Who's most family-friendly

Star Tribune

Last update: October 21, 2009 - 8:31 PM

If you're looking for the best place in the Upper Midwest to raise your kids, you might consider moving -- to Madison, Wis., or Fargo, N.D. Those cities far outpaced Minneapolis and St. Paul in a new ranking of 100 American cities' family-friendliness published by Children's Health magazine. Madison ranked second on the list, behind Burlington, Vt. Fargo ranked third. St. Paul came in at 12th and Minneapolis was 18th. Detroit was dead last. The magazine's editors developed the ranking formula assessing 29 quality-of-life variables including household income, unemployment, air quality, infant mortality, home prices and even the number of fast-food restaurants per capita.

BOB VON STERNBERG

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