BusinessWeek: Best Places to Raise Your Kids, 2007...

[Steve_W]

Originally Posted by LauraC

The issue with many rankings (not just where to live) is 2000 census data. Because the census is only taken every 10 years, the closer it gets to the next census the greater the chances of the results being out of date.

Examples: Think about the growth that has occurred in East Tennessee since the 2000 census. Think of the impact of illegal immigration since the 2000 census.

See, that could be an argument. I think it is kind of an arbitrary issue in the fact that we don't know what the impact would be.

I'm guessing the only thing we can do is assume it is somewhat accurate or we would have to stop printing all articles with rankings that rely on census data. (lose lose situation I think)

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by kamoshika

I always take these lists w/ a grain of salt, but FWIW...

The 50 most kid-friendly small towns and suburbs in the U.S.—where crime rates and cost of living are low, and schools, test scores, and cultural activities are high.

The results spanned the country: 11 places in Nebraska, seven in both Illinois and Ohio; six in New York; four in Tennessee; three in Michigan; two apiece in Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas; and one each in Alabama, Mississippi, and Oregon.
Best Places to Raise Your Kids, 2007 - BusinessWeek

Although the numbers add up to only 47 towns, I'm pleased that 12 are in southern states. The South is my favorite region for a number of reasons.