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Thursday February 23, 2012

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Best Place to Raise Kids in Florida: Niceville

Great schools and low crime Best Place to Raise Kids in Alabama: Cullman Best Place to Raise Kids in Alaska: Valdez Best Place to Raise Kids in Arizona: Vail Best Place to Raise Kids in Arkansas: Centerton Best Place to Raise Kids in California: East San Gabriel Best Place to Raise Kids in Colorado: Littleton Best Place to Raise Kids in Connecticut: Kensington Best Place to Raise Kids in Delaware: Ocean View Best Place to Raise Kids in Florida: Niceville Best Place to Raise Kids in Georgia: Hoschton Best Place to Raise Kids in Hawaii: Waimalu Best Place to Raise Kids in Idaho: Moscow Best Place to Raise Kids in Illinois: Morton Grove Best Place to Raise Kids in Indiana: Pittsboro Best Place to Raise Kids in Iowa: Park View Best Place to Raise Kids in Kansas: Belle Plaine Best Place to Raise Kids in Kentucky: Benton Best Place to Raise Kids in Louisiana: Lake Arthur Best Place to Raise Kids in Maine: Thomaston Best Place to Raise Kids in Maryland: Sykesville Best Place to Raise Kids in Massachusetts: Franklin Best Place to Raise Kids in Michigan: Spring Arbor Best Place to Raise Kids in Minnesota: Mound Best Place to Raise Kids in Mississippi: Pontotoc Best Place to Raise Kids in Missouri: Crestwood Best Place to Raise Kids in Montana: Bozeman Best Place to Raise Kids in Nebraska: Arlington Best Place to Raise Kids in Nevada: Moapa Valley Best Place to Raise Kids in New Hampshire: South Hooksett Best Place to Raise Kids in New Jersey: Ridgefield Park Best Place to Raise Kids in New Mexico: Peralta Best Place to Raise Kids in New York: Hampton Manor Best Place to Raise Kids in North Carolina: Tryon Best Place to Raise Kids in North Dakota: Watford City Best Place to Raise Kids in Ohio: St. Henry Best Place to Raise Kids in Oklahoma: Fort Gibson Best Place to Raise Kids in Oregon: Redwood Best Place to Raise Kids in Pennsylvania: Cecil-Bishop Best Place to Raise Kids in Rhode Island: Bristol Best Place to Raise Kids in South Carolina: Goose Creek Best Place to Raise Kids in South Dakota: Gettysburg Best Place to Raise Kids in Tennessee: Maryville Best Place to Raise Kids in Texas: Wells Branch Best Place to Raise Kids in Utah: Smithfield Best Place to Raise Kids in Vermont: North Bennington Best Place to Raise Kids in Virginia: Blacksburg Best Place to Raise Kids in Washington: Fircrest Best Place to Raise Kids in West Virginia: Pleasant Valley Best Place to Raise Kids in Wisconsin: Sussex Best Place to Raise Kids in Wyoming: Dubois

Best Place to Raise Kids in Florida: Niceville

Nearby city: Fort Walton Beach
Population: 11,874
Median family income: $71,888
Avg. school math score: 89.71 (State avg.: 68.43)
Avg. school reading score: 89.71 (State avg.: 65.91)

The town of Niceville, once known as “Boggy”, is in Florida’s panhandle along the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay. It has parks, a youth center, and sports fields and is home to the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival (mullet the fish, not the hairstyle), which attracts thousands of attendees each year.

Photographer: Jim Arbogast/Getty Images