Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family (2024)

Families move often and for various reasons. In fact, the average American can expect to move an estimated 11.7 times in a lifetime. Moving can be a sign of opportunity, such as a new job or long-term wealth accumulation, but people may also move because of instability such as foreclosure or job loss. During this period of high inflation, many families will consider moving to a place with a relatively low cost of living.

With families in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 45 key metrics that consider essential family dynamics, such as the cost of housing, the quality of local school and health-care systems, and the opportunities for fun and recreation. While obviously not perfect — given personal preferences and the limitations of publicly available data — our findings will hopefully give movers a sense of their options.

Table of Contents

Main FindingsAsk the ExpertsMethodology

Main Findings

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Best Places to Raise a Family

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Family Fun	Health & Safety	Education & Child Care	Affordability	Socio-economics
1	Fremont, CA	73.71	80	2	1	18	1
2	Overland Park, KS	71.35	115	17	5	1	3
3	Irvine, CA	69.78	22	1	3	48	5
4	Plano, TX	68.34	81	3	23	8	2
5	South Burlington, VT	65.84	177	41	2	20	7
6	San Diego, CA	64.97	5	25	9	78	20
7	San Jose, CA	64.90	27	16	11	64	15
8	Scottsdale, AZ	64.55	47	42	39	23	4
9	Gilbert, AZ	64.53	54	28	40	22	6
10	San Francisco, CA	64.45	11	27	7	66	40
11	Seattle, WA	64.42	73	93	8	13	16
12	Lincoln, NE	63.32	67	44	35	11	45
13	Columbia, MD	63.22	82	65	44	2	55
14	Huntington Beach, CA	63.21	79	31	4	82	9
15	Bismarck, ND	63.17	116	58	71	5	13
16	Fargo, ND	62.63	112	26	51	9	31
17	Madison, WI	62.54	94	36	99	3	18
18	Boise, ID	61.88	37	30	94	25	27
19	Virginia Beach, VA	61.55	139	18	28	27	24
19	Warwick, RI	61.55	182	6	34	15	17
21	Chandler, AZ	61.55	38	54	84	31	12
22	Portland, ME	61.54	156	5	16	49	50
23	Cedar Rapids, IA	61.53	144	40	59	6	51
24	Sioux Falls, SD	61.14	129	50	43	16	41
25	Nashua, NH	61.01	157	20	37	35	29
26	Austin, TX	60.89	85	103	29	10	42
27	Omaha, NE	60.63	98	56	32	14	81
28	Henderson, NV	60.18	45	11	67	62	52
29	Lexington-Fayette, KY	59.95	141	24	30	24	74
30	Portland, OR	59.85	55	74	20	43	75
31	Chesapeake, VA	59.78	122	21	62	29	35
32	Lewiston, ME	59.53	149	7	38	61	64
33	Honolulu, HI	59.15	30	14	31	131	19
34	Charleston, SC	59.12	28	85	72	37	61
35	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	59.04	83	53	18	106	11
36	Santa Rosa, CA	58.60	77	9	58	92	32
37	Minneapolis, MN	58.56	34	123	120	4	102
38	Sacramento, CA	58.31	4	67	76	71	84
39	Pearl City, HI	58.16	178	22	12	80	10
40	Pembroke Pines, FL	58.13	143	13	6	127	66
41	Denver, CO	57.91	9	104	103	40	91
42	Washington, DC	57.66	71	90	14	34	155
43	Pittsburgh, PA	57.61	76	71	41	26	135
