Magazine hails Boulder City for its family-friendliness

By Alison Saclolo

Published Tuesday, June 25, 2013 | 2 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, June 25, 2013 | 3:25 p.m.

From a list of more than 3,000 cities and towns across the country, Boulder City emerged as one of the 10 Best Towns for Families, according to Family Circle magazine.

Boulder City fit the publication's initial criteria with its population of 15,618 and median income of $63,922. The city also met the magazine's family-friendly standards, like having affordable homes, quality schools, low crime rate and financial stability.

The publication also said there were lots of wholesome activities for families available in the town, including hiking, biking and boating at the nearby Lake Mead.

Boulder City Council Member Peggy Leavitt said she was thankful for the high ranking but said the city's residents already considered the town to be one of the top places to live.

"I'm extremely proud. It's nice to have that affirmation from a respected magazine, but It just verifies what we already know," Leavitt said.

Leavitt, whose children and grandchildren were raised in the town, said she felt Boulder City was a safe place for minors.

"It's a small town and you have a sense of safety here. With my kids growing up, I felt comfortable with them walking to school or going to school," said Leavitt, who noted the city had excellent schools.

Family Circle acknowledged Boulder City's "good deeds" and praised Lend A Hand of Boulder City, an organization that assists seniors by driving them to appointments and helping them run errands.

Lend A Hand director Christina Lodge said she was tickled about the organization's mention. Lodge, who has lived in the city for seven years, said she loved the tight-knit community.

"I love the small-town feel. It's not unusual to go down the street or into the market and run into someone you know," Lodge said.

Lodge, who previously lived in Southern California, noted she preferred the lack of crowds in Boulder City.

"I don't miss the traffic, I don't miss the congestion and the waiting in line everywhere you go. You wait in line to get on the freeway, in the market and in a restaurant," Lodge said.

Family Circle magazine hired a research firm and initially assembled a list of 3,335 cities and towns with populations between 10,000 and 150,000 people. The researchers then pared the list to towns with median incomes between $55,000 and $100,000.

The publication, which publishes 15 issues a year with a reported circulation of more than 3 million readers, selected the top 10 cities based on how well the cities met family friendly criteria.

The magazine also listed the following cities alongside Boulder City: Allen, Texas; Madison, Ala.; Marion, Iowa; Morton, Ill.; Rio Rancho, N.M.; Suwanee, Ga.; Troy, Mich.; Upper Arlington, Ohio; West Hartford, Conn.