Magazine calls Malden state's best place to raise children

The city's new status surprised some longtime residents shopping at one strip mall off Pleasant Street.

"I think it might be a bit of an exaggeration," said Theresa Pinette, 73, who has lived all her life in Malden. "I would call this a little surprising. I can think of a lot of other places that would rank higher."

In explaining its criteria, the magazine acknowledged that its ranking "wasn't a perfect list."

Reviewing data from communities with more than 50,000 people and median household incomes between $40,000 and $100,000, the magazine weighed school performance, crime, the environment, diversity, green space, and affordability.

Malden ranked at the top in Massachusetts because it's a "racially diverse, relatively affordable, and well-connected city" that is "working to rejuvenate its downtown."

The ranking delighted city officials, who argued that it reflects their work and Malden's progress. "I'd call it a pleasant surprise," said Richard C. Howard, who has been mayor for 13 years. "Day to day, we're always trying to do the right thing. It's nice to have this, having someone like BusinessWeek say we're going in the right direction."

As evidence of the city's success, he pointed to its parks, improving schools, and relative lack of violent crime.

In 2006, the most recent data from the state, Malden reported no homicides, five rapes, and 95 robberies. In all, it reported 268 violent crimes and 1,418 property crimes, considerably more than the similarly sized town of Weymouth, one of the magazine's two runners-up, which in the same year reported just 61 violent crimes and 521 property crimes.

The other runner up, Cambridge, which has a population about 30 percent larger than Malden, reported nearly twice as many violent crimes and more than double the number of property crimes in 2006.

Police Chief Ken Coye pointed out that Malden's last homicide was about a year ago. "For an urban area, we're a model of harmony," said Coye, who grew up and raised two children in Malden. "The place has a good feel. It's a nice place to live. As a matter of fact, my daughter bought a house here a few years ago."

Malden High School recently started a crew team and has revamped its athletic facilities. Principal Dana Brown described Malden as a "very faithful community" where neighbors support each other.

"I don't put a lot of stock in these things," Brown said. "It comes down to how you live, not where you live, and this is a terrific place to raise a family."

Jordan Shapiro, president of the Malden Chamber of Commerce, called the city "well deserving" of its new distinction.

"We have what any community would want, a fine school system and an outstanding police department," Shapiro said.

Some BusinessWeek readers questioned the conclusions.

On its website, a reader who signed her name as Jackie wrote: "I was born and raised in Malden and apparently am missing something . . . no parks, movies, a square so bad McDonalds has even left it . . . That makes it a good place to raise kids?"

A reader who gave his first name as Anthony wrote: "Stop and smell the roses in Malden and you will find they smell like trash . . . Malden is the last place to raise a family, or for that matter a dog."

When asked whether she thinks her city should rank behind Malden as a place to raise children, Mayor E. Denise Simmons of Cambridge was diplomatic.

"I don't know Malden well enough," she said. "But I can say Cambridge is an extraordinary place to raise children."

Officials in Weymouth did not return calls.

Outside the Radio Shack store on Pleasant Street in Malden, residents were happy about the good publicity.

"I don't know if it's the best, but it's not a bad town," said Andrew Brennan, 24, who moved to Malden two years ago.

David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.