Choosing where to raise a family is a big choice for millions of Americans, and some cities are a better choice than others.
A recent study by WalletHub revealed which US cities will be the most family-friendly in 2024.
The company compared more than 180 US cities, including the 150 most populous, to find the most livable cities based on a variety of criteria.
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The five key dimensions include family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability, and socio-economics.
Other indicators assessed within each index included the number of playgrounds, skate parks and mini-golf courses per capita.
What are the best cities to raise a family in the US? WalletHub looked at a variety of factors to find out. (iStock)
The study also looked at ideal weather, water quality, access to pediatricians, violent crime rates, high school graduation rates, summer learning opportunities and cost of living.
In the socio-economic realm, WalletHub analyzed indicators such as a city’s separation and divorce rates, unemployment rates and wealth gap.
According to the report, the top five best US cities to raise a family in 2024 are:
Top 5 US cities for families
Here we count down…
Seattle, Washington was ranked 5th best city to raise a family in 2024. (iStock)
5. Seattle, Washington
4. Plano, Texas
3. Irvine, California
2. Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park, Kansas, ranked high on WalletHub’s new list. (iStock)
1. Fremont, California
WalletHub named the city of Fremont, California, the most family-friendly city in the United States.
This is in part due to the state having the highest cost-of-living adjusted median household income, at about $122,000.
This scenic southern city is the most popular place to relocate in 2024
It also ranked highly because 50.5% of households have children under the age of 18, one of the highest rates in the country.
Fremont also has numerous public schools and summer camp opportunities.
Top 10 happiest cities in America
WalletHub also said of Fremont, “Residents stay healthy: just 1.4% of children lack health insurance, the second-lowest rate in the country, and just 1.1% of the population lacks access to healthy food. The city has the fifth-highest park space per capita, providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor exercise.”
The city of Fremont, California, topped WalletHub’s 2024 list of the best places to raise a family in the United States. (iStock)
Coming in second on the list was Overland Park, Kansas, which was recognized for its low unemployment rate and high median household income.
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According to WalletHub, this Kansas City suburb is considered a safe area for children because of its low separation and divorce rates, as well as low traffic fatality rates.
Irvine, California, came in third for its highly ranked schools and lowest violent crime rate per capita.
The five main aspects compared in the new survey were family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability and socio-economics. (iStock)
Cities at the bottom of the list included Gulfport, Mississippi; Newark, New Jersey; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and last place, Memphis, Tennessee.
Other notable findings from WalletHub’s study: New York City was tied with Chicago and Charlotte for the most playgrounds per capita.
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Overall, the five cities with the most attractions were New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
WalletHub released a study on the best and worst cities for families to live in in 2024. (iStock)
“Finding the best place to raise a family can be difficult, balancing an affordable cost of living with excellent educational opportunities, safety and plenty of entertainment to keep the kids entertained,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said in a media statement.
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She added, “In addition to all these factors, people also often want to raise their children close to their extended family.”
She also said, “Current and future parents can benefit from narrowing their options to a few of the best cities within reasonable driving distance for their families.”
