Look no further than Chicago's suburbs for one of the best places to raise a child in the United States, according to a new study.
Downers Grove ranked second on a Top 10 list of the best cities for kids by Livability.com, which evaluates the best U.S. towns to work, play and live.
The Illinois town "not only offers great schools, playgrounds and low crime rates," the site states, "it also gives children opportunities to live healthy lifestyles and engage in a multitude of activities with other kids."
To determine its Top 10 list, editors identified cities with high concentrations of school-age children and looked at how the schools stacked up. Other factors included childhood mortality rates, health insurance coverage, crime rates and percentage of restaurants that feature kids’ menus, as well as the number of parks, playgrounds and libraries in the area.
Editors found Downers Grove's crime rate was less than a quarter of the national average, and the town boasts high-rated schools and more than 140 town-hosted festivals and community events during the year.
“Having kids and when those kids start school are two of those key moments in a person’s life when they consider relocation,” Livability.com Editor Matt Carmichael said in a statement. “These cities and towns have a compelling story to tell about why they should move to the top of the list for young families.”
Top 10 Best Cities for Kids, 2014:
1. Boise, ID
2. Downers Grove, IL
3. Overland Park, KS
4. Cedar Rapids, IA
5. Plano, TX
6. Carmel, IN
7. Brentwood, TN
8. Palo Alto, CA
9. Royal Oak, MI
10. Newton, MA
