RANKED: The 50 best suburbs in America

Population: 18,135

Great Schools score: 7

Johnston sits adjacent to Saylorville Lake, offering lush greenery and over 35 miles of trails. The suburb is home to award-winning schools, low living costs, and a median household income of $93,571. The commute time to Des Moines is only 18 minutes.

Population: 33,993

Great Schools score: 9

Vestavia Hills is a 20-minute commute to Birmingham-Hoover. The suburb maintains its southern hospitality while being the fastest-growing town in Alabama. Vestavia Hills boasts great schools and has a median household income of $81,067.

Population: 23,231

Great Schools score: 10

Sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, Mequon promises beautiful lake-shore bluffs, as well as numerous outdoor recreation spaces. Mequon is a 22-minute commute to the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area, and the median household income is $107,432.

Population: 47,568

Great Schools score: 9

Chesterfield is a booming residential and business community located about 25 minutes from Downtown St. Louis. Residents enjoy two top-rated public school districts, a top-50 rated hospital (among other quality healthcare providers), and a household median income of $95,945.

Population: 65,234

Great Schools score: 10

Palo Alto’s city boundaries extend from San Francisco Bay on the east to the Skyline Ridge of the coastal mountains on the west. The city boasts excellent public transit and over 30 parks. Two of its high schools and 11 of its elementary schools received a perfect 10 rating from Great Schools. The median household income is $121,465.

Population: 6,280

Huntington Woods is consistently ranked as one of the top suburbs in the country. Residents of this city, located 20 minutes outside of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area, enjoy low costs of living and take home a median annual income of $112,869.

Population: 66,523

Great Schools score: 9

The family-oriented community of Flower Mound is centrally located in North Texas, with convenient access to Dallas and Fort Worth. Even with booming commercial development in the Lakeside Business District, the area still hasn't lost its small-town charm. The median household income is $120,855 and the unemployment rate is below 5%.

Population: 8,986

Great Schools score: 10

Twenty-four miles west of New York City, Chatham offers the charm of a New England town with vast green spaces, extensive recreational programs, and a historic downtown district. It's home to top-rated schools and a direct rail to New York. The median household income is $146,083.

Population: 30,335

Great Schools score: 9

Situated within the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Saratoga is a quaint residential community with a healthy local business scene and excellent schools spread across six different districts. The average commute time is less than 30 minutes and the median household income is $159,212.

Population: 5,913

Great Schools score: 6

The City of Glendale is known for its gracious homes, most of which are one-family units and old country homes dating back to before the Civil War and even to the early pioneer farming days. Affordable housing, a median household income of $100,189, and a commute time of around 19 minutes make the city prime for families.

Population: 12,273

USA Today ranked Winnetka as the richest town in Illinois and the second richest in the United States behind Scarsdale, New York. It’s not surprising to discover that the median household income is $211,250 and 88% of residents have at least a bachelor’s degree, which is more than three times the national rate according to USA Today.

Population: 47,766

Great Schools score: 8

With an official motto of “Building Community Together,” the city of Sammamish in King County, Washington, is as friendly as it gets. The unemployment rate is a low five percent, the median household income is $143,919, and, according to Forbes, the city’s crime rate is approximately 90% lower than the national average.

Population: 18,408

Great Schools score: 10

Deerfield is located in Lake County and a portion of Cook County, covering a total area of approximately seven square miles. Home to several headquarters of major corporations, the village has a median household income of $135,881, daily transportation to Chicago, virtually no crime, and six schools with a perfect 10 rating from Great Schools.

Population: 11,006

A short commute to San Francisco, the town of Hillsborough is part of San Mateo County. The community has a generally quiet atmosphere and, with a median household income of $236,528, is one of the wealthiest towns in America. Crime is virtually nonexistent and the area is full of award-winning public schools and public works services.

Population: 9,037

Great Schools score: 8

Trophy Club is located in the city of Fort Worth and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Its charms include over 1,000 acres of park and trail systems, a 36-hole golf course, and the award-winning Northwest Independent School District, which governs exemplary elementary schools, middle schools, and the acclaimed Byron Nelson High School.

Population: 13,204

Great Schools score: 9

Bexley is known for its historic neighborhoods, affordable housing, and prestigious private and public schools. Residents have a median household income of $93,478 and the suburb is filled with large houses and estates on tree-lined streets.

