September 12, 2025
For this record specializing in the Western U.S., locations with populations of over 10,000 have been thought of
Whereas we’re fairly far faraway from the Westward growth of the 1800s, there are nonetheless loads of engaging causes to maneuver out West, together with the pure magnificence and ample skilled alternatives that make it an exquisite place to lift a household. The latest census information launched in Might 2025 confirmed continued inhabitants development for the area. Smaller cities and cities skilled tinier bumps, whereas bigger cities noticed a development price of round 1%. Los Angeles, particularly, drew 31,000 residents in 2025, incomes it third place among the many nation’s largest-gaining cities.
After all, there are countless enticing locations throughout the area, most of which don’t have the identify recognition of LA. The abundance of jobs in leisure, know-how, and science is among the extra sensible causes to relocate to the West. Add to that the constant (some would possibly say constantly nice) climate, entrepreneurial alternatives, a broad concentrate on well being, and a peaceable way of life, and it’s straightforward to see why so many Individuals select to name the West house.
However the place within the West fits your loved ones greatest? Deciding on a spot to lift a household on the West Coast comes with a number of key issues, together with the fundamentals corresponding to the price of dwelling and the standard of the general public college system. Then there are the west coast way of life issues: the texture of the world, inhabitants density, security, household actions, and the city’s walkability, amongst different elements. Discovering a spot that checks off all of the containers may be difficult—in some circumstances, almost inconceivable. However, neighborhoods, cities, and cities match everybody’s way of life and desires.
To assist households in any respect phases take a data-driven method to discovering one of the best communities throughout the American West, Stacker consulted Area of interest’s 2025 Greatest Locations to Elevate a Household rating, which evaluates dozens of vital elements for elevating a household on the U.S. West Coast. Public colleges have the heaviest weight among the many issues included, whereas crime and security, value of dwelling, demographics, and neighborhood sources all issue strongly.
For this record specializing in the Western U.S., locations with populations of over 10,000 have been thought of within the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Learn on for an inventory of the highest locations within the West that may permit your loved ones to thrive.
#25. Solana Seaside, California
– Inhabitants: 12,841
This small city in Southern California has a mixture of lively households, aggressive surfers, and nature preservationists. It solely spans 3.5 sq. miles by the ocean, however this restricted space provides lovely sunsets and beautiful seascapes. As a consequence of its quaint measurement, this neighborhood is a tight-knit and comparatively prosperous neighborhood, with a median house worth exceeding $1.9 million.
#24. Corte Madera, California
– Inhabitants: 10,101
Situated on the base of Mount Tamalpais, Corte Madera is beloved for the laid-back, outdoorsy way of life it supplies. Residents can take pleasure in two protected pure areas (the Shorebird Marsh and the Ring Mountain Open Area Protect), two of one of the best purchasing facilities in Marin County, and a weekly farmer’s market that brings recent produce and locally-made items from all around the state. Corte Madera additionally emphasizes schooling, providing a number of highly-ranked public college choices and a handful of personal colleges for households to select from.
#23. San Marino, California
– Inhabitants: 12,279
San Marino, an prosperous suburb of Los Angeles, is a vacation spot for a lot of rich retirees. Regardless of the older demographic, this barely rural-feeling neighborhood can be best for elevating a household. The world provides many cultural actions, corresponding to visiting the Huntington Library, Artwork Museum, and Botanical Gardens; watching the New 12 months’s Day Rose Parade; or exploring the Kidspace Kids’s Museum.
#22. Mercer Island, Washington
– Inhabitants: 25,282
On the heart of Lake Washington, Mercer Island is related to Seattle by a bridge. It has been a decade since Enterprise Insider named Mercer Island one of many 50 greatest American suburbs, however the neighborhood continues to thrive. With scenic landscapes, lovely parks, wonderful public colleges, and a powerful sense of neighborhood, it’s straightforward to see the attract for households.
#21. Fortress Pines, Colorado
– Inhabitants: 12,573
Area of interest named Fortress Pines the #5 greatest place to lift a household in Colorado. It’s a suburb of Denver with distinctive public colleges and a rural really feel. In one other prosperous neighborhood, the median family earnings is sort of $190,000, which matches the common house worth of over $825,000. For the steep costs, residents have entry to ample parks and recreation areas.
