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Elm Grove, Wisconsin, ranked No. 1 on our list of the best suburbs.
The U.S. is full of incredible places to live — cities, yes, but also numerous unique smaller towns and villages that people call home.
After examining data on nearly 300 suburbs, we put together a list of the 50 best suburbs in America. For this list, we considered suburbs with populations between 5,000 and 100,000 within 40 kilometers of the nearest metropolitan area. We also factored in average commute times, median household income, poverty and crime rates, public school ratings from GreatSchools.org, and a measure of housing affordability.
Click here to see our full methodology.
Our list was dominated by the Midwest, or more specifically by Ohio suburbs. This is likely due to several factors, most notably a reasonable cost of living.
Andy Kiersz compiled the data for this list.
50. Kirtland, Ohio
Population: 6,866
Great Schools score: 9
Residents who live in the “City of Faith and Beauty” take an average 25.4 minutes to commute to the nearby Cleveland-Elyria metro area. The median household income for this small town (less than 17 square miles) is $85,938.
49. Bellbrook, Ohio
Population: 6,943
Great Schools score: 10
The median annual household income in Bellbrook — $73,168 — may seem low, but cost of living is relatively low as well, and nearly 82% of homeowners spend 30% or less of their income on housing costs. Average commute time to Dayton, the nearest metro area, is just 21.8 minutes.
48. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Population: 6,194
Great Schools score: 10
Home to the liberal arts school Swarthmore College, the town of Swarthmore is conveniently located near the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro areas. Commuters are looking at an average commute time of 24.3 minutes.
47. Berkley, Michigan
Population: 14,970
Great Schools score: 9
A suburb of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area, Berkley benefits from a low poverty rate (2.7%) and good public schools. Folks in Berkley spend an average of 21.8 minutes commuting to work.
46. Ballwin, Missouri
Population: 30,404
Great Schools score: 10
Ballwin may be looking at a higher-than-average commute time of 25.2 minutes, but a median annual household income of $83,441 and low crime rates make this St. Louis suburb a pleasant place. Money Magazine named Ballwin one of America’s best places to live in 2005, 2011, and 2013.
45. Kasson, Minnesota
Population: 5,931
Great Schools score: 8
Designated “Tree City, USA,” the town of Kasson has fewer than 6,000 residents, but being just 22 minutes outside Rochester it never feels isolated. Kasson has virtually zero violent crime and very little property crime.
44. Monticello, Illinois
Population: 5,548
Great Schools score: 9
Also boasting a 22-minute commute, this Champaign-Urbana suburb hosts the Piatt County courthouse. Monticello is a small community with a median annual income of $64,269.
43. Waunakee, Wisconsin
Population: 12,097
Great Schools score: 10
Waunakee is about 21.1 minutes outside Madison. The town, with an annual median household income of $84,614, proudly dubs itself “The Only Waunakee in the World.”
42. Yarmouth, Maine
Population: 5,869
Great Schools score: 10
The only New England suburb on our list, Yarmouth is a seaside town just 22 minutes outside of Portland. It’s a small community, with fewer than 5,900 residents.
41. Shoreview, Minnesota
Population: 25,043
Great Schools score: 9
Shoreview is privy to almost no violent crime and offers a plethora of community activities and events. The median household income falls at $80,641. Commuting time to the nearest metro areas — Bloomington and the Twin Cities — is an average of 24.1 minutes.
40. Plymouth, Minnesota
Population: 70,576
Great Schools score: 10
Plymouth is the largest suburb on our list, with a population of over 70,000. Residents make a median household income of $86,730 and have average commute times of 22.3 minutes.
39. Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Population: 60,797
Great Schools score: 9
Located about 21.2 minutes outside Bloomington and the Twin Cities, Eden Prairie isn’t just a great place to live. It’s also a great place to work. Residents make decent livings in this town, with a median annual household income of $93,828.
38. Franklin Park, Pennsylvania
Population: 13,470
Great Schools score: 10
Residents of Franklin Park are up against a longer-than-average commute time — 27.9 minutes — but it’s worth it with all that the nearby city of Pittsburgh has to offer. The median household income ($113,828) is very high.
37. Waukee, Iowa
Population: 13,790
Great Schools score: 9
The cost of living is pretty good in Waukee, where the median annual household income is $78,102. This suburb is just a short 20.3-minute commute from Des Moines, but it makes a number of community organizations, from the Waukee Area Arts Council to the Historical Society, available right there in town.
36. Ankeny, Iowa
Population: 45,582
Great Schools score: 10
Also a suburb of Des Moines, Ankeny (pronounced “AN-ken-ee”) is a large town about 21.1 minutes away. It even has a logo. Residents take home a median household income of $73,622.
35. Hudson, Ohio
Population: 22,262
Great Schools score: 10
Hudson’s residents are fairly well off, with a median household income of $116,188, but they have to travel an average of 27.9 minutes to reach the nearest big city, Akron. Luckily for residents, the suburb has a lively downtown area, with plenty of places to shop, eat, and explore.
