Choosing the best place to raise a family can be a daunting task. WalletHub has made this decision easier with a comprehensive new report on the best places to raise a family in the United States.
The annual report—now in its 10th year—evaluated 182 U.S. cities across 45 key metrics. These metrics included essential family dynamics such as education, safety, affordability and recreational opportunities.
According to Cassandra Happe, analyst and communications manager at WalletHub, the aim of the report is to assist families in making informed decisions by providing a detailed comparison of cities.
“On average, Americans move 12 times in their lifetime, and millions move annually,” Happe told me in an interview. “This report is particularly helpful as it provides a comprehensive evaluation of cities based on essential family dynamics, helping parents narrow down their choices to cities that offer the best overall conditions for raising children.”
The report is also useful for travelers. “Travelers can benefit from using the report in several ways. The rankings on health and safety metrics, such as crime rates and access to healthcare, can assist travelers in choosing safer and healthier destinations for their stay,” says Happe. “Additionally, the assessment of recreational opportunities and family-friendly attractions can help travelers find cities with plenty of entertainment options for both adults and children.”
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Besides that, cities that rank highly in education and child care often have rich educational and cultural institutions, such as museums and libraries, which can be particularly appealing to families traveling with children.
“Overall, the report provides a comprehensive view of each city’s livability, making it a valuable resource for travelers seeking pleasant and comfortable destinations for their short or extended stays,” says Happe.
This year, Fremont, California— a city in the San Francisco Bay Area—was named the best place to raise a family in the United States. Fremont was built around the historic 1797 Mission San José, and it also includes Centerville, Niles, Irvington and Warm Springs, which were combined into one city in 1956. Fremont won due to its strong economic factors, high median family incomes, low poverty rates and exceptional education and health metrics. “The city’s socioeconomic landscape, marked by a high percentage of two-parent families and low separation/divorce rates, contributes to its family-friendly environment,” says Happe.
Overland Park, Kansas came in second on the list, followed by Irvine, California and Plano, Texas. Seattle, Washington rounded out the top five.
Happe says it was surprising to see some less prominent cities outperforming major metropolitan areas. “It was unexpected to see cities like Fremont and Overland Park ranking so high, given that they are not typically as well-known as larger cities like New York or Los Angeles,” says Happe. “This suggests that factors such as safety, health, affordability and quality of life can significantly influence family-friendliness, sometimes outweighing the attractions of larger, more famous cities.”
The list showcases several important trends. “The key trends highlight a balance between economic stability, safety, education and recreational opportunities. Fremont, Overland Park and Irvine are the top three cities that exemplify these trends,” says Happe. “They all boast high median family incomes adjusted for the cost of living and low unemployment rates, fostering economic security.”
These cities also performed well with safety, education and more. “Safety is a significant factor, with Irvine having the lowest violent crime rate, and Overland Park featuring low traffic fatality and infant mortality rates,” says Happe. “Education quality is paramount, with Fremont and Irvine having a high percentage of well-rated public schools and ample opportunities for children’s extracurricular activities. Additionally, these cities offer numerous recreational amenities, such as parks and playgrounds, promoting an active lifestyle.”
There were a significant number of California cities on the list, with four locations in the top 10 alone. Besides Fremont at number one and Irvine at number three, San Jose ranked number seven and San Diego ranked number eight. “Notably, many of the top-ranking cities are in California, especially in terms of family activities, health, safety and education. Cities like Fremont, Irvine, San Jose and San Diego consistently rank highly across multiple categories,” says Happe.
At the other end of the list was Memphis, Tennessee, which ranked last (182) on the list of 182 places to raise a family. According to Happe, cities with lower rankings—like Memphis—face challenges often linked to economic disparities, higher crime rates and limited access to essential services. “Memphis was ranked low on the list mainly due to its poor scores in several important areas such as health and safety, education and child care and socioeconomics,” says Happe. “Contributing factors to its low ranking include high rates of violent crime and property crime per capita, lower quality of the school system, lower high school graduation rates and a higher percentage of families living in poverty and receiving food stamps. Memphis also scored poorly in affordability metrics, particularly in terms of housing affordability.”
Read on for the list of the 25 best places to raise a family in the U.S. You can see the full report on WalletHub.com.
- Fremont, California
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Irvine, California
- Plano, Texas
- Seattle, Washington
- Gilbert, Arizona
- San Jose, California
- San Diego, California
- Boise, Idaho
- Huntington Beach, California
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- San Francisco, California
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Chandler, Arizona
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Austin, Texas
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Columbia, Maryland
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- Fargo, North Dakota
- Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
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