State College named one of the best places to raise a family

State College was just ranked the sixth best place to raise a family, according to Livability.com.

“To me, State College is a great place to raise a family because it has a lot of the benefits of a big city, but still has a small town feel. Low crime rates and a lot of community makes it a great place to be,” said Marc Master, a Realtor® with RE/MAX Centre Realty. “State College has more parks than any place I’ve ever lived. The community places a lot of emphasis on being outside, so we have lots of places to bike, hike and enjoy nature in general.”

With the added bonus of Penn State University, families can attend college-level sports, from football games to track meets.

“For families, the school system is important. The State College School District is one of the best in the state. In addition to the quality education, we’ve been modernizing our school buildings as well, so it’s an enjoyable environment to learn as well. State College may seem large to the casual visitor, but really it’s a small town at heart. Most people know each other and love to be involved in the community through volunteer efforts and so forth It truly is a great place to raise a family.”

With a population of 41,000, the town offers many amenities for families without the stress of a more populated area. Kid-friendly activities are abundant, from parks to restaurants to learning centers, like the children’s garden at The Arboretum at Penn State, which Livability.com mentioned.

The site used the following variables to rank an area’s family friendliness: percent of the population that is under age six, quality of public schools, measures of children’s health, affordability of housing and transportation options, cost of childcare, number of daycare options, parks and libraries, walkability and other factors related to the physical environment and the number of candy stores. Moscow, Idaho was awarded the top honors.