Finest Locations To Increase A Household In The West –

[ad_1] by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors September 12, 2025

For this listing specializing in the Western U.S., locations with populations of over 10,000 had been thought of

Whereas we’re fairly far faraway from the Westward enlargement 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 boost 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 fee of round 1%. Los Angeles, particularly, drew 31,000 residents in 2025, incomes it third place among the many nation’s largest-gaining cities.

In fact, there are countless engaging locations throughout the area, most of which don’t have the identify recognition of LA. The abundance of jobs in leisure, expertise, and science is among the extra sensible causes to relocate to the West. Add to that the constant (some may say constantly nice) climate, entrepreneurial alternatives, a broad give attention to well being, and a peaceable life-style, and it’s straightforward to see why so many People select to name the West residence.

However the place within the West fits your loved ones finest? Deciding on a spot to boost a household on the West Coast comes with a number of key concerns, together with the fundamentals reminiscent of the price of residing and the standard of the general public faculty system. Then there are the west coast life-style concerns: the texture of the realm, inhabitants density, security, household actions, and the city’s walkability, amongst different elements. Discovering a spot that checks off all of the packing containers might be difficult—in some instances, practically unattainable. However, neighborhoods, cities, and cities match everybody’s life-style and desires.

To assist households in any respect phases take a data-driven strategy to discovering one of the best communities throughout the American West, Stacker consulted Area of interest’s 2025 Finest Locations to Increase a Household rating, which evaluates dozens of essential parts for elevating a household on the U.S. West Coast. Public faculties have the heaviest weight among the many concerns included, whereas crime and security, value of residing, demographics, and neighborhood assets all issue strongly.

For this listing specializing in the Western U.S., locations with populations of over 10,000 had 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 can enable your loved ones to thrive.

Sherry V Smith // Shutterstock #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 gives lovely sunsets and gorgeous seascapes. Because of its quaint measurement, this neighborhood is a tight-knit and comparatively prosperous neighborhood, with a median residence worth exceeding $1.9 million.

Drew Shetter // Shutterstock #24. Corte Madera, California – Inhabitants: 10,101

Positioned on the base of Mount Tamalpais, Corte Madera is beloved for the laid-back, outdoorsy life-style it gives. 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 everywhere in the state. Corte Madera additionally emphasizes schooling, providing a number of highly-ranked public faculty choices and a handful of personal faculties for households to select from.

James Casil // Shutterstock #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 also be superb for elevating a household. The world gives many cultural actions, reminiscent of visiting the Huntington Library, Artwork Museum, and Botanical Gardens; watching the New Yr’s Day Rose Parade; or exploring the Kidspace Youngsters’s Museum.

Russ Heinl // Shutterstock #22. Mercer Island, Washington – Inhabitants: 25,282

On the middle of Lake Washington, Mercer Island is linked to Seattle by a bridge. It has been a decade since Enterprise Insider named Mercer Island one of many 50 finest American suburbs, however the neighborhood continues to thrive. With scenic landscapes, lovely parks, glorious public faculties, and a robust sense of neighborhood, it’s straightforward to see the attract for households.

Arina P Habich // Shutterstock #21. Fortress Pines, Colorado – Inhabitants: 12,573

Area of interest named Fortress Pines the #5 finest place to boost a household in Colorado. It's a suburb of Denver with distinctive public faculties and a rural really feel. In one other prosperous neighborhood, the median family revenue is sort of $190,000, which matches the common residence worth of over $825,000. For the steep costs, residents have entry to ample parks and recreation areas.

SvetlanaSF // Shutterstock #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 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 middle, a thriving native theater program, a well-connected library system, and a bunch of extremely rated private and non-private faculties. Its proximity to Silicon Valley and the position of a number of notable corporations’ headquarters within the surrounding space imply discovering employment is a breeze.

Nicholas Lamontanaro // Shutterstock #19. Woodinville, Washington – Inhabitants: 13,440

Positioned 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 motorbike trails. It additionally incorporates a sturdy schedule of festivals and occasions, making it straightforward to remain engaged with the area people.

Sundry Images // Shutterstock #18. Piedmont, California – Inhabitants: 11,012

Piedmont, a suburb of Oakland and a liberal neighborhood, has a particularly excessive median residence worth of $2 million. The inhabitants additionally boasts a excessive stage of educational achievement, with 35% of residents holding a bachelor’s diploma and 52% having acquired a grasp’s diploma or increased.

emmavgerard // Shutterstock #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 realm’s 94 acres of public seaside or biking alongside the Strand (a gravel path connecting many seaside 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.

Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock #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 attraction. Households can take pleasure in an area farmer’s market, be taught to determine timber in close by Sycamore Grove Regional Park, or try the Alameda County Fairgrounds in the summertime.

Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock #15. Albany, California – Inhabitants: 19,768

Incomes a primary spot among the many finest California suburbs, Albany is a mix of suburban and concrete areas. Its excessive median residence worth is nonetheless not fairly as steep as a lot of its neighboring communities. Residents are pretty break up between proudly owning and renting, with 54% proudly owning their properties.

