"My school, and it's very quiet and peaceful," said one Arcadia child, Nicole Cavallarin.
"Well, maybe I like it because it's kind of like you can play all out here and it's kind of like a lot of restaurants, and maybe you can go to the park and maybe like walk here," said another Arcadia child, Samantha Guthro.
School performance was an important factor in this study. So was affordability and safety.
"It's quiet," said Andrea Cavallarin, Nicole's mother. "Crime is pretty low. The school system is the best school system compared to say, San Marino, La Canada, that sort of thing. Arcadia is probably next in line or thereabouts, and that's why we moved here, because we're originally from the East Coast."
With a population of more than 56,000 and median household income of more than $80,000, many residents tout the quiet neighborhoods that they share with peacocks.
"We use to live in La Canada and we love Arcadia, a real city," said Chuck Reynolds, a grandparent in Arcadia.
The city of Arcadia is also home to the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, a 127-acre historic site that's become a destination for people from all over California.
Arcadia Mayor Robert Harbicht isn't surprised by all the kudos Arcadia's receiving.
"It's a family-oriented community," said Mayor Harbicht. "We have great recreation programs. We've got soccer, Little League, all these things that are run by volunteers."
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