What makes a place good for families?

Even through no one knows if it is nature or nurture, parents seem to believe that raising their children in the 'right' environment provides them with the best chance to 'succeed' in life.

But does moving into a neighborhood with low crime and drugs really shield your kid from wanting to steal to impress their buddies or try ecstasy to escape from reality? Will attending schools with good reputations mean that your child will be prepared for college, be motivated to learn, and play well with others?

Or is it a simple as good parents raise good children?

For Naperville, is it really so surprising that a community with Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, AT&T Bell Laboratory, and Amoco Research Center have schools with high test average? And shouldn't it be expected that hard working and law abiding professional would have affinity and want to live next to others who are similar.