Raleigh tops Forbes' list of best cities to raise a family
Citing quality schools, low crime and a low cost of living compared to residents' rising level of income, Forbes on Thursday put Raleigh atop its list of best cities to raise a family.
Posted — UpdatedRaleigh edged out Grand Rapids, Mich., Ogden, Utah, and Omaha, Neb.
Forbes used several criteria to generate its list: median household income, cost of living index, housing affordability, the percentage of residents who own their homes, average commuting delays, crime rate rankings and local school quality.
About two-thirds of people in Raleigh own their homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Forbes also mentioned Raleigh's economy, which is centered around financial services, software and energy, retail shipping and Research Triangle Park.
Housing costs are creeping higher in Raleigh, however. Just under 72 percent of Raleigh-area homes are deemed affordable at the median income level, according to a joint study from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo.
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