Best places to live for middle class families

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. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, families will likely be looking for cities that provide the most safety and have the lowest unemployment rates.

Table of Contents Show

Main Findings
Best Places to Raise a Family
Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts
Methodology
Family Fun – Total Points: 20
Health & Safety – Total Points: 20
Education & Child Care – Total Points: 20
Affordability – Total Points: 20
Socio-economics – Total Points: 20
Supporting Video Files:
What is comfortably middle class?
What is the most desirable location to raise a family?
What is considered middle class in PA?
Where is the best place to raise a family 2022?

With families in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 46 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.

Main Findings

Best Places to Raise a Family

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Family Fun	Health & Safety	Education & Child Care	Affordability	Socio-economics
1	Fremont, CA	73.05	81	1	2	29	1
2	Overland Park, KS	71.72	110	25	4	1	3
3	Irvine, CA	68.43	20	2	3	59	4
4	Plano, TX	67.53	97	8	37	3	2
5	Columbia, MD	66.42	87	10	41	2	35
6	San Diego, CA	65.15	5	16	10	80	22
7	Seattle, WA	64.98	66	58	8	20	13
8	San Jose, CA	64.86	41	6	11	67	12
9	Madison, WI	63.59	85	34	52	4	17
10	Scottsdale, AZ	63.57	53	64	39	12	8
11	South Burlington, VT	63.33	179	73	1	37	9
12	San Francisco, CA	63.32	14	14	7	89	37
13	Gilbert, AZ	63.27	59	40	55	11	11
14	Lincoln, NE	63.13	67	42	30	10	34
15	Huntington Beach, CA	62.41	76	29	5	99	6
16	Boise, ID	61.96	39	32	77	13	32
17	Fargo, ND	61.86	108	41	47	16	27
18	Austin, TX	61.48	79	79	31	9	44
19	Virginia Beach, VA	60.64	147	19	27	27	20
20	Sioux Falls, SD	60.43	128	84	26	17	38
21	Chandler, AZ	60.24	44	68	95	22	15
22	Omaha, NE	60.22	75	63	24	21	73
23	Bismarck, ND	60.19	115	87	87	8	18
24	Portland, OR	60.01	50	55	16	46	74
25	Warwick, RI	59.97	182	4	44	23	24
26	Lexington-Fayette, KY	59.74	143	27	32	19	79
27	Portland, ME	59.70	154	3	28	61	61
28	Cedar Rapids, IA	59.53	140	49	83	7	60
29	Nashua, NH	59.52	159	31	49	32	28
30	Minneapolis, MN	58.74	17	110	114	6	104
31	Chesapeake, VA	58.54	123	52	54	26	29
32	Pembroke Pines, FL	58.36	139	15	6	120	55
33	Santa Clarita, CA	58.36	90	5	17	128	54
34	Honolulu, HI	58.07	25	17	29	147	19
35	Pearl City, HI	57.83	180	20	12	92	7
36	Charleston, SC	57.76	29	71	132	31	65
37	Chula Vista, CA	57.71	95	7	18	129	33
38	Henderson, NV	57.66	48	28	109	63	40
39	Lewiston, ME	57.52	138	9	43	69	71
40	Santa Rosa, CA	57.50	77	13	56	98	41
41	St. Petersburg, FL	57.41	63	59	85	39	57
42	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	57.34	86	56	40	108	10
43	Raleigh, NC	57.28	142	51	111	5	75
44	Sacramento, CA	57.06	3	60	94	75	93
45	Washington, DC	56.72	68	80	13	43	150
46	Pittsburgh, PA	56.55	80	72	42	30	133
47	Tampa, FL	56.52	4	83	74	62	130
48	Denver, CO	56.35	9	95	113	45	99
49	Peoria, AZ	56.21	70	92	110	48	35
50	Orlando, FL	55.92	6	106	66	65	117
51	Salt Lake City, UT	55.89	64	146	100	36	30
52	Cheyenne, WY	55.60	136	142	116	18	21
53	Billings, MT	55.59	134	155	58	24	50
54	Burlington, VT	55.52	158	26	59	56	90
55	Garden Grove, CA	55.36	34	24	14	170	26
56	St. Paul, MN	55.24	71	70	108	28	111
57	Colorado Springs, CO	55.18	47	120	80	47	77
58	Charlotte, NC	54.97	104	119	78	25	82
59	Grand Prairie, TX	54.80	55	69	82	90	56
60	Oklahoma City, OK	54.74	52	145	88	35	81
61	Las Vegas, NV	54.51	2	44	168	107	106
62	Aurora, IL	54.41	103	21	73	91	91
63	Oceanside, CA	54.37	93	35	60	137	25
64	New York, NY	54.28	7	30	9	175	131
65	Glendale, CA	54.19	45	12	23	172	48
66	Missoula, MT	54.16	94	113	15	86	101
67	Rapid City, SD	54.14	126	173	25	42	70
68	Huntsville, AL	54.09	99	138	102	33	76
69	Nampa, ID	53.61	51	90	123	78	63
70	Jersey City, NJ	53.58	161	11	22	126	85
70	Spokane, WA	53.58	89	126	46	57	108
72	Columbus, OH	53.47	60	96	150	34	120
73	Reno, NV	53.31	27	67	117	111	58
74	Modesto, CA	53.30	21	99	148	96	51
75	Casper, WY	53.28	57	141	105	68	53
76	Juneau, AK	53.27	177	129	90	54	5
77	Durham, NC	53.05	170	131	65	15	84
78	Amarillo, TX	52.75	84	130	71	74	59
79	Yonkers, NY	52.37	178	23	36	118	94
80	Kansas City, MO	52.30	42	168	81	44	109
81	Los Angeles, CA	52.24	1	53	76	173	98
