College Park is the best place in Maryland for a middle-class family to raise kids, according to new rankings. Bloomberg Businessweek ranked it as the top Maryland city for young families because of its schools and its proximity to the District, where there are plenty of family-friendly theaters, parks, zoos and museums.
College Park in Prince George’s County has about 26,000 residents. Its median income is $83,749, the report said.
The publication said other factors considered in its rankings are cost-of-living, job growth, air quality and recreational options.
Some local residents were not surprised the city drew national praise.
“There are miles and miles of wonderful well-paved, well-lit biking, hiking and running trails,” said resident Jennifer Cibor, who has three kids.
Basketball and football games at the University of Maryland — located in College Park — are affordable and family friendly, she said. The Metro station also makes it easy for getting to D.C. Then there’s the bargain real estate.
“My main reason for moving there were the affordable houses in a historic district,” said Cameron Easter, a park police officer with a newborn son who lives in the Calvert Hills neighborhood. “I wanted the older architecture and the satisfaction of having a well-built house. I could afford it in College Park.”
The city’s schools — particularly its four elementary and three middle schools — are popular with young families.
“The high schools are a bit of a challenge, but for raising new families, it’s definitely a good place,” Easter said of the elementary and middle schools.
Eric Maring, the parent of a 7-year-old at University Park Elementary, said his son’s school has a “very involved PTA, an excellent principal, very good teachers. We’re pleased.”
“And obviously collegewise, it’s right there,” Maring said.
The rankings do not include wealthy suburbs or other “havens for luxury living,” the report said. It evaluated 5,418 locations nationwide with populations no larger than 50,000 residents.
“Rather, these are communities inhabited mostly by middle-income earners that have good public schools, low crime and resources to keep the family entertained on weekends,” the report said.
The report said Ashland, near Richmond, is the best place for raising children in Virginia.
