New study reveals best and worst places to raise a family in America

Raising a family encompasses a lot of work and planning, from finding adequate employment to support a household to securing housing in a neighborhood with high-quality schools.

Sometimes these decisions might involve relocating to another area, which isn’t uncommon for most Americans, who are projected to move to a different place in the United States nearly 12 times in their lifetime based on Census data from a report on migration expectancy. 

And for families considering a fresh start in a new city, WalletHub released a new report comparing the best and worst cities to raise a family.

The personal finance website compared 182 cities in the U.S. across five categories: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability, and socioeconomics. 

Best cities to raise a family in 2026

WalletHub ranked the best and worst cities to raise a family using key categories and 45 metrics, with each benchmark graded on a 100-point scale with a perfect score representing the most ideal condition to take care of a family.

1. Fremont, California
2. Overland Park, Kansas
3. Irvine, California
4. Plano, Texas
5. Columbia, Maryland
6. Bismark, North Dakota
7. South Burlington, Vermont
8. Charleston, South Carolina
9. Seattle
10. Boise, Idaho

Worst cities to raise a family in 2026 

Local perspective:

WalletHub’s findings rank these cities as the worst place to raise a family, listed below: 

1. Detroit
2. Memphis
3. Cleveland
4. Gulfport, Mississippi
5. Baltimore
6. Newark, New Jersey
7. Jackson, Mississippi
8. Shreveport, Louisiana
9. Birmingham, Alabama
10. Hialeah, Florida

To see the complete list of the best and worst cities to raise a family, click here. 

A closer look at the best places to raise a family

Dig deeper:

WalletHub ranked Fremont, California, Overland Park, Kansas, and Irvine, California as the top cities to raise a family in 2026. Here’s what researchers detailed in their report about each location. 

Fremont, CA

Fremont, California ranked first on WalletHub’s list as the best place to raise a family in 2026, primarily because of economic conditions. According to the report, the city has one of the highest median family incomes at more than $137,000, and the second-lowest number of families living in poverty. 

WalletHub noted that the city has quality education for children, with several public schools rated roughly 7 out of 10, and ample summer camp opportunities per capita. Fremont is also an ideal place for staying healthy. 

According to the report, roughly 1.6% of children lack health insurance, the seventh-lowest percentage in the U.S., and 1.1% of the population lacks access to healthy food. Fremont also has the sixth-most parkland acres per capita, allowing for nice outdoor exercise opportunities.

Overland Park, KS

WalletHub ranked Overland Park, Kansas, as the second-best place to raise a family in 2026. It has one of the lowest unemployment rates (3.2%) in the nation, along with one of the highest median family incomes, at nearly $135,000. The city also has a small percentage of families in poverty.

The area also has the second-highest percentage of two-parent families in the U.S. at more than 81%, and the 13th-lowest separation and divorce rate in the nation. Meanwhile, Overland Park is also a quality environment for child safety, with a low traffic fatality rate and the third-best public hospitals in the U.S.

Irvine, CA

Irvine, California earned the third spot as the best area to raise a family, in part because it has the second-lowest violent crime rate and the 15th-lowest property crime rate, along with a low traffic fatality rate, beneficial to children’s safety.

According to WalletHub, the city is also a nice place for children’s education, boasting the third-highest number of schools with a 7-plus out of 10 rating and the eighth-highest high school graduation rate. 

Moreover, Irvine has the 10th-highest number of two-parent families and the second-lowest separation and divorce rate in the nation. 

 

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