Corona, CA: Corona places # 9 of 10 Great Cities to Raise Your Kids!!!

City population: 152,374

Average family income: $97,618

Percentage of families with children: 45.2%

Metro-area spending per student: $5,917

Public playgrounds: 25

Corona sits on the fringes of Los Angeles and Riverside, right where the dense cities of California's "Inland Empire" start to fade into suburbs. The city is, in part, a bedroom community for these larger locales. While Southern California traffic jams are infamous, parents can commute comfortably enough from Corona to Riverside, San Bernardino, Irvine and L.A.

Corona’s public schools enjoy a solid reputation, especially toward the south of the city. Santiago High, a public high school of about 3,300, earned accolades from U.S. News and World Report for its high test scores and college prep programs. Outside of school, families can take advantage of their proximity to the Cleveland National Forest. The nearby Santa Ana Mountains not only make Corona a pretty place to live, but they provide plenty of hiking and camping opportunities for kids.