Best is highly subjective by person so I will instead link Briggs youtube channel as he travels a lot and provides a lot of statistics. [1] Once you have narrowed down a list to a few places consider also searching sites like Reddit for discussions on that area. Very rural locations may not have many people discussing it online. Search Google Maps for the locations you have chosen for the services you believe may be important to your family to see how many options are available in that area. Yelp may have additional comments on those businesses and services.

[1] - https://www.youtube.com/c/WorldAccordingToBriggs/videos

See this article: https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to...

Interesting that it says SF’s median rent is $1900. That’s far lower than anything I’ve seen.

Median actual rent and median rent on a new rental aren't the same, especially with rent controlled units. Lots of people are paying lots less than any person looking for a new rental will ever see.

You'll need to be more specific. Are you looking for places that are safest? Widest range of services? Best schools? Most walkable?

All of the above? If I could tack on more: affordable land (1~10 acres), good hospital(s) within a reasonable drive.

Regarding affordability, I thought money was no object?

Affordable, meaning reasonable pricing. Ie, not like Palo Alto's 3 million for 1200 square feet.

The thing is, once you start going the "all of the above" route (especially with the "good schools" requirement), you're more or less ensuring high housing/land costs. Good schools are the main reason specific neighborhoods get bid up by families competing for the same limited inventory.

Say what you want about Bernie Sanders man, socialist, high tax, no growth, blabla, Burlington Vermont has the nicest town square farmers market outdoor free music by the lake watch the sunset sip a real craft brew scene you can find. And its because they specifically adopt "radical" environmental policies. They resist industry. At the expense of GDP per capita. But are able to preserve life unmolested for their brood for generations. Some towns have no more than two shops on main. No wawa, mcdonalds. Just like a pottery kiln and a fudge factory. And the pottery will be beyond mind-expanding belongs in the moma artistic. Some old RISD grads seeking a Ken Burns life. And the fudge too, artisanal, maple flavored, head and shoulders above the atlantic city boardwalk plastic sludge. The whole state is like that. An endless shire of quiet timeless discovery. Hope to spend August camping in Adirondacks, Berkshires and Arcadia ;)

Otherwise, in the West, Idaho Panhandle, Starlink & geothermal?