2 MI Metros Among Best Places To Live For Families In New Ranking

MICHIGAN — Two Michigan metros were among the 25 best places to live for families, according to a U.S. News and World Report ranking targeted at families looking to relocate.

The Grand Rapids area, ranked No. 8 and known as "Beer City USA" with more than 40 breweries, is home to a little more than 1 million people, who earn an average of $52,660 per year and spend roughly $338,977 on a home.

The Ann Arbor area, known as a bustling university town, culinary hotspot and a tech hub with a walkable downtown that includes world-class arts and culture, was ranked No. 16 on the list. The metro area has nearly 400,000 people, who earn an average of $61,010 per year and spend roughly $405,142 on a home.

To score communities, U.S. News looked at overall affordability, quality of life and job market equity. Consideration was also given to the cost of living and average annual salary, the quality of high schools, average commute times, crime rates, and the area’s overall well-being and access to high-quality health care.

The top 25 communities in the ranking are:

1. Huntsville, Alabama
2. San Jose, California
3. Green Bay, Wisconsin
4. Fayetteville, Arkansas
5. Minneapolis-St. Paul
6. Des Moines, Iowa
7. Albany, New York
8. Grand Rapids, Michigan
9. Fort Wayne, Indiana
10. Lincoln, Nebraska
11. Madison, Wisconsin
12. Syracuse, New York
13. Pittsburgh
14.Omaha, Nebraska
15. Hickory, North Carolina
16. Ann Arbor, Michigan
17. Buffalo, New York
18. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
19. Portland, Maine
20. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
21. Rochester, New York
22. Washington, D.C.
23. Davenport-Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline-Rock Island, Illinois (Quad Cities)
24. Cincinnati
25. Boise, Idaho