Study Examines the Best Cities for Raising Kids

Many American families realize that location can have a major impact on their childhood experiences. The team at HireAHelper examines which U.S. cities offer the best environment for families. Their recently published map ranks cities based on their scores in a 10-factor “Family-Friendly Cities Index.” They not only reveal which cities earned the highest scores but also help us consider the factors families should weigh when deciding where to move.

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HireAHelper’s scoring index considers ten important dimensions that shape the way a city serves families and makes it an ideal place to raise children. Here are the index factors:

• Public school quality: The strength of the city’s public schools based on scores from the website, Niche.
• Overall “family-friendliness” rating: Niche’s city score based on safety, walkability, access to services, amenities, and livability.
• Cost of living: An estimate of the household income needed for a family to live comfortably.
• Childcare costs: This figure is based on how much it costs on average to send a newborn and a 4-year-old to daycare.
• Median household income: This shows the average household income in this location.
• Family fun: The availability of playgrounds, entertainment, parks, and kid-friendly activities.
• Health and safety: This considers crime rates, number of pediatricians, and general environmental health and well-being.
• Park quality: Based on the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 score on the acreage, amenities, accessibility, and investment in parks.
• Working Parents Score: This considers job flexibility, co-working availability, and remote-work friendliness.
• Family leave benefits: Not every state offers paid family leave, but it’s a huge advantage for parents during early childhood years.

The top-ranked city according to the team’s extensive analysis is Irvine, California. Irvine’s A+ rating in Niche’s public education category and its overall family-friendly score put it at the top of the list. Irvine has a higher cost of living and childcare costs than other cities on the list, but a high average household income helped offset those expenses. The city also scored well in safety, park quality, and family-fun. Families who can afford it will find a strong city that offers everything they could wish for: amenities, strong schools, and a high quality of life.

The strength of the team’s study lies in the details. Moving is never a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Different families will have other priorities and values, whether they relate to the importance of education, safety, affordability, or work flexibility. This study’s approach helps families consider a range of factors and rank cities based on their own needs. After all, a higher cost of living might be out of reach for some families, but affordability means compromise elsewhere, and families will have to choose whether they want this to be in the realm of family fun, parks, or some other area.

This study gives families a data-driven way to start their search for a new city to relocate to. Not every family will agree that Irvine, California, is the best option, but they will find many other options on the list, each with their own attractions.