West Hartford 6th Best Place for Families

West Hartford is the sixth-best place in the country for families to live, according to the 2013 Family Circle Magazine “10 Best” list.

Each year, Family Circle selects ten towns around the U.S. with populations between 10,000 and 150,000 that they determine to be the most “family friendly.”

West Hartford was selected according to the following criteria: “affordable homes, quality schools, access to health care, green space, low crime rate and financial stability.”

The only northeastern town on the list, West Hartford has a “plucky, can-do spirit,” according to the list. Residents are noted for their good deeds, the magazine said.

One resident described West Hartford as “an engaged community. If people see a need, they fill it.”

This was the case for some special-needs children with an affinity for baseball. Parents "created a league just for them and made the sports field wheelchair accessible,”  wrote the magazine.

For nearly 30 years, West Hartford has donated approximately $250,000 annual in cash, food and supplies to support The Town Cares Fund for needy families.

While West Hartford can take advantage of big-city amenities such as concerts, art shows and plays, local schools remain a top priority. The town’s high schools rank among the top 10 in the state.

Mayor Scott Slifka is proud to see West Hartford recognized as a top-10 community.

In an interview with West Hartford Patch, Slifka said the rating can benefit the town by attracting business investments.

Other top-1o towns include Troy, Mich.; Boulder City, Nev.; Upper Arlington, Ohio; Allen, Tex.; Marion, Iowa; Madison, Ala.; Rio Rancho, N.M.; Suwanee, Ga.; and Morton, Ill.

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