Family-friendly places to call home

FALLBROOK – What makes a home inviting to one person may deter another. For example, some people want to reside in urban centers in close proximity to public transportation, culture and nightlife, while others may be looking for a swath of property to raise livestock or enjoy privacy from neighbors.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates the average American can expect to move an estimated 11.4 times in their lifetime. Current parents or people who plan to start families may seek out towns or cities that cater to family-friendly pursuits, looking for locations to establish roots. The following are several locales that are considered family-friendly, based on metrics and methodology from sources such as WalletHub, RewardExpert, Forbes, Today's Parent and Reader's Digest Canada, among others. Factors taken into consideration include cost of housing, quality of local school districts, quality of health care systems, availability of day care and recreational options.

In the United States, Overland Park, Kansas; Madison, Wisconsin; Plano, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Fremont, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Portland, Oregon; Naperville, Illinois; Columbia, Maryland; Arlington, Virginia; Boise, Idaho, and Provo, Utah, make the list.

In Canada, popular family-friendly places include Strathcona County, Alberta; Milton, Ontario; Boucherville, Quebec; Burlington, Ontario; Windsor, Ontario; Calgary, Ontario; Guelph, Ontario; Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario-Quebec, and Sherbrooke, Quebec.

These family-friendly cities and towns are not listed in order of attractiveness to families and those who are considering relocating are urged to visit a city or town to get a feel for the community for themselves before buying a home.