34. Edgewood, Kentucky
Population: 8,575
Great Schools score: 8
Edgewood is full of parks, all within walking distance of the city limits. Amid low rates of poverty and violent crime, folks who live in this suburb have a median household income of $85,552. The average commute time is 22.5 minutes to Cincinnati.
33. Munroe Falls, Ohio
Population: 5,012
Great Schools score: 8
Considered a “bedroom community,” Munroe Falls is the smallest suburb to make our list. The town has virtually no violent crime, and it is an easy 22.5-minute commute from Akron.
32. Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Population: 34,033
Great Schools score: 10
Vestavia Hills is a quick 20-minute commute to Birmingham-Hoover. The suburb maintains its southern hospitality while being the fastest-growing town in Alabama. Vestavia Hills boasts great schools and has a median household income of $85,417.
31. West University Place, Texas
Population: 14,787
Great Schools score: 7
West University Place is a 17.7-minute trip from the Houston-Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area. With one of the lowest poverty rates (1.4%) and the highest median household income ($202,132) on our list, West University Place is a great place to live.
30. Edina, Minnesota
Population: 47,941
Great Schools score: 10
Edina residents take home a median household income of $84,251. The Minnesota suburb is home t0 40 award-winning public parks and is a quick 20.4-minute commute to the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area.
29. Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Population: 16,325
Great Schools score: 10
Fort Thomas’ lower-than-average median household income of $60,578 is offset by the suburb’s low cost of living. Famous for its stone water tower (pictured), a famous northern Kentucky landmark honoring the town’s soldiers who fought in the Spanish-American War, this historical town is only a 19.6-minute commute from Cincinnati.
28. Morton, Illinois
Population: $16,267
Great Schools score: 10
The residents of Morton also enjoy low costs of living with 83.5% of homeowners spending less than 30% of their incomes on housing costs. Morton, also known as the pumpkin capital of the world, is an 18.7-minute commute to the city of Peoria.
27. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Population: 14,110
Great Schools score: 10
Whitefish Bay residents take home a median household income of $106,699. The Wisconsin suburb is a 21.7-minute commute to the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area. The town was recently named as a Bird City of Wisconsin because of its nature conservation efforts.
26. Arden Hills, Minnesota
Population: 9,552
Great Schools score: 9
Arden Hills sits eight miles north of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area (a 20.8-minute commute). Residents of Arden Hills enjoy low living costs and an average median household income of $79,208.
25. Johnston, Iowa
Population: 17,278
Great Schools score: 9
Residents of Johnston, which has doubled its population over the past 10 years, have low costs of living and a median household income of $94,014. The Iowa suburb is home to the military training site Camp Dodge and is a quick 17.8-minute commute to the cities of Des Moines and West Des Moines.
24. Wyoming, Ohio
Population: 8,428
Great Schools score: 10
Folks in the tight-knit, state-named Ohio community take home a median household income of $95,572. The town has top-notch schools and is just 21 minutes to Cincinnati.
23. Mequon, Wisconsin
Population: 23,132
Great Schools score: 10
Sitting right on the shores of Lake Michigan, Mequon boasts beautiful lakeshore bluffs as well as numerous outdoor recreation spaces. Mequon is a 22.1-minute commute to the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area, and the median household income is $106,733.
22. Dublin, Ohio
Population: 41,751
Great Schools score: 8.67
One of the larger suburbs to make our list, Dublin provides a high quality of life with low living costs. The Ohio suburb is 22.1 minutes outside of downtown Columbus, and the median household income is $114,183. Dublin is also home to Muirfield Village Golf Club, one of the best courses in the country.
21. Montgomery, Ohio
Population: 10,251
Great Schools score: 9
With low violent-crime rates, great schools, and low costs of living, Montgomery is a great place to live. Located 22.6 minutes outside of Cincinnati, Montgomery has residents with a median household income of $109,779. The town is known to host a seasonal arts series at the local theater.
20. Beverly Hills, Michigan
Population: 10,267
Great Schools score: 10
Beverly Hills is located 21.9 minutes outside of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area. The Michigan suburb has the second-lowest poverty rate on our list, at 0.5%. The town fosters a strong sense of community with regular town celebrations including the coming Halloween Hoot. Residents of Beverly Hills have a median household income of $104,951.
19. Leawood, Kansas
Population: 31,867
Great Schools score: 9
Leawood has the fourth-highest median annual income on our list, at $134,242. The charming Kansas suburb has a low crime rate and great schools. Leawood is bordered by three cities, the largest being Kansas City, which is just 20.1 minutes away.
18. Huntington Woods, Michigan
Population: 6,238
Great Schools score: 6
Huntington Woods is consistently ranked as one of the top suburbs in the country. Residents of this city, located just 20 minutes outside of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area, enjoy low costs of living and take home a median annual income of $112,593.
