Catalina Foothils, Vail Named Best In The West For Raising Kids

TUCSON, AZ — Five Arizona communities made the top 10 in real estate research platform Dwellics' list of the Top 100 Best Cities to Raise a Family in the West.

Ranking at No. 1 on the list was Queen Creek, with Vail at No. 2, Chandler at No. 3, Catalina Foothills at No. 4 and Gilbert at No. 6. Queen Creek, Chandler and Gilbert are all located in the Phoenix metro area.

Dwellics looked at data about 15,000 cities in The West to cities to compile its list. Some of the factors in the ranking included educational quality, the percentage of households with married parents and school-aged children, number of days between 50-90 degrees, the amount of parks, and outdoor activities in the area, internet speeds, safety, childcare costs, property prices and cost of living.

Contributing factors to Vail's No. 2 ranking include its temperate climate for most of the year, and little rain or snow. It also ranked well for its low possibility of natural disasters and its good schools.

Like all the other communities in Arizona, Catalina Foothills ranked high for its climate, with no snow, little rain, low humidity and ample sunshine. It also ranked well for its good schools.

Some factors in Queen Creek's ranking at No. 1 include its good schools, its ample sunlight and lack of snow and its low cancer and substance abuse rates.

Chandler also ranked well for climate, with no snow and low humidity and ample sunshine and for its schools.

Gilbert ranked well for its good water quality, for its climate and sunshine and its small K-12 class sizes.