No one perfect spot to raise a family, but 100 possibilities

THIS book picks the top 100 towns for families, based primarily on standard of living, education, lifestyle and health and safety considerations.

However, if you think you’ll find the perfect place, you’ll be disappointed. Even authors Bert Sperling and Peter Sander admit that there is no such spot. As they explain -- in great detail -- every place has its pros and cons.

Although there are many authors’ opinions throughout the 100 reports on the best U.S. family-friendly towns, most of the places listed are based on facts and statistics. Subjective evaluations are extremely difficult, even for the authors.

For example, I grew up in Edina, Minn., so I was especially interested in their recommendations for that state. Their first choice was Rochester, primarily because it is home to the superb Mayo Clinic and has excellent public schools. Logical.

But their second choice for the state is Lakeville, a Minneapolis-distant suburb. I respectfully disagree because there are towns that are better located, have a better quality of life and are more affordable and close to employment centers.

Still, this is a fantastic book to read. If you are self-employed, and can live anyplace, it’s the stuff daydreams are made of. If you are being transferred, this is a great resource for determining where to live near your new job.

For statistics-minded individuals, it’s filled with tables, maps, statistical charts and just about every way to analyze a town for prospective relocation. If the book has a fault, it is that it has too many statistics and not enough subjective opinions.

As I pored through the information, I was impressed with the many towns near big cities and their special attractions. Surprisingly, of the ideal places to raise your family, there are no large cities listed. I suspect this is because many big cities have poor public school systems, a major drawback.

Surprisingly, some states have no recommended places -- Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Mississippi, Louisiana and Maine. Many have only one “best place” for families.

Others have several, many of which are relatively unknown. Ever heard of Getzville, N.Y., or Pittsford, N.Y.? Neither have I, but they are on the top-100 list.

Although I am familiar with many of the towns recommended by the authors, I wonder if they thoroughly investigated all their suggestions. For example, in Northern California (where I live), the authors recommend Winters and Folsom. I’ve been to both places. I’m sure people are happy there, but from the descriptions, they seem like boring places.

Where do these experts live? Based on the vast statistical information they produced for this book, you would think someplace exotic, with near-perfect weather. Somewhere that is affordable, has excellent educational and medical facilities and is in a top employment center. Wrong. Sander lives in Granite Bay, Calif., and Sperling in Depoe Bay, Ore.

Just in case you absolutely must know the 10 best places for families to live, Sperling and Sander believe they are Louisville, Colo.; Gaithersburg, Md.; Roswell, Ga.; Lakeville, Minn.; Flower Mound, Texas; Fort Collins, Colo.; Cary, N.C.; Sugar Land, Texas; Columbia, Md.; and Noblesville, Ind.

A great book like this is a monumental achievement. But interviews with residents would have added an important voice.