17. Brandon, South Dakota
Population: 8,785
Great Schools score: 8
Located just 18 minutes from the Sioux Falls area, Brandon boasts a median household income of $66,766. While the town has an unusually high poverty rate (for this list) of 4.3%, its violent-crime rate is very low.
16. Grandview Heights, Ohio
Population: 6,536
Great Schools score: 8
Grandview Heights, where the median household income is $80,729, is also home to 45 acres of park lands. The average commute time to Columbus, Ohio, is 17 minutes — one of the shortest on this list.
15. Northville, Michigan
Population: 5,970
Great Schools score: 10
Northville is nicknamed the “Switzerland of Wayne County” because of its distinct location atop rolling hills in an otherwise flat and sandy area. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area is just a short 21-minute drive away, and the median household income is $88,237.
14. Carmel, Indiana
Population: 79,191
Great Schools score: 10
Famous for its Fourth of July weekend festival CarmelFest, the town of Carmel is located almost 25 minutes from the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson metro area. The median household income is $107,505, and over 80% of homeowners spend no more than 30% of income on housing costs.
13. Germantown, Tennessee
Population: 38,844
Great Schools score: 10
Dominated by the retail and commercial service industries, Germantown boasts a large median household income of $114,520. It’s just 20 minutes outside the greater Memphis area.
12. Fox Point, Wisconsin
Population: 6,701
Great Schools score: 9
This quaint village situated along Lake Michigan is located 21 minutes from the Milwaukee-Wakesha-West Allis area and has a violent-crime rate of 0%. The median household income is $102,552.
11. Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Population: 7,554
Great Schools score: 9
Signal Mountain takes its name from a promontory of land called Signal Point, which overlooks the Tennessee River Gorge and the city of Chattanooga, which is just 22 minutes away. The median household income is $81,302.
10. Springboro, Ohio
Population: 17,409
Great Schools score: 9
Boasting big-city amenities and a small-town atmosphere, Springboro has a median household income of $95,406 and an average commute time of 22 minutes to Cincinnati.
9. Powell, Ohio
Population: 11,500
Great Schools score: 10
First settled in 1801, this small city is a 25-minute commute from Ohio’s state capital of Columbus. Powell has the fourth-highest median household income ($133,133) on this list.
8. New Albany, Ohio
Population: 7,724
Great Schools score: 10
Just a 21-minute trip to Columbus, New Albany has a very low poverty rate, at 0.4%. The median household income is $161,314.
7. Villa Hills, Kentucky
Population: 7,489
Great Schools score: 7
Transformed from farm land to a quiet bedroom community in just the past 50 years, Villa Hills has an average commute time of 22 minutes to Cincinnati. Residents earn a median household income of $87,342.
6. Upper Arlington, Ohio
Population: 33,771
Great Schools score: 10
Upper Arlington enjoys a convenient location just 18 minutes from the bustling capital, with easy access to the Columbus airport and major highways. The median household income is $95,588.
5. Prairie Village, Kansas
Population: 21,447
Great Schools score: 9
A great housing market, over 1,500 licensed businesses, and beautiful scenery combine to make Prairie Village — just 19 minutes outside Kansas City — the fifth-best suburb in America. The median household income is $83,848.
4. Mountain Brook, Alabama
Population: 20,413
Great Schools score: 10
Though Mountain Brook is only 17 minutes from the Birmingham-Hoover metro area, we don’t know why you’d ever want to leave it. With a median household income of $135,833, the community has five distinct shopping villages, its own school system, and residential areas designed by Warren Manning — the landscape planner of New York’s Central Park.
3. Madeira, Ohio
Population: 8,726
Great Schools score: 10
Forbes named Madeira to its list of the best high-performing public school districts with affordable housing last year. Boasting a median household income of $87,232 and an average commute time of 21 minutes to Cincinnati, the city has earned an “Excellent” score on the state’s report card for school districts since the inception of the rating system.
2. Zionsville, Indiana
Population: 14,160
Great Schools score: 10
Located 23 minutes from the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson metro area, Zionville is the second-best US suburb thanks to its ideal environment for raising a family (just under half of households have children below the age of 18). And nearly 80% of homeowners, in a population with a median household income of $104,455, spend less than one-third of their earnings on housing costs.
1. Elm Grove, Wisconsin
Population: 5,934
Great Schools score: 10
Elm Grove has it all: phenomenal schools, low poverty and violent-crime rates, and a six-figure median household income ($109,933). Residents can access the downtown Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis area in just 20 minutes, or escape the bustle of the big city at the village’s nature sanctuaries. Elm Grove is a designated “Bird City,” a distinction awarded to cities committed to making their communities a better place for people, birds, and other wildlife.
Now visit the towns where you should attend school.
The 20 Best College Towns In America »
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