Went to pay my water bill and found my city is #1 [View all]

[snooper2]

Affordable and Growing: Best Small Cities for Families

NerdWallet’s analysis
What makes a smaller city an affordable and desirable place to live? To determine the best small cities for families, NerdWallet examined the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, GreatSchools and NeighborhoodScout for 245 places in the U.S. with populations from 25,000 to 100,000. Our analysis considers factors such as home value and affordability, median annual income, growth and factors that families consider including school quality and crime. To see our detailed methodology, click here.


1. Wylie, Texas
This city, about 30 miles northeast of Dallas, is between Lavon Lake and Lake Ray Hubbard, which means it offers access to outdoor activities for families. The city of 44,000 residents has the second-most affordable homes in the top 10, with a median home value of $154,600 in 2014. Of all 245 cities analyzed, Wylie has the seventh-highest median annual income growth, which jumped over 19% from 2009 to 2014. Schools in Wylie earned a rating of 9 out of 10 by reviewers at GreatSchools.org.

2. Spring Hill, Tennessee
Spring Hill, which is about 30 miles south of Nashville, has experienced growth as a manufacturing hub, particularly for cars. It boasts the ninth-highest population growth of the 245 cities, with a 37% jump in residents from 2009 to 2014. In Spring Hill, nearly 50% of families, the third-highest in the top 10, have children under age 18. That’s not the only reason this Tennessee town is family-friendly: Schools in Spring Hill are rated a strong 9 out of 10 by reviewers at GreatSchools.

3. Leander, Texas
Leander is a growing Austin suburb and the only one connected to the capital’s downtown via light rail. Leander has the most affordable houses of the top 10 cities, with the median home value in 2014 at just $154,500 — which is about half of the value of homes in Austin, according to Zillow. Of the 245 cities analyzed, Leander was No. 10 when it comes to the percentage of families (nearly 52%) with children younger than 18. This city’s population grew over 34% from 2009 to 2014, as the Austin area booms.

more

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/mortgages/best-affordable-small-cities-families-2016/