Great Cities for Raising Families

Ann Arbor, Mich.

City population: 114,797
Metro population: 347,563
Mean family income: $108,892
Median home value: $245,000
Employment growth: 0.3%
City school rating: 8
Violent crimes per 100,000 residents: 256 (455 is nat. avg.)

The Ann Arbor Public School District is consistently ranked one of the best in the country, and its students score far above average on state and national standardized tests. Add that to the city's low crime rate and high family income, and you have a stable, progressive place to raise a family,
40 minutes from Detroit. Plus, it's the home of the top-ranked
University of Michigan, with three museums and great NCAA
sports programs.

PROS: Excellent public education, low violent- and property-crime rates, more than 2,000 acres of city parks (including a nationally noted arboretum), several kid-friendly museums.

CONS: Higher-than-average housing costs, sluggish employment growth, accelerating urban sprawl and unplanned development, long winters.