PERRYSBURG – The city has been named one of the best towns for families, based on an evaluation by Family
Circle Magazine of communities across the country.
The August issue of Family Circle, which hits newsstands Tuesday, will feature 10 communities that scored
the highest in affordable housing, excellent neighbors, green spaces and exceptional schools. The
magazine’s annual review of top towns will include Perrysburg.
Family Circle worked with New York-based research firm Onboard Informatics to collect data on towns with
populations between 15,000 and 150,000 and an average income of about $75,000. Those communities were
then vetted for affordable homes, access to health care, green space, low crime rates and financial
stability. The best of 800 communities that met those criteria earned special recognition in the
magazine.
"So that’s quite an honor," said Paula Chin, a senior editor at Family Circle.
Perrysburg scored particularly high in educational opportunities – the focus of this year’s "best
towns" survey. Last year, Family Circle highlighted towns for their environmentally-friendly
assets.
The magazine found a 16-1 ratio of teachers to students in the area and noted that the non-profit Web
site Greatschools.net site awarded Perrysburg Schools a rare 9 out of 10 rating.
Chin said the magazine was drawn also to the atmosphere created by the city’s historic homes.
"It’s just sort of your classic … beautiful small town," she said.
The August article notes that Perrysburg has a population of 17,899, a median income of $75,981 and a
median home price of $165,000.
Perrysburg is distinguished among the top communities for the compassion of its residents.
Jamil Jemaa, 845 Hunters Run, and his family were interviewed by the magazine about how their friends and
neighbors came to their aid when Jemaa lost his job at a glass factory. Jemaa, who now works for a
subsidiary of Chrysler, said he moved to the area with his family about 15 years ago to raise his
children in a safe community with excellent schools. His family was also drawn to availability of
religious services at the nearby Greater Islamic Center of Toledo, located just off of Interstate 75.

Jemaa said in a telephone interview Tuesday that the community provided his family with groceries and one
anonymous gift card shortly after he lost his job.
"There’s a lot of good people, and you’re proud to have people like that as friends," he said.

All four of his children are enrolled in Perrysburg Schools, designated an "excellent" school
district by the state for eight consecutive years.
Superintendent Tom Hosler said the award illustrates the community’s commitment to investing in its
schools. The school district is graduating a class of students that was awarded about $9 million in
scholarships, and it was named one of the top 100 schools for music education.
"We’re just very grateful to the voters who supported the schools (who) have allowed us to be in
this position," he said.
Kim Klewer, chamber of commerce president, said the award honors the Perrysburg area – including the
township – as a whole and specifically the school district.
"Perrysburg has a very high quality of life that everybody here really treasures, and it’s the type
of thing that doesn’t happen by accident," he said.
Maria Ermie, city council member, said the city is deserving of such recognition because of the spirit of
its people.
"They value education," she said. "They value community."
Family Circle is published 15 times a year by the Meredith Corporation, with a circulation of 3.8 million
and 21 million readers.
Other towns that made the magazine’s list were: Rockwall, Texas; Evans, Ga.; Sherwood, Ore.; Indian
Trail, N.C.; Hendersonville, Tenn.; Edina, Minn.; Noblesville, Ind.; Kenmore, Wash.; and Sun Prairie,
Wis.
Perrysburg was chosen in November as one of the state’s best hometowns by Ohio Magazine.