degree in Creative Writing at the University of Denver. Before becoming a Staff Writer for the American Genius, Hannah wrote website content and grant applications for a law office in central Minnesota.
