Best Place in CA to Raise Your Kid: Arcadia

They're known for horse racing, birds and nature, but Arcadia has another claim to fame as one of the BusinessWeek's Best Places to Raise Your Kids 2009. Based on a variety of factors from school performance to diversity and air quality, considered cities had to have at least 50,000 residents and a median family income between $40,000 and $100,000. "Wouldn't exactly say Arcadia is 'affordable'--much of the homes start at $1 million. The high schools students' cars rivals their teachers," an LAist tipster wrote in an e-mail. "But hey--there are peacocks!" Diamond Bar and Monterey Park follow the San Gabriel Valley city as runners up.