Where is the best place in america to raise a family, and how do i get there from here?

South Georgia. It has a great climate, low crime rate, lots of wildlife and wooded areas. Also, the cost of living is low. I can be at the beach in two hours or in the mountains in 4.5 hours. If I want to visit the big city, I can be in Atlanta in 3.5 hours or Jacksonville in 3 hours. What's not to love?

Courtney,

When our boys were in 9th and 7th grades we moved them in the middle of the year to a town of 579 people. Needless to say there were few jobs and shopping was a long way off, but both boys to this day (the youngest graduated in 2003)tell us we did the best thing for them that we possibly could. They loved it. Our oldest had 21 in his graduating class and the youngest had 22. Where we moved from, several of our oldest son's friends ended up on drugs, in trouble, one even in jail. The youngest had been tormented by bullies all the time and was failing school. He is now going to college to be a history teacher largely because of the history teacher he had at that tiny school.

Just one of many options. There are a lot of issues to consider before living in a town this size though.

I don't think the location is everything. I think the question should be "how can i raise happier children in their surrounding[where ever it may be]?". If you raise children with love, care, compassion, encouragement, affection, boundaries, support and discipline. You will make for happy children, whether in California or in Maine. I don't think there is a "best" place to raise children. Because regardless of where you are crime, violence, racism, and ignorance will always exist, of course in some areas more noticeably than others. However, as long as you can provide for them and are there for them raising them to the best of your ability with the above mentioned, you should be good. Remember the place doesn't make the person.