44	Raleigh, NC	57.28	138	75	106	7	77
45	Burlington, VT	57.21	159	23	48	45	83
46	Chula Vista, CA	56.94	101	12	26	130	33
47	Peoria, AZ	56.71	74	77	111	53	36
48	Santa Clarita, CA	56.58	93	4	63	115	65
49	Casper, WY	56.36	59	84	107	59	63
50	Aurora, IL	56.31	102	15	52	90	94
51	Grand Prairie, TX	56.26	52	59	79	93	44
52	Billings, MT	56.24	142	151	42	28	60
53	Tampa, FL	55.90	3	105	78	74	126
54	Missoula, MT	55.85	97	112	17	77	79
55	St. Paul, MN	55.81	60	92	133	19	116
56	Colorado Springs, CO	55.80	53	114	91	47	67
57	Salt Lake City, UT	55.66	66	146	108	44	22
58	Orlando, FL	55.44	6	141	46	73	124
59	Huntsville, AL	55.34	105	128	85	38	62
60	St. Petersburg, FL	55.23	68	88	129	51	53
61	Charlotte, NC	55.10	100	113	81	30	89
62	Oceanside, CA	55.00	99	34	50	142	21
63	Las Vegas, NV	54.95	2	43	166	105	125
64	Nampa, ID	54.81	48	52	125	83	68
65	Oklahoma City, OK	54.75	62	147	110	33	70
66	Columbus, OH	54.68	51	100	135	32	119
67	Glendale, CA	54.65	46	10	21	170	59
68	Reno, NV	54.43	26	45	130	99	85
69	Port St. Lucie, FL	54.30	176	37	25	121	38
70	Cheyenne, WY	54.15	136	159	164	12	28
71	New York, NY	53.95	8	38	10	177	132
72	Garden Grove, CA	53.87	32	49	19	171	43
73	Jersey City, NJ	53.78	162	19	36	103	86
74	Juneau, AK	53.70	180	111	101	52	8
75	Des Moines, IA	53.53	134	64	137	17	147
76	Kansas City, MO	53.49	36	165	97	46	97
77	Modesto, CA	53.43	20	66	162	96	54
78	Spokane, WA	53.41	89	121	55	58	107
79	Grand Rapids, MI	53.25	161	62	113	42	112
80	Atlanta, GA	53.17	23	144	96	36	157
81	Yonkers, NY	53.17	179	29	22	112	93
82	Durham, NC	52.76	166	130	89	21	95
83	Rapid City, SD	52.63	130	173	60	41	57
84	Boston, MA	52.60	95	51	24	120	145
85	Irving, TX	52.18	165	83	80	95	14
86	Los Angeles, CA	52.18	1	63	90	174	87
87	Laredo, TX	52.06	64	72	47	139	106
88	Louisville, KY	51.98	147	106	86	54	96
89	Cape Coral, FL	51.95	160	35	92	132	30
90	Fort Worth, TX	51.76	63	127	142	65	92
91	Amarillo, TX	51.64	78	153	95	81	56
92	Charleston, WV	51.56	181	120	116	39	100
93	Brownsville, TX	51.41	84	98	13	155	133
94	Tulsa, OK	51.34	16	178	115	60	105
95	Anaheim, CA	51.31	39	47	65	172	37
96	Chicago, IL	51.24	25	91	87	107	149
97	Arlington, TX	51.18	91	108	69	110	72
98	Garland, TX	51.18	146	61	77	134	39
99	Bakersfield, CA	51.12	12	125	138	118	82
100	Cincinnati, OH	51.04	15	116	102	67	170
101	Tallahassee, FL	50.96	110	117	68	69	138
102	Oakland, CA	50.95	135	94	33	114	111
103	Mesa, AZ	50.81	92	87	156	101	34
104	Salem, OR	50.76	150	101	54	113	76
105	Vancouver, WA	50.64	137	80	56	108	120
106	Jacksonville, FL	50.60	88	129	112	68	115
107	Phoenix, AZ	50.53	7	155	151	111	88
108	Anchorage, AK	50.53	124	150	105	84	23
109	Manchester, NH	50.44	169	82	147	72	80
110	West Valley City, UT	50.40	40	102	181	104	25
111	Providence, RI	50.11	108	33	53	136	151
112	El Paso, TX	50.06	13	68	122	159	131
113	Tempe, AZ	50.01	44	138	173	97	47
114	Oxnard, CA	49.92	41	8	144	175	58
115	Fontana, CA	49.87	33	55	160	164	46
