Published: Aug 16, 2015
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Kids got to come up on the stage during a Le Freak show, Coppell, Texas
courtesy City of Coppell

Money's Best Places have everything a grown-up might want: great jobs, affordable homes, and short commute times. But what would the list look like from a kid's point of view? For the young—and the young at heart—here are the top 5 places to be a kid.

We began by including only towns where the population of people younger than age 19 was greater than 30% (higher than the national average). We then calculated the rankings based on educational outcomes, safety, child obesity rates, and proximity to libraries, museums, movie theaters, aquariums, zoos, and green spaces, giving the most weight to safety and education. Limited to one place per state.—Michaela Ross