Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been named the #1 Best Place to Live for Families in Fortune’s 2023 ranking, excelling across critical metrics such as healthcare quality, resources for aging populations, education, and community connectedness. This year’s Fortune list highlights the top city in each U.S. state where multigenerational families are most likely to find essential resources, robust community support, and strong financial well-being.
For those considering relocation, the essence of a great place to live extends beyond mere resources; a thriving community spirit is paramount. Cambridge city officials recognize this and are actively investing in initiatives that strengthen the bonds among residents. The City of Cambridge’s innovative approach to encourage community engagement is particularly notable, specifically their program to incentivize residents to organize block parties and foster neighborly connections. By waiving application fees and offering a $200 award to cover expenses for food, games, and even entertainment, Cambridge makes hosting a block party simple and appealing.
“Creating opportunities for residents to gather socially after years of isolation was a key priority for the City in the past year,” explains Iram Farooq, Cambridge’s Assistant City Manager for Community Development. “People missed being in community with each other, and we recognized the importance of our outdoor streets as vital public spaces.”
To further support these neighborhood gatherings, the City provides “Play Street Kits,” filled with games like Jenga, cornhole, tennis, and basketball equipment, delivered and collected by city staff. Residents can easily apply to host a free Block Party and take advantage of these resources. A recent Harris poll, commissioned by Fortune, revealed that almost half of Americans are planning a move within the next two years. Fortune’s 50 Best Places to Live for Families list serves as a valuable guide for these individuals, pointing towards locations where families are most likely to flourish. In her introduction to the list, Fortune reporter Alexa Mikhail notes that the rise in remote work and pandemic-driven relocations from major metropolitan areas has paradoxically led to increased feelings of loneliness. The importance of community extends beyond social enjoyment; strong neighborly connections are crucial for both physical and mental health. Further insights into the vital role of community in overall well-being can be found here.
Top 10 Fortune Best Places to Live for Families
Below are the top 10 cities from the Fortune Best Places to Live for Families ranking. The complete list is available here.
- Cambridge, MA
- Portsmouth, NH
- Silver Spring, MD
- Tualatin, OR
- Middletown, DE
- Olathe, KS
- Eastvale, CA
- Wellington, FL
- Greenburgh, NY
- Fitchburg, WI
Methodology Behind Fortune’s Ranking
Fortune’s selection process for the Best Places to Live for Families involved a comprehensive evaluation of nearly 1,900 cities, towns, suburbs, and villages across all 50 U.S. states, each with approximately 20,000 residents. This approach aimed to identify places offering high-quality amenities while maintaining a community-focused atmosphere. The evaluation was based on over 200,000 data points across five key categories:
- Education: Assessing school quality and educational opportunities.
- Aging Resources: Evaluating support and services for older adults.
- General Wellness: Analyzing factors contributing to overall health and well-being.
- Financial Health: Considering economic stability and financial opportunities.
- Livability: Examining overall quality of life and community features.
The ranking specifically focused on the needs of multigenerational families, who often balance raising children with caring for aging parents. Consequently, Fortune prioritized factors relevant to these families, including the quality of local public schools, graduation rates, college affordability, the availability of quality nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home healthcare services, the risk of social isolation among seniors, and access to reliable healthcare providers.
Furthermore, Fortune emphasized the importance of diverse neighborhoods. To assess diversity, they compared the racial makeup of each location against state benchmarks, excluding any place that was significantly less diverse than the state average. Socioeconomic, religious, and ethnic diversity were also integral components of the data collection process. Detailed information about the ranking methodology can be found in the Methodology for the 2023 Fortune 50 Best Places to Live for Families List.
In conclusion, Cambridge, MA’s top ranking in Fortune’s Best Places to Live for Families is a testament to its commitment to community, alongside its strengths in education, healthcare, and resources for all ages. This recognition highlights the city as an ideal location for families seeking a well-rounded and supportive environment.