82	Des Moines, IA	52.12	145	78	153	14	145
83	Tacoma, WA	52.04	165	135	33	52	122
84	Port St. Lucie, FL	51.99	176	54	48	134	23
85	Atlanta, GA	51.90	24	140	103	41	160
86	Boston, MA	51.75	100	33	45	124	141
87	Irving, TX	51.73	166	74	97	87	16
88	Louisville, KY	51.57	141	108	99	53	86
89	Laredo, TX	51.57	62	36	50	153	121
90	Bakersfield, CA	51.16	15	127	144	105	80
91	Grand Rapids, MI	51.09	160	81	154	38	107
92	Cape Coral, FL	51.04	157	50	128	116	31
93	Cincinnati, OH	50.99	18	122	101	60	166
94	Long Beach, CA	50.89	33	43	20	177	97
95	Fort Worth, TX	50.83	69	125	152	64	83
96	El Paso, TX	50.68	19	47	107	155	124
97	Arlington, TX	50.67	102	105	92	100	72
98	Vancouver, WA	50.35	127	117	57	106	96
99	Anaheim, CA	50.25	32	38	91	174	39
100	Salem, OR	50.16	150	94	72	115	66
101	Fort Wayne, IN	50.10	173	75	146	49	88
102	Tulsa, OK	50.07	38	167	134	58	118
103	Phoenix, AZ	50.04	8	156	163	103	95
104	Nashville, TN	50.01	129	153	143	51	67
105	West Valley City, UT	49.95	35	116	181	95	46
106	Tempe, AZ	49.94	36	134	174	84	62
107	Manchester, NH	49.88	172	98	122	66	92
108	Worcester, MA	49.86	156	77	53	93	142
109	Anchorage, AK	49.84	135	148	125	85	14
110	Chicago, IL	49.80	22	86	106	112	154
111	Brownsville, TX	49.75	88	76	35	156	134
112	Buffalo, NY	49.74	107	107	64	50	174
113	Jacksonville, FL	49.72	113	143	75	70	113
114	Mesa, AZ	49.52	96	109	160	97	49
115	Tallahassee, FL	49.51	106	137	70	71	146
116	Garland, TX	49.41	144	85	120	123	47
117	Riverside, CA	49.34	56	91	129	159	52
118	Fort Smith, AR	49.03	78	172	68	110	68
119	Oakland, CA	48.99	155	88	34	133	127
120	Albuquerque, NM	48.94	16	174	158	73	114
121	Fontana, CA	48.93	30	61	156	166	43
122	Oxnard, CA	48.91	37	18	133	176	64
123	Charleston, WV	48.57	181	149	141	40	100
124	Providence, RI	48.21	112	39	67	141	155
125	San Antonio, TX	48.02	58	124	115	127	125
126	Knoxville, TN	47.86	130	114	124	81	144
127	Fresno, CA	47.76	31	111	126	144	137
128	Lubbock, TX	47.62	121	166	89	88	87
129	Winston-Salem, NC	47.41	116	97	112	117	119
130	Stockton, CA	47.37	26	121	145	150	128
131	Rochester, NY	47.34	124	57	51	83	180
132	Greensboro, NC	47.12	119	158	61	102	138
133	Chattanooga, TN	47.12	163	176	118	55	102
134	Ontario, CA	47.02	54	100	140	169	45
135	Las Cruces, NM	46.91	11	123	142	145	143
136	Philadelphia, PA	46.79	10	82	127	142	176
137	Santa Ana, CA	46.66	92	37	84	180	42
138	Aurora, CO	46.53	151	112	147	94	110
139	Moreno Valley, CA	46.29	43	66	179	168	78
140	Glendale, AZ	46.29	13	151	167	146	115
141	Columbus, GA	46.16	98	152	79	136	129
142	Houston, TX	46.14	49	160	130	131	132
143	Dallas, TX	46.06	91	132	136	139	105
144	Newport News, VA	45.93	148	103	149	122	112
145	Corpus Christi, TX	45.47	149	139	121	121	103
146	Milwaukee, WI	45.33	73	144	98	125	163
147	Indianapolis, IN	45.32	152	157	161	72	123
148	Huntington, WV	45.27	117	102	151	132	148
149	Columbia, SC	45.09	28	118	178	101	170
150	Little Rock, AR	44.73	174	177	86	82	116
151	Springfield, MO	44.50	118	180	135	104	89
152	Baton Rouge, LA	44.47	125	170	104	77	161
153	Dover, DE	44.39	175	93	63	138	164
154	Wichita, KS	44.38	169	165	172	79	69
155	Norfolk, VA	44.26	109	62	170	152	140
156	Tucson, AZ	44.19	12	163	175	149	139
157	North Las Vegas, NV	44.18	61	46	182	157	135
158	Fort Lauderdale, FL	43.71	164	128	93	161	126
159	Miami, FL	43.47	74	48	21	181	162
160	St. Louis, MO	43.26	65	181	162	76	159
161	Richmond, VA	43.22	162	115	139	114	158
162	New Haven, CT	43.17	46	104	138	164	165
163	Akron, OH	43.12	153	101	159	113	172
164	Wilmington, DE	42.98	114	89	62	154	179
165	Mobile, AL	42.41	131	154	169	135	136
166	Gulfport, MS	42.15	101	169	69	163	151
167	Toledo, OH	41.99	105	133	173	119	171
168	Hialeah, FL	41.94	168	22	19	182	153
169	Bridgeport, CT	41.93	122	45	96	171	175
170	Montgomery, AL	41.76	132	150	166	130	156
171	New Orleans, LA	41.55	40	136	157	165	173
172	Baltimore, MD	40.74	146	147	155	109	177
173	Augusta, GA	40.53	133	161	136	151	157
174	Jackson, MS	40.38	72	179	131	140	167
175	Shreveport, LA	39.96	120	178	119	158	149
176	Fayetteville, NC	39.85	111	171	164	160	147
177	Newark, NJ	38.72	171	65	38	179	178
178	San Bernardino, CA	38.17	23	164	177	178	152
179	Birmingham, AL	37.80	137	175	171	148	169
180	Memphis, TN	34.92	167	182	165	143	168
181	Cleveland, OH	34.50	83	159	176	167	181
182	Detroit, MI	34.15	82	162	180	162	182

