U.S. News and World Report set out to find the top 10 best places to grow up in America. They found out something that Madison residents already knew. Madison is one of those places.

“There is an event almost every weekend—whether it is in Madison, Huntsville, or Madison County—that families can attend,” says Paul Finley, the mayor of Madison. Children can take advantage of the area’s expansive outdoor amenities: watching beavers plunge into Bradford Creek or rabbits dart through the 130-acre Rainbow Mountain Trails park.

The honor was based on low crime rate, a strong school system, lots of other children, expansive green spaces to play in, and plenty of nearby family events with an abundance of artistic and recreational activities.

We think their research is spot-on!