In the latter half of the 20th century, the popularity of suburbs surged in the United States, and for many, suburban life came to mean the realization of the American Dream. For millions of Americans, the suburbs offered what life in the inner-cities and rural countryside could not — bigger, affordable homes, more space, increased privacy, and safer streets — without sacrificing access to jobs.

While there is no official government definition of a suburb, they are generally thought of as smaller communities located within commuting distance of a large city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey, just over half of all Americans say they live in a suburban neighborhood — compared to 27% who live in an urban environment, and 21% who reside in rural areas. 

24/7 Wall St. created a weighted index of 10 measures — including commute time, home size, crime rates, and income — to identify the best suburb in every state. Suburbs were ranked higher in this index if they performed especially well in these measures in comparison to the closest major city.

Americans often move to the suburbs to buy a home. Nationwide, about 64% of homes are occupied by their owner. Meanwhile, only two suburbs on this list have a homeownership below than the national rate — and the majority of them have homeownership rates above 90%.

Another primary reason many Americans choose to move out of cities and into suburban neighborhoods is lower crime and increased safety. While, overall, American cities are far safer today than they were in the 1990s, violent crime still tends to be more concentrated in urban areas. Indeed, many of the suburbs on this list are just outside some of the most dangerous cities in the country, including Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, and Oklahoma City. Here is a look at the 50 most dangerous cities in America. 

As Americans, and millennials in particular, appear to be increasingly likely to choose suburban life, it is perhaps not surprising that many of the communities on this list have reported a population increase in the last year. Some of the suburbs on this list are located in a county with state-leading population growth since 2010. Here is a full list of the fastest growing county in every state.

Click here to see the best suburb in every state
Click here to read our methodology