Population: 8,126

Los Altos Hills is a premier Silicon Valley residential community that sits adjacent to the City of Los Altos. Five miles south of Stanford University and 17 miles north of downtown San Jose, the town is one of the wealthiest in the area, with a median annual income of $205,694.

Population: 22,335

Great Schools score: 10

Hudson's residents are fairly well off, with a median household income of $119,212, but they have to travel an average of 28 minutes to reach the nearest big city, Akron. Luckily, the suburb has a lively downtown area, with plenty of places to shop, eat, and explore.

Population: 23,465

Great Schools score: 8

Situated in the heart of the Dallas-Forth Worth area, Colleyville originally began as a rural community. While more bustling and developed today, the community hasn't lost its laid-back charm. Residents have a median household income of $153,021 and a low poverty rate.

Population: 15,862

Great Schools score: 9

West of St. Louis, the city of Clayton balances a busy downtown with quiet residential neighborhoods. The average commute time is about 16 minutes and there are several nearby interstates. Parents flock to the community for its award-winning public school system and private institutions, including Washington University and Fontbonne University.

Population: 10,887

Great Schools score: 7

East Grand Rapids is located in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area on the shores of Reeds Lake. The city has a low poverty rate, a median household income of $101,875, and a short commute time of approximately 18 minutes.

Population: 81,756

Great Schools score: 10

Famous for its Fourth of July weekend festival, CarmelFest, the town of Carmel is about 25 minutes from the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson metro area. Coupled with a strong school system, the median household income is $106,121.

Population: 16,637

Great Schools score: 10

Hinsdale is a western suburb of Chicago with a quaint downtown, beautiful residences, and renowned public schools. Locals have an express train to downtown Chicago on the Burlington Northern line and the median household income is $161,701.

Population: 23,301

Great Schools score: 10

Mercer Island is on the southern portion of Lake Washington, with Seattle to its west and Bellevue to its east. It connects to the mainland via bridges with interstates and has an average commute of about 22 minutes. Over 75% of its residents have a bachelor's degree or higher and the median household income is $126,359.

Population: 34,008

Great Schools score: 10

Upper Arlington enjoys a convenient location just 18 minutes from the bustling capital, with easy access to the Port Columbus International Airport and major highways. The median household income is $97,829 and the crime rate is very low.

Population: 8,412

Great Schools score: 10

Folks in this tight-knit, state-named Ohio community take home a median household income of $106,912. The town has five top-notch schools (four with a rating of 9 or greater) and is about a 20-minute drive to Cincinnati.

Population: 10,876

This town is as quaint as its name. It promises three charming parks and has a median household income of $169,671. The poverty rate here is under 3% and crime is virtually nonexistent.

Population: 39,091

Great Schools score: 9

Dominated by the retail and commercial service industries, Germantown boasts a median household income of $109,674. It's just 20 minutes outside the greater Memphis area and it ranks high for housing affordability.

Population: 18,108

Great Schools score: 10

Orinda is a family-oriented city with a low 1.5% poverty rate. It's a 20-minute drive from downtown San Francisco, and hikers will enjoy the surrounding 111 acres of land.

Population: 14,106

Great Schools score: 10

Whitefish Bay residents take home a median household income of $100,769. The Wisconsin suburb is about a 22-minute commute to the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area. The town is named the Bird City of Wisconsin for its nature conservation efforts.

Population: 6,126

Residents of Cherry Hills Village take home a median household income of $211,477. Just a 20-minute drive from Denver, the small city boasts beautiful rural landscapes. U.S. Secretaries of State Madeline Albright and Condoleezza Rice are both graduates of the local private schools.

Population: 6,697

Great Schools score: N/A

This quaint village situated along Lake Michigan is located 21 minutes from the Milwaukee-Wakesha-West Allis area with a median household income of $109,167. It offers gorgeous views of Lake Michigan and picturesque ravines.

Population: 29,389

Great Schools score: 9

Forty miles south of San Francisco, Los Altos is in the heart of Silicon Valley. In addition to seven shopping districts, the city is peppered with 34 public art sculptures. The folks in Los Altos bring home a median household income of $157,907 and have a low 2.1% poverty rate.

Population: 27,006

Great Schools score: 9

Southlake is a hoppin' place with lots to do. Southlake Town Square is full of shopping and dining options, the Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve offers a look at the Cross Timbers ecosystem, and there are plenty of parks and recreational facilities for children of all ages. The median household income is $172,951.