#20. Foster Metropolis, California
– Inhabitants: 32,964
Foster Metropolis is a deliberate neighborhood located on an island in San Francisco’s marshlands, developed within the early Nineteen Sixties. Designed particularly for households, it has 24 parks spanning some 200 acres, a golf course and driving vary, a public amphitheater, a teen exercise heart, a thriving native theater program, a well-connected library system, and a bunch of extremely rated private and non-private colleges. Its proximity to Silicon Valley and the location of a number of notable firms’ headquarters within the surrounding space imply discovering employment is a breeze.
#19. Woodinville, Washington
– Inhabitants: 13,440
Situated 15 miles northeast of Seattle, Woodinville is a picturesque neighborhood nestled within the Sammamish River Valley. Identified for its tourism and out of doors recreation alternatives, the city has greater than 100 tasting rooms and miles of motorcycle trails. It additionally incorporates a sturdy schedule of festivals and occasions, making it straightforward to remain engaged with the local people.
#18. Piedmont, California
– Inhabitants: 11,012
Piedmont, a suburb of Oakland and a liberal neighborhood, has a particularly excessive median house worth of $2 million. The inhabitants additionally boasts a excessive degree of educational achievement, with 35% of residents holding a bachelor’s diploma and 52% having obtained a grasp’s diploma or increased.
#17. Hermosa Seaside, California
– Inhabitants: 19,248
Named an “excellent coastal city” by Los Angeles Journal, life in Hermosa Seaside is centered across the outdoor of the West Coast. Whether or not spending a day on the world’s 94 acres of public seashore or biking alongside the Strand (a gravel path connecting many seashore cities up and down the California coast), there are many methods to spend your free hours. Gentle year-round temperatures are additionally a significant draw for households trying to keep away from chilly climate.
#16. Pleasanton, California
– Inhabitants: 77,500
One other suburb of California’s Bay Space, Pleasanton has a “dense suburban really feel” blended with quaint small-town appeal. Households can take pleasure in an area farmer’s market, be taught to determine bushes in close by Sycamore Grove Regional Park, or try the Alameda County Fairgrounds in the summertime.
#15. Albany, California
– Inhabitants: 19,768
Incomes a first-rate spot among the many greatest California suburbs, Albany is a mix of suburban and concrete areas. Its excessive median house worth is however not fairly as steep as lots of its neighboring communities. Residents are pretty cut up between proudly owning and renting, with 54% proudly owning their properties.
#14. Greenwood Village, Colorado
– Inhabitants: 15,485
Just a few miles south of Denver, Greenwood Village boasts an open really feel, that includes greater than 300 acres of parks and 100 acres of deliberately undeveloped area. House to the Denver Technological Middle, a improvement that homes the headquarters of quite a few technology-focused firms, the area provides quite a few strong employment alternatives. Outdoors working hours, residents can take pleasure in a wide range of distinctive eating choices, concert events, and theater performances on the Curtis Middle for the Arts, the Marjorie Perry Nature Protect, and miles of trails within the Excessive Line Canal and Cherry Creek Path techniques.
#13. Moraga, California
– Inhabitants: 16,790
Moraga, a suburb of San Francisco, is house to a mixture of younger professionals and retirees. The median house worth on this prosperous space is closing in on $1.6 million, and a formidable 84% of residents personal their properties. Its proximity to San Francisco permits residents to reap the benefits of town’s power whereas additionally having fun with the quaintness of the suburbs.
#12. Bellevue, Washington
– Inhabitants: 151,199
This metropolis provides an “city suburban combine really feel” with many outlets, actions, and eating places. There is no such thing as a scarcity of enjoyable for the entire household, together with the Bellevue Botanical Backyard, Bellevue Downtown Park, Chism Seaside Park, and the purchasing heart at Bellevue Sq..
#11. San Ramon, California
– Inhabitants: 85,734
As a result of it’s close to Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco, San Ramon is a perfect suburb for elevating a household and having fun with metropolis life, particularly for these searching for a “dense suburban” really feel. These involved about crime might be happy to be taught that San Ramon’s crime charges are considerably decrease than the nationwide common. Town additionally has a number of wonderful public colleges.
