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In recognition of Tri-Valley communities’ efforts to create a culture that fosters family growth and prosperity, Danville, Dublin, San Ramon and Pleasanton have all been recognized as four of the top 10 “Best Places in California to Raise a Family” by a national credit and research company.
Out of 254 Californian cities studied by WalletHub, the company that conducted the study, San Ramon was ranked as the best place in the Bay Area and the second best in the state. Dublin claimed the fifth spot state-wise and Danville the sixth, followed by Pleasanton at No. 7. These four cities all achieved top 10 recognition for their highly-regarded schools, economic opportunity, natural beauty, public safety and access to quality medical care.
“We are proud of the results of this study which underscores what our residents know: San Ramon is an ideal place to live, work and raise a family,” said Phil O’Loane, vice mayor of San Ramon. “San Ramon is top-notch in everything that is important for all families.”
WalletHub ranked cities from San Diego to Eureka on four key qualities: family life and fun, education, health and safety, affordability and socioeconomic environment.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study found that California overall is a great place to be. Survey takers said the combination of economic, educational and family benefits make the Golden State a choice place for raising a family.
Cities were graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 indicating the “most suitable conditions for family life.” San Ramon scored a 77.88 — the only city to receive a higher rank was Folsom in Sacramento County, which achieved a rating of 80.84. Neighboring Dublin scored a 76.15, followed by Danville at 75.94 points, which was just high enough to edge out Pleasanton’s rating of 75.72.
“What makes Danville a great place to raise a family is a combination of things: an incredibly safe community; good stewardship and programming from our Town Council and Town staff; and great educational opportunities provided by our relationship with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Our residents have a safe, active, nurturing environment in which to raise their children,” said Geoff Gillette, Danville’s public information officer.
Tri-Valley cities scored the highest in the “Socioeconomic Environment” dimension which factors in the rates of family separation and divorce, unemployment, and the city’s wealth gap among residents. San Ramon achieved its highest rating in this category, being recognized as the second best city for economic opportunities.
City officials expect the soon-to-open City Center at Bishop Ranch to further aid San Ramon in this category.
“Family Life and Fun” was the one dimension that Tri-Valley communities did not score as well as the rest of the state. Criteria for this category included playgrounds per capita, the number of families with children aged 0-17, average commute time and the region’s weather ranking. Of the four, Danville was ranked lowest, coming in as 151st out of the 254 municipalities rated, with San Ramon ranked in the 63rd position. Pleasanton and Dublin did fare better, at 26 and 45 respectively.
Due to their high quality school system, high school graduate rate, air quality, violent and property crime rate and pediatricians per capita, each city also ranked relatively well in the “Education, Health and Safety” category. Danville scored the highest ranking here at the No. 3 spot followed by San Ramon at six, Dublin at 11 and Pleasanton at 16.
In “Affordability” the cities scored relatively well considering the traditionally high cost of living in the Bay Area. Pleasanton had the lowest ranking of the four at number 16.
These rankings join other accolades that Tri-Valley communities have received this year. In August, the Tri-Valley was recognized as having the fastest growing job market in the Bay Area. Dublin was also named the best place to live in California and seventh best in the country by Money magazine
“The Money magazine ranking is a testament as to why it is so great to live in Dublin. Things are happening here. People want to live here. We have a very diverse and inclusive community. I’m very proud of our city’s many accomplishments,” Dublin City Councilwoman Janine Thalblum said.
According to WalletHub the top ten cities to raise a family in California are:
1. Folsom
2. San Ramon
3. Los Altos
4. El Dorado Hills
5. Dublin
6. Danville
7. Pleasanton
8. Cupertino
9. Aliso Viejo
10. Roseville
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