Prashant Gopal, BusinessWeek.com
Nov 17th, 2009
See which town ranked highest in BusinessWeek's fourth annual survey of the Best Places to Raise Your Kids. Hint: It's in Illinois.
You'd think that the character of a village that grew from 12,000 to 60,000 residents in less than 40 years might have changed with the population. But young families move into Tinley Park, Ill., a proud village 25 miles southwest of Chicago, for the same reason that Edward and Emily Zabrocki chose to raise their children there in 1970.
"We looked at the schools and the community services," said Zabrocki, a retired high school guidance counselor who has been Tinley Park's mayor since 1981. "And we found a house that was good for our pocketbook."
Tinley Park, with its top-rated schools, low crime, beautiful parks, relatively affordable houses, and easy access to jobs, is the winner of BusinessWeek's Best Places in America to Raise Kids. Working with OnBoard Informatics, we chose a winner for each state, but the Chicago suburb-only an hour south of last year's winner, Mount Prospect, Ill.-scored the highest.
Named after the village's first railroad master in the 1800s, Tinley Park has two train stations, which carry commuters to Chicago in 45 minutes. Single-family homes for sale in Tinley Park start at $166,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath house spread over 1,200 square feet to brand-new four-bedroom house for $630,000.
Settling Down
All three of the main high schools serving Tinley Park are ranked in the top 100 in the state. And the students are closely tied to the community and often stay there after graduating.
At Andrew High School, where each student is required to complete 24 hours of community service to graduate, only about 3% of the 2,400 student body move away during high school, compared with the state average of 14%, said principal Robert Nolting.
"There are a high number of kids in Tinley Park who have lived there their whole life," Nolting said. "Of the communities I've lived in or have been part of, it has more interconnectedness to it. It feels smaller than it is."
The village is quiet and safe. But it was shaken on Feb. 2, 2008, when a man posing as a delivery man shot five women to death at a clothing store in one of Tinley Park's outdoor malls. It was a big shock but it brought the community even closer, said Tinley Park High School Principal Theresa Zielinski.
"It shocked everybody," said Zielinski, a lifelong resident. "It's not what happens here in our town."
Friendly Atmosphere
Safety, along with school test scores, air quality, and affordability, were weighted especially highly in this year's calculations. But we also considered job growth, diversity, and amenities such as museums, parks, and theaters.
Many of our picks also share Tinley Park's family-friendly atmosphere. Owensboro, our top pick for Kentucky, is a good example. The industrial town, about 100 miles southwest of Louisville known for its mutton barbecue and as the birthplace of actor Johnny Depp, takes pride in its school district and hires accordingly, said Keith Lawrence, business reporter for the Messenger-Inquirer newspaper in Owensboro. The town's former superintendent left to become superintendent of the Lexington school district.The median home is about $100,000, and it's so safe that two middle-aged women once set out to walk every mile of the 18.7-square-mile city. "They started walking after getting off work at 10 p.m., Lawrence said. "There aren't a whole lot of cities you would do that."
"It's kind of a 21st century version of Leave It to Beaver-church and family and Little League and soccer," said Lawrence who raised a family in Owensboro. "It's really family-oriented. If you're single, though, it's rough."
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
Nov 17th, 2009
See which town ranked highest in BusinessWeek's fourth annual survey of the Best Places to Raise Your Kids. Hint: It's in Illinois.
You'd think that the character of a village that grew from 12,000 to 60,000 residents in less than 40 years might have changed with the population. But young families move into Tinley Park, Ill., a proud village 25 miles southwest of Chicago, for the same reason that Edward and Emily Zabrocki chose to raise their children there in 1970.
"We looked at the schools and the community services," said Zabrocki, a retired high school guidance counselor who has been Tinley Park's mayor since 1981. "And we found a house that was good for our pocketbook."
Tinley Park, with its top-rated schools, low crime, beautiful parks, relatively affordable houses, and easy access to jobs, is the winner of BusinessWeek's Best Places in America to Raise Kids. Working with OnBoard Informatics, we chose a winner for each state, but the Chicago suburb-only an hour south of last year's winner, Mount Prospect, Ill.-scored the highest.
Named after the village's first railroad master in the 1800s, Tinley Park has two train stations, which carry commuters to Chicago in 45 minutes. Single-family homes for sale in Tinley Park start at $166,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath house spread over 1,200 square feet to brand-new four-bedroom house for $630,000.
Settling Down
All three of the main high schools serving Tinley Park are ranked in the top 100 in the state. And the students are closely tied to the community and often stay there after graduating.
At Andrew High School, where each student is required to complete 24 hours of community service to graduate, only about 3% of the 2,400 student body move away during high school, compared with the state average of 14%, said principal Robert Nolting.
"There are a high number of kids in Tinley Park who have lived there their whole life," Nolting said. "Of the communities I've lived in or have been part of, it has more interconnectedness to it. It feels smaller than it is."
The village is quiet and safe. But it was shaken on Feb. 2, 2008, when a man posing as a delivery man shot five women to death at a clothing store in one of Tinley Park's outdoor malls. It was a big shock but it brought the community even closer, said Tinley Park High School Principal Theresa Zielinski.
"It shocked everybody," said Zielinski, a lifelong resident. "It's not what happens here in our town."
Friendly Atmosphere
Safety, along with school test scores, air quality, and affordability, were weighted especially highly in this year's calculations. But we also considered job growth, diversity, and amenities such as museums, parks, and theaters.
Many of our picks also share Tinley Park's family-friendly atmosphere. Owensboro, our top pick for Kentucky, is a good example. The industrial town, about 100 miles southwest of Louisville known for its mutton barbecue and as the birthplace of actor Johnny Depp, takes pride in its school district and hires accordingly, said Keith Lawrence, business reporter for the Messenger-Inquirer newspaper in Owensboro. The town's former superintendent left to become superintendent of the Lexington school district.The median home is about $100,000, and it's so safe that two middle-aged women once set out to walk every mile of the 18.7-square-mile city. "They started walking after getting off work at 10 p.m., Lawrence said. "There aren't a whole lot of cities you would do that."
"It's kind of a 21st century version of Leave It to Beaver-church and family and Little League and soccer," said Lawrence who raised a family in Owensboro. "It's really family-oriented. If you're single, though, it's rough."
Tinley Park, IllinoisNearest 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, CaliforniaNearest 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, GeorgiaNearest 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, HawaiiNearest 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, MassachusettsNearest 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, MinnesotaNearest 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 YorkNearest 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, OregonNearest 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, TennesseeNearest 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, TexasNearest 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
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