Best Places to Live and Raise a Family

Progressive Farmer has again ranked the best rural places to live and raise a family based on an analysis by OnBoard Informatics, a real estate research firm.

Progressive Farmer considers home and land prices, crime rates, environment, education access to health care and economic factors. Counties are first ranked based on these statistics, then the final decisions are made after the magazine staff travels to the selected counties.

Here are Progressive Farmers’ top 10 choices:

1. Hamilton County, Neb.
2. Chippewa County, Minn.
3. Ida County, Iowa
4. Harvey County, Kan.
5. Clinton, Iowa
6. Fayette County, Texas
7. Oconee County, Ga.
8. McPherson County, Kan.
9. Obion County, Tenn.
10. Madison County, Va.

Source: Progressive Farmer (02/02/09)