Clovis tops young families list

Source: The Business Journal

Clovis was named the top city in Northern California for young families while Sanger took the top 14 spot, according to a new list by personal finance site NerdWallet. NerdWallet considered such factors like public school excellence, home affordability and growth and prosperity when compiling its Best Cities for Young Families in Northern California list. Of the 138 cities evaluated, Clovis was the No. 1 pick with an overall score of 68.07. The rating had a lot to do with Clovis schools, which made up 40 percent of the score. GreatSchools gave Clovis area schools a rating of 8 out of 10, while the city's high schools achieved a graduation rate of 92.6 percent for the 2011-2012 year compared to the statewide graduation rate of 78.5 percent. Clovis also excelled economically. Accounting for 30 percent of the overall score, the city's median income grew 51.32 percent from 1999 to 2012 to $63,983. Median home values, making up 15 percent of the score, were reasonable as well at $259,000 in 2012, while another 15 percent was in median monthly homeownership costs standing at $1,981 that year. Clovis was also praised for its 285 acres of parks and trails, proximity to three national parks and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and family-friendly activities like Friday night farmer's markets in the summer, Big Hat Days in April. At No. 14 on the list, Sanger achieved an overall score of 59.67. The score took into account a GreatSchools rating of 7 out of 10 and a 2012 median income $40,761, which is 27.09 percent higher than 1999. Sanger residents also enjoyed median home values of $162,300 in 2012 and median monthly homeownership costs of $1,508. While not cracking the top 20, other cities included in the list were Reedley at 49, Chowchilla at 56, Fresno at 66 and Dinuba at 101.

URL to original article: http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/economy/14506-clovis-tops-young-families-list 

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