Population: 4,1958

Great Schools score: 9

One of the larger suburbs to make our list, Dublin provides a high quality of life with low living costs. The Ohio suburb is 22 minutes outside of downtown Columbus, and the median household income is $113,182. Dublin is also home to Muirfield Village Golf Club, one of the best courses in the country.

Population: 8,188

Great Schools score: 9

Signal Mountain takes its name from a promontory of land called Signal Point, which overlooks the Tennessee River Gorge and the city of Chattanooga, a mere 22 minutes away. The median household income is $91,911.

Population: 38,174

Great Schools score: 10

Brentwood is located 10 miles south of Nashville. Despite the city's larger population, its poverty rate is a low 2.2% and its median household income is $134,443. There are over 10 different parks and trails to explore, including a spacious dog park.

Population: 23,794

Great Schools score: 10

A 23-minute drive from the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson metro area, Zionsville offers an ideal environment for raising a family. It has a median household income of $106,071 and an extremely low crime rate per 100,000 people (8%).

Population: 11,746

Great Schools score: 10

First settled in 1801, this small city is a 25-minute commute from Ohio's state capital of Columbus. Powell has a median household income of $132,598 and is tied for the lowest poverty rate (1.2%) with New Albany, Ohio.

Population: 6,307

Great Schools score: 9

North Caldwell is the fictional home of TV's Tony Soprano. Known as the "green jewel" of Essex county, the borough has a community pool and various camps and sports venues. The median household income is $198,966, with a low 2.7% poverty rate.

Population: 17,223

Great Schools score: 6

For those who enjoy shopping, Bellaire is minutes away from Houston's Galleria mall. The family-friendly suburb features oak-lined streets, 14 parks, and a dog park. The unemployment rate is a low 3.7% and the median commute time is under 20 minutes.

Population: 5,390

Great Schools score: 10

Just 10 miles from Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel is a 100% residential community, aside from its churches, private clubs, and private schools. The median household income is $174,924 and over 80% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population: 5,797

Great Schools score: 10

A few miles northeast of Cincinnati, the Village of Indian Hill is a sleepy, rural town with a fabled red schoolhouse. Its median household income is $207,069 and a whopping 24 of its schools earned a perfect 10 rating from Great Schools.

Population: 8,706

Great Schools score: 8

Located approximately three miles north of the center of Dallas, Highland Park is home to one of Dallas County's oldest Christmas traditions: the annual lighting of the The Big Pecan Tree. The town is named Highland Park because of its high elevation and many public parks. The median household income is $191,422.

Population: 10, 852

Great Schools score: 10

Overlooking the San Francisco Bay, Piedmont's 1.7 square miles includes five city parks landscaped pathways, tennis courts, playgrounds, and picnic areas. With a median household income of $207,222 and a highly educated population (over 82% hold a bachelor's degree or higher), this suburb is a great place to raise a family.

Population: 6,993

Great Schools score: 8

Native live oak, white oak, bay, redwood, and cedar trees are scattered around this six-square-mile-town in San Mateo County. In between San Francisco and San Jose, Atherton has a median household income of $239,886 — the highest on our list.

Population: 23,460

Great Schools score: 9

University Park is a residential community located five miles north of downtown Dallas. With 83.7% of people holding at least a bachelor's degree, the city is one of the nation's most highly educated. It maintains a low crime rate and has a median household income of $173,520.

Population: 8,519

Great Schools score: 7

Established in 1936, Laude is a quintessential small town with quaint fashion boutiques, gourmet dining, and antique shopping. The town's poverty rate is a low 1.6% and the median household income is $176,369.

Population: 20,416

Great Schools score: 10

Mountain Brook is a 17-minute drive to the Birmingham-Hoover metro area. With a median household income of $131,281, the community has five distinct shopping villages, its own school system, and residential areas designed by Warren Manning — the landscape planner behind New York's Central Park.

Population: 8,135

Great Schools score: 10

A 21-minute drive to Columbus, New Albany has everything one could ask for in a small town, down to white picket fences and colonial-style architecture. The city boasts over 600 acres of public parks and green space, an extremely low poverty rate (1.2%), and a median household income of $185,076. Its premier gem is the New Albany Country Club, with a beautiful clubhouse, 27-hole golf course, 18 tennis courts, and five pools.