When looking for the best place to raise a family, we're lucky to have so many options in Vermont. Throughout the state we enjoy great educations, low crime and loads of natural outdoor activities. When considering prospective towns, people weigh their options based on many factors - jobs, activities, education and cost of living to name a few attributes. All of these are considered when you are raising a family with an understandable emphasis on education.

Sure, it would be great if there was a town with the #1 rated school system in Vermont, affordable housing, 0% unemployment and sky high paychecks, but that's simply not an option. So where is the best place to raise a family in Vermont and how do we figure this out? Well, there are many websites who rank the best and worst places to live, and we found that Nerdwallet.com uses both GreatSchools city rating, and the US Census to weigh options such as median home value, monthly homeowner costs, and median household income to help us make informed decisions. We think you might be pleasantly surprised at some of the top contenders!

Please note that for this study, only towns or small cities with populations over 1,000 residents were analyzed.

10. Castleton

There is plenty to do with the family in Castleton! Lake Bomoseen, Vermont's largest lake entirely within Vermont borders offers boating, swimming and more, not to mention stunning views.

9. Middlebury

With the well respected Middlebury College located here, it's no wonder this town excels academically. The students regularly excel on their SAT's and recently beat the national average by 52 points in writing.

8. Essex Junction

The local schools are exceptionally supportive of the students in this village in Essex proper. You'll enjoy festivals galore, including the famous Champlain Valley Fair, a 10 day extravaganza showcasing agriculture, and plenty of rides, food and concerts.

7. Enosburg Falls

Enosburg Falls, a village in the larger town of Enosburg, has an affordable housing market in addition to a strong sense of community. June brings the annual Vermont Dairy Festival where the proceeds are donated to local causes, which has in the past included schools and scholarships.

6. Waterbury

Waterbury's strong sense of community united after Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on this town. Major efforts have gone into building the town and between the outstanding education and the hopping downtown area, Waterbury is a wonderful place to raise a family.

5. South Burlington

The high schools here have some of the best ACT scores in the state, and are above the national average. Located next to Burlington proper, South Burlington is home to several parks and even a beach on the coast of Lake Champlain. Pictured is a view from the public Red Rocks Park.

4. Arlington

The schools may be small, but they get high ranks. Artist Norman Rockwell and actor Tom Hanks both lived in this tight knit community at one time.

3. Vergennes

City life in the country - the best of both worlds! Vergennes was the first city chartered in Vermont and it is the least populous city in the United States. Families can enjoy the cultural events that take place at the beautiful Vergennes Opera House.

2. Montpelier

Children in Vermont's state capital thrive when it comes to education. Students perform exceedingly well on standardized tests, consistently topping the state average in math, reading and writing on the SAT. There is also plenty of history and culture to explore.

1. Jericho

Jericho is just a short drive to Burlington, yet boasts some pretty amazing views, including a spectacular vista of Mt. Mansfield. With excellent schools, including Mount Mansfield Union High School where 92.4% of their AP students score a 3 or higher on exams. This great community certainly has a lot to offer!

This article is an opinion based on data from the sources noted and should not be taken as fact. Are you surprised at the towns on this list? Be sure to share what you think is the best town in Vermont to raise a family.