Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Oak Ridge is, by all accounts, a good place to raise kids. It's scenic, with beautiful mountains surrounding the city, it has great schools, homes aren't expensive and thanks to the laboratory there are plenty of jobs. Despite this, however, the town is aging, and you won't find the young families that existed in its heyday, when the population exceeded 75,000. Now at 30,000 or less, it's no longer the vibrant community it once was. Which isn't to say it is without attractions. It's close to Knoxville (Knoxvegas) which offers still more jobs, night life, restaurants, culture and the like, but is decidedly cheaper than moving there. And there are plenty of events to keep people of all ages interested in city life- from the Mayfest to various local orchestras to travelling bands and author signings. If you're looking for a nice little place to settle down, but don't want to give up access to the bigger cities, this might be the place for you.