Beto Nájera

Tinley Park, Illinois
Nearest city: Chicago
Population: 54,491
Median family income: $90,377
Runners-up: Arlington Heights, Schaumburg

Tinley Park, a fast-developing southwestern suburb of Chicago, is this year's Best Place to Raise Your Kids--not just for Illinois, but for the nation as a whole. It has great schools, a vibrant downtown, and housing options that range from modest to luxurious. Oak Park Avenue, which serves as a Main Street shopping area, includes a beautiful town square where residents gather and children ride bicycles. Tinley Park also has a 28,000-seat outdoor concert amphitheater, one of the largest in the Chicago area.

Arcadia, California
Nearest city: Los Angeles
Population: 55,817
Median family income: $83,480
Runners-up: Monterey Park, Diamond Bar

Arcadia, located about 20 miles from Los Angeles, is the state's best place to raise kids for the second consecutive year because of its low crime and excellent schools. The population of Arcadia includes a number of peacocks that hang out in the neighborhood near the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden.

Warner Robins, Georgia
Nearest city: Macon
Population: 49,515
Median family income: $62,715
Runners-up: Valdosta, Roswell

Warner Robins, about 120 miles south of Atlanta, is home to the 6,400-acre Robins Air Force Base, the state's largest single employer. Many of the residents of this proud town outside Macon, Ga., are former military personnel. Warner Robins won the Little League World Series in 2007.

Honolulu, Hawaii
Nearest city: Honolulu
Population: 377,399
Median family income: $74,504
Runners-up: Hilo

Honolulu, the state capital, is surrounded by gorgeous beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, and mountain ranges. But there is more to Honolulu than surfing, sunny weather, and sandy beaches. It also has a thriving arts scene, great ethnic restaurants, and each year it hosts the NFL Pro Bowl and college football's Hawaii Bowl. The island of Oahu also has a strong military presence, including Schofield Barracks, the state's largest Army post.

Quincy, Massachusetts
Nearest city: Boston
Population: 92,181
Median family income: $74,160
Runners-up: Weymouth, Barnstable Town

Quincy, located about 10 miles south of Boston, is the birthplace of U.S. Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams and is known as the "City of Presidents" and "Birthplace of the American Dream." The community has plenty of historic sites, miles of coastline, and great schools. The district, which prides itself on a low student-teacher ratio, has 12 elementary schools, 5 middle schools and 2 high schools that teach a diverse student body, including speakers of 32 dialects.

Woodbury, Minnesota
Nearest city: St. Paul, Minn.
Population: 58,566
Median family income: $114,156
Runners-up: Rochester, Eagan

Woodbury, a growing suburb just 10 miles southeast of St. Paul, is close to major employers, including the state government and 3M, which makes everything from post-it notes to safety equipment. It has 100 miles of multi-use trails and is surrounded by thousands of acres of park land. The city is served by three independent public school districts and is home to the Math & Science Academy charter school.

Tonawanda, New York
Nearest city: Buffalo
Population: 57,922
Median family income: $63,827
Runners-up: Irondequoit, Cheektowaga

Tonawanda, a northern suburb of Buffalo, has one of the state's largest school districts, which includes the Village of Kenmore and most of the Town of Tonawanda. It contains 13 schools.

Beaverton, Oregon
Nearest city: Portland
Population: 87,676
Median family income: $78,946
Runners-up: Corvallis, Eugene

Beaverton, seven miles west of Portland, has a park located within a half-mile of every resident, a 25-mile network of bike paths, nearby ski slopes, beaches, and shopping areas. The highly-regarded public and private schools send students to top-ranked universities.

Clarksville, Tennessee
Nearest city: Nashville
Population: 118,209
Median family income: $53,795
Runners-up: Hendersonville, Johnson City

Clarksville, in Middle Tennessee, 40 miles northwest of Nashville, is among the nation's fastest growing communities. It has lot of new buildings-schools, hospital, and subdivisions. Its low cost of living and good schools make it a choice setting for families.

San Marcos, Texas
Nearest city: Austin, Tex.
Population: 45,366
Median family income: $53,690
Runners-up: San Antonio, Houston

San Marcos, located in Central Texas between San Antonio and Austin, is home to Texas State University-San Marcos. For residents, the university provides plenty of cultural opportunities and the San Marcos River and parkland allow for a variety of outdoor recreation.