#10. Bethany, Oregon
– Inhabitants: 31,700
The Portland, Oregon, suburb of Bethany is extra ethnically and economically numerous than many different communities on this record. It has scored a number of No. 1 placements in Area of interest’s rankings, together with one of the best place to lift a household in Oregon, one of the best suburbs in Oregon, and one of the best suburbs for elevating a household in Oregon. Bethany’s robust public colleges definitely assist it earn these high spots.
#9. Irvine, California
– Inhabitants: 308,160
For the final 20 years, Irvine has earned the title of the “most secure metropolis of its measurement,” which makes it an exquisite place to lift a household. Regardless of its inhabitants, this metropolis has the appeal of being a university city, because it’s house to the College of California, Irvine. It provides quick access to eating places, outlets, and parks, and is barely about an hour from Los Angeles (relying on visitors).
#8. Manhattan Seaside, California
– Inhabitants: 34,584
Identified for its breathtaking beachfront, Manhattan Seaside is a staple of California’s iconic surf scene. It is a superb place for lively households to cool down. The pure magnificence has made folks flock to this prosperous neighborhood, with a median house worth of $2 million and a median hire of virtually $3,500. Moreover, the Manhattan Seaside Unified Faculty District constantly ranks extremely amongst colleges in L.A. County.
#7. Mountain View, California
– Inhabitants: 82,363
Mountain View is the true coronary heart of Silicon Valley, crammed with sprawling tech business campuses and acclaimed eateries. Town boasts a vibrant neighborhood of younger professionals, most of whom hire and pay a median of almost $3,000 to take action. For households, Mountain View has the added benefit of remarkable colleges, together with a number of rated A+ by Area of interest.
#6. Redondo Seaside, California
– Inhabitants: 69,814
A “quintessential laid-back seashore city,” Redondo Seaside is thought for its magnificence, world-class purchasing, abundance of out of doors actions, and iconic horseshoe-shaped pier. A mere 30-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles, the world is inside straightforward commuting distance, providing a extra low-key, community-oriented lifestyle that appeals to many.
#5. South Pasadena, California
– Inhabitants: 26,297
Whereas affordability definitely isn’t the promoting level for selecting South Pasadena to lift your loved ones—with a median house worth of over $1.5 million—town does have loads to supply. It has a various neighborhood, crime charges under the nationwide common, and wonderful public colleges.
#4. Redmond, Washington
– Inhabitants: 75,721
Redmond is one other suburb of Seattle, recognized for housing the state’s burgeoning tech scene. With the headquarters for Microsoft and Nintendo of America throughout the metropolis limits—to not point out different high firms—there’s a important job marketplace for these in search of a secure place to lift their household. The median family earnings is over $160,000.
#3. Sammamish, Washington
– Inhabitants: 66,375
Sammamish was ranked No. 11 on U.S. Information & World Report’s greatest locations to stay for 2025, so its excessive placement on this West Coast record isn’t any shock. A comparatively straightforward commute from Seattle, town provides quite a few parks and out of doors areas, in addition to robust employment alternatives, which contribute to its spectacular median earnings of over $225,000. The various neighborhood has additionally been acknowledged for its wonderful colleges.
#2. Cherry Creek, Colorado
– Inhabitants: 11,011
Cherry Creek is a suburb of Denver, positioned just some miles from downtown. Whereas the neighborhood is thought for its purchasing scene, particularly the Cherry Creek Purchasing Middle, it additionally provides distinctive security and plenty of leisure alternatives. Greater than three in 4 residents personal their properties, with a median worth of over $850,000.
#1. La Cañada Flintridge, California
– Inhabitants: 20,094
Situated within the Crescenta Valley on the base of the Verdugo Mountains, La Cañada Flintridge additionally supplies beautiful views of the San Gabriel Mountains. Though the neighborhood is rural, with proximity to the Angeles Nationwide Forest, it provides a wide range of native eating places and outlets, in addition to entry to Los Angeles. La Cañada Flintridge boasts low crime charges, substantial ethnic and financial variety, a excessive common family earnings, and incredible colleges—all of which mix to safe the highest spot on this record.
Extra writing by Madison Troyer. Story enhancing by Louis Peitzman. Copy enhancing by Robert Wickwire.
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