St. Louis and Madison. Good culture, diversity, support of the arts, not too big, no insane traffic, relatively inexpensive, great schools in the area, and plen

St. Louis and Madison. Good culture, diversity, support of the arts, not too big, no insane traffic, relatively inexpensive, great schools in the area, and plenty of outdoor activities. Madison is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US. St. Louis is a fantastic place to raise a family on a dime. So many city amenities are free or inexpensive. Like, you can literally just walk into the Zoo or Science Center whenever you feel like it. Free and affordable activities helps create common ground among citizens. Everyone has built an arch at the Science Center, seen the penguins at the Zoo, gone sledding down Art Hill, etc. I highly recommend both, if you can weather the weather. ;)