Arina P Habich // Shutterstock #14. Greenwood Village, Colorado – Inhabitants: 15,485

A number of 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 growth that homes the headquarters of quite a few technology-focused corporations, the area gives quite a few stable employment alternatives. Outdoors working hours, residents can take pleasure in quite a lot of distinctive eating choices, live shows, 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.

Ching Wong // Shutterstock #13. Moraga, California – Inhabitants: 16,790

Moraga, a suburb of San Francisco, is residence to a mixture of younger professionals and retirees. The median residence 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 make the most of the town’s power whereas additionally having fun with the quaintness of the suburbs.

All the time Wanderlust // Shutterstock #12. Bellevue, Washington – Inhabitants: 151,199

This metropolis gives 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 middle at Bellevue Sq..

Zhuo Wen Chen // Shutterstock #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 in search of a “dense suburban” really feel. These involved about crime will probably be happy to be taught that San Ramon’s crime charges are considerably decrease than the nationwide common. The town additionally has a number of glorious public faculties.

Serenethos // Shutterstock #10. Bethany, Oregon – Inhabitants: 31,700

The Portland, Oregon, suburb of Bethany is extra ethnically and economically numerous than many different communities on this listing. It has scored a number of No. 1 placements in Area of interest’s rankings, together with one of the best place to boost 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 sturdy public faculties actually assist it earn these high spots.

Matt Gush // Shutterstock #9. Irvine, California – Inhabitants: 308,160

For the final twenty years, Irvine has earned the title of the “most secure metropolis of its measurement,” which makes it an exquisite place to boost a household. Regardless of its inhabitants, this metropolis has the attraction of being a school city, because it’s residence to the College of California, Irvine. It gives quick access to eating places, outlets, and parks, and is barely about an hour from Los Angeles (relying on visitors).

Kirk Wester // Shutterstock #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 wonderful place for lively households to quiet down. The pure magnificence has made individuals flock to this prosperous neighborhood, with a mean residence worth of $2 million and a median lease of just about $3,500. Moreover, the Manhattan Seaside Unified College District constantly ranks extremely amongst faculties in L.A. County.

Framalicious // Shutterstock #7. Mountain View, California – Inhabitants: 82,363

Mountain View is the true coronary heart of Silicon Valley, stuffed with sprawling tech business campuses and acclaimed eateries. The town boasts a vibrant neighborhood of younger professionals, most of whom lease and pay a mean of practically $3,000 to take action. For households, Mountain View has the added benefit of outstanding faculties, together with a number of rated A+ by Area of interest.

Walter Cicchetti // Shutterstock #6. Redondo Seaside, California – Inhabitants: 69,814

A “quintessential laid-back seaside city,” Redondo Seaside is understood for its magnificence, world-class purchasing, abundance of outside actions, and iconic horseshoe-shaped pier. A mere 30-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles, the realm is inside straightforward commuting distance, providing a extra low-key, community-oriented lifestyle that appeals to many.

Philip Pilosian // Shutterstock #5. South Pasadena, California – Inhabitants: 26,297

Whereas affordability actually isn’t the promoting level for selecting South Pasadena to boost your loved ones—with a median residence worth of over $1.5 million—the town does have a lot to supply. It has a various neighborhood, crime charges under the nationwide common, and glorious public faculties.

Kyle_Graff // Shutterstock #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 corporations—there's a important job marketplace for these on the lookout for a secure place to boost their household. The median family revenue is over $160,000.

Cascade Creatives // Shutterstock #3. Sammamish, Washington – Inhabitants: 66,375

Sammamish was ranked No. 11 on U.S. Information & World Report’s finest locations to reside for 2025, so its excessive placement on this West Coast listing is not any shock. A comparatively straightforward commute from Seattle, the town gives quite a few parks and out of doors areas, in addition to sturdy employment alternatives, which contribute to its spectacular median revenue of over $225,000. The varied neighborhood has additionally been acknowledged for its glorious faculties.

Susan Hodgson // Shutterstock #2. Cherry Creek, Colorado – Inhabitants: 11,011

Cherry Creek is a suburb of Denver, positioned only a few miles from downtown. Whereas the neighborhood is understood for its purchasing scene, specifically the Cherry Creek Procuring Middle, it additionally gives distinctive security and lots of leisure alternatives. Greater than three in 4 residents personal their properties, with a mean worth of over $850,000.

Marcus E Jones // Shutterstock #1. La Cañada Flintridge, California – Inhabitants: 20,094

Positioned within the Crescenta Valley on the base of the Verdugo Mountains, La Cañada Flintridge additionally gives gorgeous views of the San Gabriel Mountains. Though the neighborhood is rural, with proximity to the Angeles Nationwide Forest, it gives quite a lot of native eating places and outlets, in addition to entry to Los Angeles. La Cañada Flintridge boasts low crime charges, substantial ethnic and financial range, a excessive common family revenue, and improbable faculties—all of which mix to safe the highest spot on this listing.