116	Nashville, TN	49.80	121	157	143	50	78
117	Riverside, CA	49.55	57	99	131	156	48
118	Tacoma, WA	49.32	175	154	49	63	129
119	Fort Wayne, IN	48.98	174	86	155	55	98
120	Worcester, MA	48.86	158	76	83	94	148
121	Long Beach, CA	48.74	42	48	66	178	99
122	Buffalo, NY	48.33	111	107	114	57	174
123	San Antonio, TX	47.78	56	132	128	128	130
124	Knoxville, TN	47.73	128	143	98	89	141
125	Stockton, CA	47.68	21	109	146	154	128
126	Albuquerque, NM	47.53	19	181	149	75	122
127	Philadelphia, PA	47.44	24	73	119	140	177
128	Glendale, AZ	47.25	18	136	154	152	109
129	Chattanooga, TN	47.19	154	172	139	56	104
130	Lubbock, TX	47.12	119	171	100	88	103
131	Winston-Salem, NC	47.06	113	137	93	123	118
132	Fort Smith, AR	46.92	86	175	121	122	68
133	Greensboro, NC	46.78	120	163	75	98	136
134	Corpus Christi, TX	46.73	155	133	109	109	101
135	Moreno Valley, CA	46.56	43	78	179	167	73
136	Springfield, MO	46.46	109	177	118	102	90
137	Aurora, CO	46.45	171	110	141	87	110
138	Dallas, TX	46.33	103	135	124	141	117
139	Dover, DE	46.20	172	57	88	143	154
140	Columbus, GA	46.07	87	119	134	138	140
141	Houston, TX	46.03	49	167	132	129	137
142	Fresno, CA	45.94	34	115	163	147	144
143	Richmond, VA	45.83	152	70	136	119	152
144	Santa Ana, CA	45.73	104	60	123	179	26
145	Rochester, NY	45.72	133	95	73	86	180
146	Ontario, CA	45.60	58	97	169	169	49
147	Norfolk, VA	45.59	107	69	174	144	127
148	Indianapolis, IN	45.49	153	149	152	76	134
149	Milwaukee, WI	45.43	61	139	126	133	162
150	Las Cruces, NM	45.33	14	142	161	157	139
151	Wichita, KS	44.96	173	161	158	85	71
152	Tucson, AZ	44.94	10	169	177	148	121
153	Newport News, VA	44.85	140	96	180	124	113
154	Akron, OH	44.82	148	81	140	117	172
155	Huntington, WV	44.80	114	118	148	126	153
156	Columbia, SC	44.77	29	145	168	100	171
157	Little Rock, AR	44.76	167	180	117	79	108
158	North Las Vegas, NV	44.74	65	39	182	158	142
159	Baton Rouge, LA	44.70	126	168	74	91	166
160	St. Louis, MO	44.21	70	179	178	70	150
161	Toledo, OH	43.89	90	126	159	125	164
162	Mobile, AL	43.75	123	158	150	137	123
163	Miami, FL	43.68	72	79	15	181	163
164	Montgomery, AL	43.31	117	124	157	135	160
165	Fort Lauderdale, FL	43.27	163	152	82	163	114
166	Gulfport, MS	43.25	96	156	57	165	159
167	Bridgeport, CT	43.23	132	46	64	173	175
168	New Haven, CT	43.02	50	134	127	161	169
169	Jackson, MS	42.44	75	174	70	150	165
170	Fayetteville, NC	42.28	118	122	175	153	146
171	New Orleans, LA	41.73	31	164	145	166	167
172	Augusta, GA	41.33	131	131	153	151	156
173	Wilmington, DE	41.29	127	148	61	145	179
174	Hialeah, FL	41.02	168	32	27	182	158
175	Baltimore, MD	40.86	151	140	165	116	176
176	Shreveport, LA	40.61	125	170	104	160	161
177	San Bernardino, CA	39.96	17	166	176	176	143
178	Newark, NJ	38.12	170	89	45	180	178
179	Birmingham, AL	37.22	145	176	172	149	173
180	Detroit, MI	36.32	69	162	170	162	182
181	Memphis, TN	34.80	164	182	171	146	168
182	Cleveland, OH	34.65	106	160	167	168	181