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. Madison, WI

Fewest

97. Garland, TX
98. Jersey City, NJ
99. Newark, NJ
100. Gilbert, AZ
101. Hialeah, FL

Attractions

Most

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

Fewest

178. Fontana, CA
T-179. West Valley City, UT
T-179. Garden Grove, CA
181. Moreno Valley, CA
182. Pearl City, HI

Median Family Salary (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

Highest Salary

T-1. Columbia, MD
T-1. Overland Park, KS
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. Gilbert, AZ
T-1. Plano, TX

Lowest Salary

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

Housing Affordability

Most Affordable

1. Cedar Rapids, IA
2. Akron, OH
3. Overland Park, KS
4. Pittsburgh, PA
5. Des Moines, IA

Least Affordable

178. Long Beach, CA
179. Miami, FL
T-180. Glendale, CA
T-180. Los Angeles, CA
182. New York, NY

% of Families with Young Kids

Highest %

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

Lowest %

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

Violent-Crime Rate per Capita

Lowest Rate

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

Highest Rate

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

% of Families Living Below Poverty Line

Lowest %

1. South Burlington, VT
2. Pearl City, HI
3. Fremont, CA
4. Overland Park, KS
5. Gilbert, AZ

Highest %

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

Divorce Rate

Lowest Rate

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

Highest Rate

178. Wilmington, DE
179. Rochester, NY
180. Birmingham, AL
181. Detroit, MI
182. 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 a child’s 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 in this year at home?
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 5 indicators?
Given the current pandemic context, what are the most important steps parents can take to help their children grow up healthy?

Ask the Experts

Allison Karpyn
Ph.D. – Co-Director, Center for Research Education and Social Policy (CRESP), Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Sciences – University of Delaware
Read More

Derek Gwinn
Director of Relationship Education, Center for Healthy Relationships; Assistant Professor of Family Studies – John Brown University
Read More

Madhavi Menon
Ph.D. – Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience – Nova Southeastern University
Read More

Tom Chiaromonte
Ph.D. – Director - Center for Early Childhood Collaboration; Professor - Child Development & Educational Studies – Fullerton College
Read More

Lenna Nepomnyaschy
Associate Professor, School of Social Work – Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Read More

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 46 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 “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” 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 “Cities With the Best & Worst Weather” 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 (~1.25 Points)
Water Quality: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Limited Access to Healthy Foods: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Pediatricians per Capita: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Share of Uninsured Children: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: “Children” include the population aged 0 to 18.
Public Hospitals Ranking*: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Infant Mortality Rate: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Pedestrian-Fatality Rate: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Driving Fatalities per Capita: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Violent-Crime Rate per Capita: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Property-Crime Rate per Capita: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)
Family Homelessness: Full Weight (~1.25 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of homeless people in families per total homeless population.
Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~2.50 Points)

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 “Best & Worst Cities for Wallet Fitness” 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, Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Partnership for Women & Families, TripAdvisor, Walk Score, ATTOM Data Solutions, Chmura Economics & Analytics, TransUnion, Yelp, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GreatSchools.org, Numbeo and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

YouTube - National (for web embedding)
YouTube - Fremont, CA (for web embedding)
Raw video files (for editing into clips)

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What is comfortably middle class?

The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $65,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 21 Using Pew's yardstick, middle income is made up of people who make between $43,350 and $130,000.