Young girl walking on suburban sidewalk

The suburbs have been in big demand since the pandemic as more families look for more room to spread out, desiring bigger homes and yards.

“More people are making the decision to move a bit farther away from work to find more affordable housing where there are still some urban amenities,” Jung Choi, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute, told realtor.com®.

Realtor.com® researchers identified their 2021 picks for the best family-friendly suburbs outside the nation’s largest cities. They factored in the percentage of children living in each city, school rankings, and family-friendly businesses, including day care centers. They also factored in restaurants and the number of activities and amenities in the town as well as areas that offer average commutes under 40 minutes

Here are the areas that topped realtor.com®’s “Best Family-Friendly Suburbs of 2021” list:

1. Denville, N.J.

  • Nearest city: New York
  • Median home price (in July): $549,050

2. El Monte, Calif.

  • Nearest city: Los Angeles
  • Median home price: $599,050

3. Libertyville, Ill.

  • Nearest city: Chicago
  • Median home price: $565,050

4. Coppell, Texas

  • Nearest city: Dallas
  • Median home price: $550,050

5. Tomball, Texas

  • Nearest city: Houston
  • Median home price: $399,950

6. Exton, Pa.

  • Nearest city: Philadelphia
  • Median home price: $578,550

7. Olney, Md.

  • Nearest city: Washington, D.C.
  • Median home price: $495,050

8. Pembroke Pines, Fla.

  • Nearest city: Miami
  • Median home price: $589,050

View the full list of suburbs at realtor.com®.

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