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Playgrounds per Capita

Most

T-1. New York, NY
T-1. Chicago, IL
T-1. Charlotte, NC
4. Houston, TX
5. Detroit, MI

Fewest

97. Jersey City, NJ
98. Santa Ana, CA
99. Newark, NJ
100. Gilbert, AZ
101. Hialeah, FL

Best City vs. Worst City: 13x Difference

New York, NY vs. Hialeah, FL

Attractions

Most

T-1. New York, NY
T-1. Los Angeles, CA
T-1. Chicago, IL
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Las Vegas, NV

Fewest

T-178. Fontana, CA
T-178. Garden Grove, CA
T-178. Pearl City, HI
181. West Valley City, UT
182. Moreno Valley, CA

Median Family Salary (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

Highest

T-1. Overland Park, KS
T-1. Columbia, MD
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. Gilbert, AZ
T-1. Charleston, SC

Lowest

178. New York, NY
179. Miami, FL
180. Detroit, MI
181. Newark, NJ
182. Hialeah, FL

Best City vs. Worst City: 3x Difference

Overland Park, KS vs. Hialeah, FL

Housing Affordability

Most

1. Cedar Rapids, IA
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Akron, OH
4. Bismarck, ND
5. Fargo, ND

Least

178. Long Beach, CA
T-179. Los Angeles, CA
T-179. Glendale, CA
181. Miami, FL
182. New York, NY

% of Families with Young Kids

Highest

1. Laredo, TX
2. Aurora, IL
3. Gilbert, AZ
4. Bakersfield, CA
5. San Bernardino, CA

Lowest

178. Birmingham, AL
179. Honolulu, HI
180. Cape Coral, FL
181. Scottsdale, AZ
182. Pearl City, HI

Best City vs. Worst City: 2x Difference

Laredo, TX vs. Pearl City, HI

Violent-Crime per Capita

Lowest

1. Irvine, CA
2. Warwick, RI
3. Virginia Beach, VA
4. Glendale, CA
5. Gilbert, AZ

Highest

T-168. Baltimore, MD
T-168. Birmingham, AL
T-168. St. Louis, MO
T-168. Detroit, MI
T-168. Memphis, TN

Best City vs. Worst City: 46x Difference

Irvine, CA vs. Memphis, TN

% of Families Living Below Poverty Line

Lowest

1. Pearl City, HI
2. Overland Park, KS
3. Fremont, CA
T-4. South Burlington, VT
T-4. Warwick, RI

Highest

178. Newark, NJ
179. Brownsville, TX
180. Rochester, NY
181. Cleveland, OH
182. Detroit, MI

Best City vs. Worst City: 13x Difference

Pearl City, HI vs. Detroit, MI

Divorce Rate

Lowest

1. Fremont, CA
2. Irvine, CA
3. Pearl City, HI
4. Gilbert, AZ
5. San Jose, CA

Highest

178. Wilmington, DE
179. Rochester, NY
180. Birmingham, AL
181. Detroit, MI
182. Cleveland, OH

Best City vs. Worst City: 5x Difference

Fremont, CA vs. Cleveland, OH

Ask the Experts

Raising a family is a tall order. And with so many important decisions to make, it’s often difficult to determine where to turn for help with family matters. We turned to experts in the fields of family studies, psychology and household finance for tips, insights and a few cautionary tales. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

To what degree is child development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city in which they live? How?
Despite the online learning challenges, has there been any positive value for families?
How can local officials make their cities more attractive to young families?
What should families consider when choosing a place to set down roots?
In evaluating the best cities for families, what are the top five indicators?

