Top 5 Suburbs in the Country

[caption id="attachment_3002" align="alignleft" width="324" caption="#4 Reading, MA"][/caption]

What makes a great suburb? Is it the cute and charming houses, or maybe the great school system? Maybe it's the low unemployment rate, top-notch police and fire departments or delicious restaurants and cafes? Or maybe it's all of these things combined. CNBC analyzed the best suburbs in the country, and narrowed them down to the top 5:

The winning communities range in size from under 5,000 population to over 100,000, in locales that include lakes, mountains, and coastlines. They’re situated near government, universities, and industries less affected by economic troubles. But they all share these outstanding attributes that bring together top amenities at enviable prices and close proximity to the most robust job markets in America.

5. Poquoson, VA
Suburb of: Virginia Beach – Norfolk – Newport News
Metro area unemployment rate: 6.8%
Median house value: $343,923
Safer from crime than this percent of all U.S. communities: 40%

Poquoson is a coastal city where more than 98% of the working population drives to work, mostly to out-of-town jobs. It has better public schools than 81% of all U.S. communities, and its public schools are better than 100% of schools in the rest of the state. A minority of Poquoson’s populace holds a four-year degree (31.6%), and a majority are homeowners (81.4%).

4. Reading, MA
Suburb of: Boston
Metro area unemployment rate: 6.7%
Median house value: $469,548
Safer from crime than this percent of all U.S. communities: 52%

Reading is a family-friendly white-collar town. It has better public schools than 98% of all U.S. communities, and its public schools are better than 87% of schools in the rest of the state. Just under half of Reading’s populace holds a four-year degree (47.8%), and a majority of residents are homeowners (81.2%).

3. Circle Pines, MN
Suburb of: Minneapolis – St. Paul
Metro area unemployment rate: 6.5%
Median house value: $203,954
Safer from crime than this percent of all U.S. communities: 55%

Circle Pines is a small city with a population of 5,407 — and more people working in computers and math than 95% of the U.S. It has better public schools than 90% of all U.S. communities, and its public schools are better than 95% of schools in the rest of the state. A minority of Circle Pines’ populace holds a four-year degree (31.5%), but the vast majority are homeowners (92.6%).

Read more at Yahoo Real Estate