Ask the Experts

Rob Weisskirch
MSW. Ph.D., CFLE – Professor of Human Development; Chair, Human Development and Family Science Department – California State University, Monterey Bay
Read More

Adrienne M. Duke
Ph.D. – Associate Professor/Extension Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies, Human Sciences Extension – Auburn University
Read More

Sherrill W. Hayes
Ph.D. – Director of the School of Data Science and Analytics and Professor of Conflict Management, – School of Data Science and Analytics – Kennesaw State University
Read More

Cristina Santamaria Graff
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Special Education, Urban Teacher Education, IU School of Education, Indianapolis
Read More

Toni Hill
Ph.D. – Professor, Family Science; Program Director, Early Childhood and Family Advocacy (ECFA); and Assistant Department Chair, Counseling, School Psychology, and Family Science – University of Nebraska at Kearney
Read More

H. Dieter Steklis
Ph.D. – Professor, School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences; Affiliate Faculty, Psychology; Co-Director, Human-Animal Interaction Research Initiative (HAIRI) SACBS – University of Arizona and Emeritus Professor of Primatology – Rutgers University
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine which cities are most conducive to family life, WalletHub compared 182 U.S. cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across five key dimensions: 1) Family Fun, 2) Health & Safety, 3) Education & Child Care, 4) Affordability and 5) Socio-economics.

We evaluated those categories using 45 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for family life. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we calculated population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

Family Fun – Total Points: 20

Playgrounds per Capita**: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
Ice Rinks per Capita**: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)
Skate Parks per Capita**: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)
Bike Rental Facilities per Capita**: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)
Mini Golf Locations per Capita**: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)
Parkland Acreage per Capita: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)
Walkability: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
Bike Score: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.11 Points)
Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, zoos, museums and theaters.
Recreation-Friendliness: Double Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “” ranking.
Sports-Fan-Friendliness: Double Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Sports Cities” ranking.
Ideal Weather: Quadruple Weight (~4.44 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “” ranking.
Share of Families with Young Children: Triple Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: “Young children” include the population aged 0 to 18.
Average Commute Time: Half Weight (~0.56 Points)

Health & Safety – Total Points: 20

Air Quality: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Water Quality: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Limited Access to Healthy Foods: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Pediatricians per Capita: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Share of Uninsured Children: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: “Children” include the population aged 0 to 18.
Public Hospitals Ranking*: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Infant Mortality Rate: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Pedestrian-Fatality Rate: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Driving Fatalities per Capita: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Violent-Crime Rate per Capita: Double Weight (~2.86 Points)
Property-Crime Rate per Capita: Double Weight (~2.86 Points)
Family Homelessness: Full Weight (~1.43 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of homeless people in families per total homeless population.

Education & Child Care – Total Points: 20

School-System Quality: Double Weight (~6.15 Points)
Note: This metric is based on GreatSchools.org average score.
High School Graduation Rate: Half Weight (~1.54 Points)
Child-Care Costs*: Half Weight (~1.54 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the median family income.
Child Day-Care Services per Capita: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Childcare Workers per Total Number of Children under 14 Years: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Parental-Leave Policy Score*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the report card from Expecting Better: A State-by-State Analysis of Laws That Help Expecting and New Parents.
Summer Learning Opportunities per Capita**: Half Weight (~1.54 Points)

Affordability – Total Points: 20

Cost of Living: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Annual Family Income / Cost-of-Living Index.
Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Annual Family Income / Housing Costs (accounts for both rent and home-sales prices).
Wallet Wellness: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “” ranking.

Socio-economics – Total Points: 20

Share of Two-Parent Families: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Share of Families Living in Poverty: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Share of Families Receiving Food Stamps: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Debt per Median Earnings: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Wealth Gap: Full Weight (~2.35 Points)
Foreclosure Rate: Half Weight (~1.18 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Environmental Protection Agency, County Health Rankings, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council for Community and Economic Research, The Trust for Public Land, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Partnership for Women & Families, TripAdvisor, Walk Score, Chmura Economics & Analytics, TransUnion, Yelp, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GreatSchools.org, Numbeo, ATTOM, a property data provider and WalletHub research.

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